Patriots stop Diggers in season opener

The Upton-Sundance Patriots travelled to Deadwood to face off against the Diggers for zero week. Neither the Diggers nor two rain delays would stop the Patriots from taking home a 44-8 victory.

Jayden Caylor was a force to be reckoned with as the Patriots took the field. Rushing for 245 yards and scoring four touchdowns on the night, he could not be stopped.

Caylor put the first 12 points on the board for the Patriots with a 39-yard run and a 67-yard reception from quarterback Brad Kruger. Jess Claycomb rounded out the first quarter scoring with a two yard run, as the seconds ticked down, putting the Patriots up 19-0.

The Golddiggers started the second quarter with momentum, scoring on a 40-yard run and making a successful two-point conversion, bu tCaylor and the Patriots answered with an 80-yard run to put another six points on the board, making the score 25-8 going into the half.

While Mother Nature tried to slow the Patriots down with another rain delay, they could not be stopped. Caylorran for another 91 yards, scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter.

Claycomb would score the final touchdown on a five-yard run in the fourth, and Levi Rudloff put up the final extra point for the Patriots ending the game with a final score of 44-8.

The Patriots will open up home play in Sundance on Friday as the face off against the #5 preseason ranked Lusk Tigers at 7 p.m.

Stats from the game:

Rushing – Jayden Caylor: 14-245 yds. (4 TDs), Jess Claycomb: 8-63 yds. (2 TDs), Brad Kruger: 8-19, Brayden Bruce: 1-19, Kye Taylor: 2-2, Reece Barritt: 1-13.

Receiving – Jayden Caylor: 2-69 (1 TD), Brayden Bruce: 2-2.

Passing – Brad Kruger: 3 / 6 / 71 yds. (1 TD), Reece Barritt: 1/1 / 0 yds.

Defensive Leaders – Brayden Bruce: 19.5 points; Jo Bishop: 14.5 points, 3.5 sacks; Kye Taylor: 14 points; Jayden Caylor: 10 points; Wyatt Gillespie: 10 points, .5 sacks; Ethan Mills: 1 interception; Jess Claycomb: 1 fumble recovery.