Shelton powers to 24-22 win over Fullerton.

**Bulldogs line wears down Warriors in epic battle of Class D-2 powers.**

It was billed as the top 8-man clash in the state of Nebraska and the Shelton/Fullerton matchup

lived up to every expectation. Shelton's huge weight advantage in the trenches and an injury to Fullerton star running back Garrett Sonderup proved to be the cutting edge for the 'Dogs in the 24-22 win Friday night in Fullerton. The Fullerton line, giving up at least 50 pounds a man, just fell short on the final play of the game in a contest that may be one of the best of the year in 8-man football before all is said and done. A standing room only crowd certainly got their money's worth and could undoubtedly hear the pads popping as far away as the press box. These two top notch football programs may not have seen the last of each other in 2013 either.

These two outstanding football powers waged a see-saw, brutally physical battle that would have even made a college gridiron fan sit on the edge of their seats. Shelton set the tone early by taking the opening kickoff and methodically grinding their way downfield with their huge line. The Bulldogs 250 pound bulldozers paved the way for mighty-mite David Jimenez (#20) and quarterback Taryn Hawks (#12), consuming 6:33 of the first quarter. Shelton scored on a Hawks 1 yard run to take an early 6-0 lead with a little more than half of the 1st quarter in the books.

Fullerton returned the favor with 1:06 left in the opening stanza when all-state RB Garrett Sonderup scooted 30 yards for a score. The outstanding junior took the ball over left tackle, cut right, then cruised down the Shelton sideline outdistancing the defense. Cynan Wetovick (#1) sprinted in for the 2 point conversion and Fullerton held the 8-6 lead after one.

The Warriors pieced together a nifty 4:27 drive to start the 2nd quarter culminated by a 24 yard touchdown pass from QB Garrett Saum to the speedy Wetovick. Sonderup ran it in for the 2 point extra and Fullerton had a 16-6 lead with 6:45 left in the 2nd quarter. But the Bulldogs came up with a big play after gaining possession with 2:06 left in the half. Taryn Hawks hit Darreck Ellis (#10) on a sweet 51 yard pass and catch play that carried to the Fullerton 14. Hawks threw a flare pass two plays later to Jose Garcia (#36), who carried it to the Warrior 4. As the tough Garcia was struggling to gain extra yards, he was gang tackled by Warrior defenders and had his leg inadvertently twisted in the wrong direction. Garcia appeared to suffer a painful injury that required 25 minutes to finally load Garcia on a stretcher and into the ambulance. The 'Dogs regained their composure but all-state candidate Kurtis Knopik broke through from his DE slot to spill Hawks for a loss. But the Bulldogs, not giving up, handed to ball to Jimenez, who bolted from 4 yards out for the score. The point failed and 16 ticks later the half ended with Fullerton on top 16-12.

The tone for the entire half for Fullerton changed on the opening play when Garrett Sonderup took the ball on an iso left play. Sonderup powered his way into Jarrett Austin (#64) who stood his ground like a concrete wall. Sonderup was walked off the field with an apparent hip injury and was basically hampered until the game's final play. The key play came 3 plays later when Fullerton coach Ryan Houghton elected to go on a 4th down and 1 at the Warrior 24. Shelton held and rugged sophomore Jared Muhlbach later powered his way in the end zone from 3 yards out to give the Bulldogs an 18-16 lead with 8:09 left in the 3rd. Fullerton answered right back without Sonderup. Junior RB Seth Wetovick, who took a lickin' and kept on kickin', hauled in an 8 yard TD pass from Saum with 4:35 left in the 3rd. The 2 point conversion failed and the Warriors were back on top 22-18.

Shelton then drove from it's own 15 with a 2 minute drive that sent Taryn Hawks across the goal line from 2 yards out. The pass for the two point conversion failed but with a buck 34 left in the 3rd quarter Shelton's huge line had begun to take it's toll on the Warriors.

