BREAKAWAY BUC — Blue Earth Area running back Caleb Langager breaks into open ground after picking up a block from Buc offensive lineman Kade Gaydon (54) on Le Sueur-Henderson defender Luke Miller during prep football action Friday night at Wilson Field in Blue Earth. The Bucs’ Jacob Grandgenett (12) and the Giants’ Connor Hank (54) watch the action. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Mertens/Faribault County Register)

BLUE EARTH — Blue Earth Area parents left Wilson Field happy with a win Friday night. The Bucs came into the contest with just one win to their name this season but left with double that amount.

In what ended up a 48-30 victory over the Le Sueur-Henderson Giants, the Bucs started things off with a bang when junior quarterback Jacob Grandgenett made a house call on the game’s opening kickoff.

While both teams topped 30 points for the game, Blue Earth Area was in control from the start.

Blue Earth Area head coach Randy Kuechenmeister touched on the importance of special-teams play following the game.

“We work on special teams obviously, we got a good wall going and good blocking and Jacob found space and made some plays,” Kuechenmeister said.

Following the opening touchdown from the Bucs, the Giants failed to convert on a fourth-down attempt and turned the ball over on downs.

Blue Earth Area quickly marched back down the field, converting on its own fourth down and eventually finding the end zone with a touchdown run from senior running back Caleb Langager.

In a game where the weather was not cooperative, the ground game played a pivotal role for both teams. On the following Giants’ drive, junior quarterback Brody Berndt hit freshman running back George Doherty on a screen pass and Doherty did the rest by finding his way into the end zone.

In the second quarter, Langager found paydirt again for the Bucs to push their lead to 24-8. The Blue Earth Area defense held out for the rest of the half and the score remained unchanged going into halftime.

To start the second half, Le Sueur-Henderson had a chance to inch closer on the scoreboard but it was quickly taken away as Berndt was picked off by Blue Earth Area senior defensive back Cooper Peterson.

On the following play, Langager found a big hole up the middle and scored giving the Bucs a 30-8 lead early in the third.

Later in the quarter following a Giants’ punt, the Bucs were driving down the field again.

Grandgenett was able to get around the edge of the defense and scamper down the sideline for another touchdown, pushing the lead to 36-8. The score would not change for the rest of the third quarter.

With 8:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Blue Earth Area offense kept the momentum going when junior running back Emanuel Granillo made a nice cut to the outside and outran the LSH defenders to make the score 42-8.

On the next Giants’ possession, sophomore James Wagner found a crease and took it 72 yards for the touchdown, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion making the score 42-16.

The scoring would continue, however, as on the ensuing kickoff, Grandgenett took his second kick of the game back for a Bucs’ touchdown.

With less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Giants scored two rushing touchdowns, getting both from sophomore Jackson Wolf.

Following the game, Kuechenmeister was pleased with his team’s ability to control the ball and not turn it over.

“Excellent, you know we did have some penalties, but I thought our execution was better and we made less mistakes and we just have to keep building on that, but I think we are moving in the right direction toward the end of the year,” Kuechenmeister said.

Following the 18-point victory, the Bucs improved to 2-5 overall and will take on Sibley East on the road at 7 p.m. next Wednesday night in Arlington for the final game of the regular season.

LSH      8 0  0 22 — 30

BEA    16 8 12 12 — 48

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

BEA–Jacob Grandgenett kickoff return (Caleb Langager run).

BEA–Caleb Langager rushing touchdown (Caleb Langager run).

LSH–Brody Berndt screen pass to George Doherty (James Wagner run).

2nd Quarter

BEA–Caleb Langager rushing touchdown (Caleb Langager run).

3rd Quarter

BEA–Caleb Langager rushing touchdown (Missed PAT).

BEA–Jacob Grandgenett rushing touchdown (Missed PAT).

4th Quarter

BEA–Emanuel Granillo rushing touchdown (Missed PAT).

LSH–James Wagner rushing touchdown (run successful).

BEA–Jacob Grandgenett kickoff return (run failed).

LSH–Jackson Wolf rushing touchdown (run failed).

LSH–Jackson Wolf rushing touchdown (run successful).