Becker’s season opener went sideways in the absolute worst way, falling 35-28 to Orono after giving up a staggering 23 points in the fourth quarter. This wasn’t just any game, either; it was the start of head coach Dwight Lundeen’s farewell tour after 57 incredible seasons, and the Bulldogs had victory in their sights, leading by nine points with under eight minutes left.
The First Half Promise and Orono’s Adjustments
Becker came out strong, jumping to a 14-0 lead by halftime. This was thanks to their defense, snagging two first-half interceptions, and senior RJ Houle snagging a 40-yard touchdown reception. Things felt good, like the Bulldogs were going to kick off Lundeen’s final year with a win. But Orono, the reigning champs, didn’t panic. They scored two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter, getting right back into the game. Orono coach Joe McPherson said his team “made a couple of adjustments on our defensive front and how we were playing coverage.” He admitted they were “giving up the big play and getting our eyes wrong” in the first half, but they “got our eyes right in the second half.” That sure looked true when Becker’s senior quarterback Tristan Kowalkowski threw his second interception during Orono’s third quarter surge.
The Fourth Quarter Meltdown
Then came the fourth quarter, and what a gut punch it was. Becker was up nine points with just 7:48 on the clock, seemingly in control. That’s when Orono senior quarterback Finn Dyvik connected with senior receiver Owen Paulson for a monstrous 68-yard pitch-and-catch, igniting the Spartans’ comeback and kicking off their 23-point explosion. The Bulldogs’ unraveling continued with a brutal fumble on the kick return, which Orono capitalized on for its second touchdown in just over a minute, giving them their first lead. Becker tried to fight back, as Kowalkowski hit Houle for a 59-yard gain, the longest of their three big connections, to set up senior Tarver Schendzielos for a game-tying score. But Orono wasn’t having it, marching right back down the field for Hudson Hirt’s go-ahead score on a sweep with only 34 seconds left. Coach Lundeen summed it up, saying, “I was proud of them. They played hard, but we just did enough things to cause us not to win.” He highlighted key mistakes like snapping the ball over their heads, a three-yard line fumble, and missed defensive assignments that led to big Orono runs. “Those are all things we can fix,” he added.
It was a tough start to what everyone hoped would be a storybook season for Coach Lundeen. Becker just couldn’t seal the deal against the defending champions. They’ll need to clean up those “fixable” mistakes fast when they hit the road for week two, facing Hutchinson on September 11. This one’s gonna sting for a bit, but hey, it’s a long season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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