The Pequot Lakes Patriots football team opened its season by blanking the Staples-Motley Cardinals 52-0 on Thursday, Aug. 31.
The Patriots used an experienced lineup, with more than 20 seniors returning from a section runner-up team, to cruise past the visiting S-M squad. One of those seniors, Nathan Traut, rushed for two touchdowns and returned an interception 50 yards for a third score.
"We came firing," Traut said. "We always started slow last season, but tonight we came out firing."
The Patriots started the game by forcing a Cardinal punt, which Austin Young returned to the PL 42-yard line. Traut carried the ball twice for a first down and quarterback Blake Lane carried to the 15 for a first down. On the next play, Lane rambled down the right side for the game's first score.
After another S-M punt, Lane and Zach Sjoblad connected on a 63-yard pass for the touchdown with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
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Two plays later, Calvin Maske recovered a Cardinal fumble on the S-M 23. From the 16-yard line, Maske went around the right end for the score, putting the Patriots up by 21.
Pequot Lakes were back on offense six seconds later after Deven Psyck recovered a fumble on the kickoff. After that, Traut ran the ball 68 yards down to the 5-yard line for a first-and-goal with 2:10 left in the quarter. He then brought it into the endzone on the next play to give the Patriots a four-score lead.
Eighteen seconds into the second quarter, kicker Chase Larson hit a field goal to extend the lead to 31-0.
The two teams traded possessions for the remainder of the half. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Young returned the ball 55 yards, giving the home team good field position for Traut to carry the ball into the endzone for his second touchdown.
With 6:13 left in the third quarter, Traut intercepted a Cardinal pass at midfield and returned it for another touchdown and a 45-point lead.
Sophomore quarterback Bode Magnuson wrapped up the scoring for the Patriots, punching it in on a 14-yard run with 1:35 left in the game. Larson was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points.
Pequot Lakes is scheduled to play at Fergus Falls at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8.
"It's very good to win that first game of the year," Traut said. "Once you get on a streak, it can be hard to stop it. That means a lot to us."
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Staples-Motley 0 0 0 0-0
Pequot Lakes 28 3 14 7-52
First quarter
PL - Blake Lane 15 run (Chase Larson kick) 8:39
PL - Zach Sjoblad 63 pass from Lane (Larson kick) 4:43
PL -Calvin Maskey 16 run (Larson kick) 2:56
PL - Nathan Traut 5 run (Larson) 2:10
Second quarter
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PL - Larson 18 FG 11:42
Third quarter
PL - Traut 15 run (Larson kick) 10:31
PL - Traut 50 interception return (Larson kick) 6:13
Fourth quarter
PL - Bode Magnuson 14 run (Larson kick) 1:35