The Shelton all-state line duo of Zach Oliver (6-1, 240) and Nate Muhlbach (6-0, 260) took over in the 4th stanza on offense and defense to seal the deal, opening holes for Hawks and Jimimez. But the Warriors were not finished just yet.

The sequence that took place with less than two minutes left in game was classic. Shelton was at the Fullerton 27 yard line trying to run out the clock after powering their way downfield from the 40. Defensive end Kurtis Knopik penetrated to widen the sweep left play outside and stuffed Taryn Hawks on a 4th down play at the 26 yard line. The Warriors, out of timeouts, had :27.9 seconds left to perform some magic. Warrior QB Garrett Saum took a 4 step drop and nailed Seth Wetovick, who advanced to the Shelton 31. Saum then threw an end zone pass that was too tall for Cynan (pronounced "Keenan") Wetovick. Next play Saum fired a pass to Sonderup, who gamely came back in for the magic drive. Sonderup had the reception momentarily but couldn't hold on at the 10. That set up the follies on the final play with 16 seconds left at the Shelton 31.

Saum dropped back to throw but received heavy defensive pressure from the Bulldogs. On his way down, Saum flipped the ball back to Sonderup who had retreated all the way back to the Fullerton 38 yard line. Sonderup set sail down the Shelton sideline, cut back in and ran all the way to the Shelton 15. David Jimenez caught Sonderup by the ankles, Derreck Ellis then hopped on. Sonderup managed to hand the ball off to Seth Wetovick but big Colin Nathan put a bear hug on Wetovick and wrestled him to the ground at the 15 yard line preserving the 24-22 win.

Quarterback Taryn Hawks led the Shelton rushing with 103 yards on 25 carries. Hawks also completed 4 of 7 passes for 88 yards. David Jimenez churned out 63 yards on 22 touches and tough running Jared Muhlback had 47-10 carries. Garrett Sonderup ran for 64 yards on 16 carries, most coming in the first half. Garrett Saum completed 10 of 17 throws for 142 yards and 2 scores.

Next week Shelton travels to an 0-3 Axtell team and Fullerton hits goes to Wolbach to face an 0-3 Cedar Valley squad that is giving up 52 points a game.

.......and furthermore: This game featured some of the hardest hitting I have seen in a while. Shelton's front line duo of Oliver and Muhlbach has to be the best in D-2 for sure. And David Jimezez! This guy wrestled at 106 pounds last season and grabbed a 5th place at State. 106 pounds. David's weight was not listed in the Fullerton program, but he looks to be no bigger than a 115 pounds. Jimenez starts and RB and LB. On offense he hides behind the huge Shelton line and once past the scrimmage line, he accelerates into his 2nd gear in a split second. Honestly, it difficult to get a clean shot at Jimenez. He twists, turns and wiggles his way for big yards. Jinenez has run for over 400 yards in 4 contests and has defied the odds of football being a big man's game. And you know something else? I'd be willing to say that David Jimenez will get through the season, playoffs included, without suffering an injury that would keep him out of a game. This young man is good.

......and finally: Fullerton's Garrett Sonderup was a good as advertised. Fullerton fought back gamely without him for almost the entire second half which is a tribute to Coach Ryan Haughton and his staff. Haughton is one whale of coach. This is a good football team that should have a say in the D-2 playoffs. Speaking of coaching, how 'bout that Shelton staff led by Mike Lowe? This bunch has shown these Bulldogs how to play the game. Very intense, intelligent team that plays extremely physical. On offense, they know how to control the ball. Honestly, I can't see any team in D-2 that can compete against that huge and athletic front line of the 'Dogs. Oliver and Muhlbach are not just two pudgy fat guys who simply can't be moved. Both are very mobile and can eat running backs for lunch. I can still feel some of the crunching hits by these two fellas. Might be a good idea to call them "Mr. Oliver and Mr. Muhlbach" next time you see them.