Pioneers own second half in 56-26 win over North Star

The Big Sandy Pioneer football team are a step closer to securing a berth in the upcoming State 6 Six- Man football playoffs following a 56-26 shellacking of the North Star Knights Friday night concluding another outstanding Chili Feed weekend.

The Pioneers started fast taking a lead at the 6:00 minute mark of the first quarter when senior Weston Allderdice weaved his way to the endzone from 21 yards out to put Big sandy up 6-0.

Allderdice again found the endzone late in the opening quarter, scoring from one yard out. Duke Darlington added the extra point kick and the Pioneers held a 14-0 advantage entering the second quarter.

Big Sandy would stretch that lead to 20-0 following another Allderdice touchdown run, this one from 29 yards with 7:47 left in the opening half.

The Knights had a answer to the early Big Sandy attack scoring just seconds later to cut the deficit to 20-6. North star would score two more times in the quarter to even the contest at 20-20 entering the halftime locker room.

Whatever the coaching staff said to the boys at half time or whatever adjustments the team made, it worked big time as the Pioneers would own the second half.

Allderdice scored his fourth touchdown of the contest at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter to give the Pioneers the lead back at 26-20. The Knights quickly responded with another scoring pass to even the score at 26-26 for the last time.

Allderdice scored a fifth touchdown with 1:49 on a 16 yard run, Darlington added the conversion kick to put Big sandy up for good, 34-26.

Big Sandy had all the momentum on their side when on the following North Star possession Clint Darlington picked off an errant Spicher pass and returned it for six to push the Big Sandy lead to 42-26 following another Darlington kick.

Freshman Kade Strutz scored from one yard out at the six minute mark of the fourth quarter and Allderdice capped the scoring with his sixth touchdown of the game on a two yard dive.

Big Sandy out scored the Knights 26-6 in the second half to turn a close contest into a blowout and secure another big win on the season.

For the game allderdice carried the ball 46 times for 386 yards (8.4/ypc) and six touchdowns, Strutz added 43 yards on 11 carries. Duke Darlington caught two balls for 47 yards as the Pioneers racked up nearly 500 yards of offense in the win.

On the defensive side of the ball Darlington led the team with five solo tackles and four assists while Allderdice tallied four solo's and five assists.

With the win the Pioneers improve to 5-1 in the Northern Division and finish the regular season road contests in Valier (October 6) and Geraldine Highwood (October 14) before closing out the regular season at home, October 18 against Augusta.

Two wins in those three games would seal the deal for the Pioneers but they cant afford to overlook anyone down the stretch.

The Valier Panthers (6-0) are undefeated on the season after edging Geraldine/Highwood (4-2) 40-38 on Friday. The Power/Dutton/Brady Titans (5-1) lost this weekend to the Sunburst Refiners 4-2) making the race four the four playoff spots a tight one.

Big Sandy Pioneers 56

North Star Knights 26

North Star - 0 20 6 0 - 26

Big Sandy - 14 6 22 14 - 56

1st Quarter

Big Sandy - Weston Allderdice 21 yard run (kick failed)

Big Sandy - Allderdice 1 yard run (Duke Darlington kick)

2nd Quarter

Big Sandy - Weston Allderdice 29 yard run (kick failed)

North Star - Bailey Spicher 61 yard pass to Dylan Miller (Spicher kick)

North Star - Bailey Spicher 45 yard pass to Dylan Miller (Spicher kick)

3rd Quarter

Big Sandy - Weston Allderdice 6 yard run (kick failed)

North Star - Bailey Spicher 9 yard pass to Thomas Nerat (kick failed)

Big Sandy - Weston Allderdice 16 yard run (Duke Darlington kick)

Big Sandy - Clint Darlington Interception return (Duke Darlington kick)

4th Quarter

Big Sandy - Kade Strutz 1 yard run (kick failed)

Big Sandy - Weston Allderdice 2 yard run (Duke Darlington kick)