October 16, 2014 at 9:25 a.m.
Late score shuts out Dodger play-off hopes
To make the post season play-offs a team in the six team SWC has to win at least three games. With Lancaster, Platteville and River Valley as opponents that is not an east task.
The Dodgers were able to play with two of those teams--River Valley and Platteville--with only a few points separating them at the end of the game. Lancaster won by a bigger margin but the Dodgers battled them pretty well.
But, all three went down in the right side of the won-loss column for the Dodgers and when the Hillmen pulled ot a 39-24 win Friday the play-offs were removed from the picture.
Bohnsack is satisfied with how the players addressed the season and improved. They can still finish .500 overall with a win at Richland Center Friday. A game with Marathon in week two was cancelled and not replayed when the Dodgers made the three hour trip, only to face storms and heavy lightning.
"We are extremely proud of how much fight our ball team has shown this year," Bohnsack said.
Platteville scored on Jake Bernhardt's five yard run halfway through the first quarter to lead 6-0.
They added a second score two minutes into the second quarter on an eight yard Ryan Weber run.
Dodgeville got untracked with quarterback Jordan Larson nailed Christian Shepler with a pass that turned into a 71 yard score.
The Hillmen pushed across the next two touchdowns when Blake Wagner scored from the 14 at 7:43 and Mitch Knockle took in a three yard pass from Wagner.
The Dodgers answered with 14 seconds left in the half on a four yard Larson to Levi Nagel pass.
Nagel started the second half with a grab from Larson at 7:13 that he carried 55 yards to score. Chance Kupfferite answered for the Hillmen taking in a 26 yard pass from Wagner.
Jordan Olson added three points for Dodgeville at the 11:10 mark of the fourth quarter to bring them within six but the Hillmen put the finishing touches on the win with Wagner's 32 yard run with 3:57 left.
"They never gave up the entire night," Bohnsack said about the Dodgers. "We made some adjustments at halftime to slow down the Hillmen; however late in the fourth quarter, down six, they were able to muscle in another score which put our efforts out of reach."
Leading the team defensively were Bryce Olson, Tim Gaither, and Payton Calvert.
"We face Richland Center Friday night at their place," Bohnsack said. "The Hornets are looking for their first win of the season and the Dodgers are planning to finish 4-4 overall."
