Pender downs Winnebago

The Pender Pendragons knocked off Winnebago 44-8 at home Friday night.

The game was tied at 8 at the end of one. The Pendragons shutout the Indians 8-0 in both the second and third quarters to lead 16-8 at halftime and 24-8 at the end of three.

Pender erupted for 20 fourth quarter points, and once again, held Winnebago scoreless.

Dylan Roth had 137 yards rushing on 19 carries, and scored once. James Bensen carried the rock 7 times for 97 yards, and punched it in the end zone twice.

Roth was 7-9 passing for 54 yards with a touchdown.

Jesse Thompson and Leland Bowder made 10 tackles each while Roth tallied 8.

The Pendragons racked up 426 yards of total offense, 372 coming on the ground.

Pender got off to a slow start, and appears to have struggled somewhat in the second and third quarters as well, but the Pendragons turned it on when it mattered the most, and got the job done.

Pender (3-2) travels to Neligh on Friday to take on Neligh-Oakdale (5-0).

The Warriors won 61-12 at Clarkson/Leigh this past Friday night.

Neligh-Oakdale appears to be a team to be reckoned with, although the Warriors are ineligible for the playoffs.

The Pendragons really have nothing to lose in this game.

It's a non district game and means nothing as far as the district race is concerned, but it's still an important game for Pender and I'll tell you why.

If the Pendragons can prove to themselves that they can go on the road and compete with and perhaps beat Neligh-Oakdale, then they should have the confidence necessary to go on the road and have a shot at knocking off Guardian Angels Central Catholic for the District Championship.

This game is also big for playoff positioning too.

Right now Pender is looking at a 9 seed, but knock off the Warriors, and the Pendragons should shoot up some spots.

So this game is really all about improving playoff positioning and gaining the confidence necessary to upset GACC on the road.

Pender got out of the gates slow, but it's not how you start, it's how you finish.

I think the Pendragons may have been overlooking or looking past Winnebago, but the bottomline is Pender won the game, and now can focus on Neligh-Oakdale.

This is a rematch of a playoff matchup that went the Warriors' way last year as Neligh-Oakdale won 75-32.

You can bet that game will factor into this one as well.

I'm sure the Pendragons haven't forgotten about it, and want to use it as motivation to do better and win this time.

Now it's simply a matter of going out there and making it happen if you are Pender.

The Pendragons need to play a complete game to knock off the Warriors, in my opinion.

It won't be easy though. Neligh-Oakdale is a very good team if last week's win was any indication.

Pender lost 58-50 to Clarkson/Leigh while the Warriors beat up on the Patriots pretty good so we'll see what happens Friday night.