Stanley – The Stanley Blue Jays figured to have their hands full when the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers came to town. The Lakers finished second in the state last year, and entered Friday’s game with a 4-1 record.

Des Lacs-Burlington wasted no time spoiling Stanley’s homecoming celebration. Senior Josh Knutson picked off a third down pass and returned it for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game.

Knutson found the end zone two more times in the first quarter. The first time was courtesy of a long 30 yard pass from sophomore Dante Gunville. Gunville would find Knutson again for a 10 yard touchdown with 1:56 left in the first quarter.

DLB senior Josh Knutson hauls in a first quarter touchdown from Dante Gunville (Photo by Kayla Grande)

Senior quarterback Wyatt Hanson took a keeper in from 3 yards to pull the game to 21-6 early in the second quarter, but it would be all Lakers after that.

Gunville and Jacob Ruden connected for a 20 yard touchdown to put the Lakers up 27-6 at halftime.

Senior Colten Bartuska salted the game away for the Lakers with some powerful down hill running in the second half. Bartuska picked up a couple of scores late in the 3rd quarter to put the Lakers up 40-6.

Cody Rudolph paced the Blue Jays with 74 yards rushing. Wyatt Hanson and Jack Wilhelmi paced the Blue Jay defense with 7 tackles each.

The Blue Jays (3-3) will travel to Velva (6-0) to take on the undefeated Aggies on Friday.

Stanley Blue Jay Stats

Passing: Hanson 1-8 (5yds), 2 INT

Rushing: Rudolph 22-74, Gunderson 13-60, Hanson 7-29 (1 TD)

Receiving: Shold 1-5

Tackles: Hanson 7, Wilhelmi 7, Shold 5, Lidstrom 5, Rudolph 4, Farhart 2, Ruden 2, Hetzel 2, Gandrud 1, Gunderson 1, Salgado 1, Wilson 1

Scoring Summery

1st Quarter:

10:16- DLB Joshua Knutson 40yd Interception return, PAT is Good (7-0)

9:07- DLB Dante Gunville 30yd TD Pass to Joshua Knutson, PAT is Good (14-0)

1:56- DLB Dante Gunville 3yd TD Pass to Joshua Knutson, PAT is Good (21-0)

2nd Quarter:

8:42- STANLEY Wyatt Hanson 3yd TD Run, PAT is Blocked (21-6)

5:40- DLB Dante Gunville 20yd TD Pass to Jacob Ruden, PAT is No Good (27-6)

3rd Quarter:

2:08- DLB Colton Bartuska 16yd TD Run, PAT is No Good (33-6)

0:02- DLB Colton Bartuska 52yd TD Run, PAT is No Good (40-6)

4th Quarter:

No Scoring

*Ian Grande is the Editor of the Stanley Gazette. If you have any comments or concerns please email StanleyGazette@gmail.com

• See also: Grande’s Ramblings: Freedom Of Speech, Not Freedom From Consequences and Finding Positive Role Models In Sports