Braves blown out by EVW in season opener, 49-0

The Benson football team opened up the season with a 49-0 loss to Eden Valley-Watkins, Friday night on Brock Field.  The Braves ran 59 plays  compared to 37 for EVW, and also had nine first downs compared to eight for the Eagles.
However, EVW gained over 10 yards per offensive play from scrimmage and held the Braves to just 125 total yards on the way to the lopsided win.
“We knew they’d be very good, especially at the specialty positions, and their line play was very good as well,” Benson head coach Scott Gonnerman said.  “Most of their players on the line had one year of experience from last season.  They weren’t as big (heavy) as we were on the line, but they were very athletic and moved well, and they did a very good job of controlling the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.”
EVW scored 14 points in the first quarter, 15 more in the second, and 20 in the third.  Four of EVW’s touchdowns went for 30 yards or more, the Eagles also had a safety when Jacob Streit tackled Benson quarterback Layton Connelly in the end zone midway through the second quarter.
The Braves had several chances to score, but ended up turning the ball over three times, including one fumble and two interceptions.  Benson got as far as the 18-yard line late in the first half, but three-straight incompletions and an interception on the fourth down ended that threat.
The Braves hope to reverse their fortunes this Friday when they travel to Granite Falls to take on YME in a Mid-State sub-district game at 7 p.m.  “YME is coming off a 14-0 win over KMS, and they too are a senior dominant team,” Gonnerman said.  “Their quarterback throws a nice ball and they have two good runningbacks and a good receiver.”
 
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Pictured: Brett Sulier (right) uses a block from Ross Grussing to pick up some yards during a game against Eden Valley-Watkins, Friday night in Benson.