Unstoppable

This week I picked the song "Unstoppable" by Drake, because that is what the Bottineau Braves certainly looked like after rocking the Bishop Ryan Lions this past Friday 30-8. The fourth-ranked Braves blew out the rival and third-ranked Lions.

I also covered all three area volleyball teams, Bottineau, Newburg-Westhope and Dakota College. All posted at least one win this week. The Stars had two.

Upcoming this week I will again be covering both prep volleyball teams, and also attending Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn homecoming Friday as they play Larimore in Class A football.

I went 11-5 in my NFL picks this past week, including an amazing upset pick of Buffalo over New England. I have officially given up on the Vikings after this weeks third consecutive collapse against the Detroit Lions. I have then also decided to jump on the circled bandwagon of the Buffalo Bills.

Anywho, here are my week 4 NFL picks, followed by pictures taken this week:

Detroit over Dallas
New Orleans over Jacksonville
Cleveland over Tennessee
Buffalo over Cincinnati
Washington over St. Louis
Philadelphia over San Francisco
Kansas City over Minnesota
Houston over Pittsburgh
Carolina over Chicago
Atlanta over Seattle
Arizona over Giants
Green Bay over Denver
Oakland over New England
San Diego over Miami
Baltimore over Jets
Indianapolis over Tampa Bay

Members of the Stars and Eagles exchange hand shakes at the end of last Tuesday's match in Westhope.

Newburg-Westhope's Hadlee Schell (left) and Bottineau's Mikayla Hahn (right) await an Eagle players serve.

Eagles freshman Lauren Mach (right) punches it past the outstretched arms of Bottineau's Whitney Page (left) last Tuesday.

Ashleigh Aufforth (near left) enters the court as many of her family members sit behind her in the audience. They were there for her 1,000 set-assist milestone. Her Grandma holds the 1,000 sign.

Page celebrates a point last Thursday in Bottineau.

Aufforth digs out a ball in last Thursday's win over Drake-Anamoose.

Mark LaCroix looks oddly translucent. (I did not photoshop this. This is how it turned out.)

Senior quarterback Justin McCloud about to pass last Friday in a win over Bishop Ryan.

Cody Brooks throws his hands up to try and stop the Lions runner.

McCloud squeezes it past a Lion defender to try and complete the pass to Harrison Aide.

The student section roars after the Braves score their first touchdown of the homecoming game.

Again the student section is up and cheering.

Senior running back Matt Bowers streaks past the defenders and into the end zone in the second quarter.

DCB's Kelsey Gullett tips it over two Wildcat defenders in the Ladyjacks loss to NDSCS last Wednesday.

Gullett attempts to hit it past two tall defenders in game one.

Gullett's kill falls between Wildcat blockers for a point.

Gullett goes up for a ball last Wednesday.

Do It Again

The Steely Dan classic is a perfect describer for the kind of week that Bottineau football teams would like to say. Both the college and high school football teams would like to repeat the results of this past weekend, where they both won.

I am happy to report that i was 12-4 in my NFL picks this past week. Not too shabby. I also had another flawless fantasy football week as both the "Team of Destiny" and "I Won This Last Year" rumbled for victories (shout out to my boys Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy, who made it happen).

Without further ado week 3 NFL picks, followed by pictures:

Carolina over Jacksonville
Houston over New Orleans
Buffalo over New England
Cleveland over Miami
Tennessee over Denver
Philadelphia over New York Giants
Detroit over Minnesota
Cincinnati over San Francisco
Oakland over New York Jets
San Diego over Kansas City
Baltimore over St. Louis
Green Bay over Chicago
Arizona over Seattle
Atlanta over Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh over Indianapolis
Dallas over Washington

Braves receiver Mark LaCroix makes a play for the ball last Friday against rival Rugby. Pass interference was called on the play.

Braves running back Matt Bowers tries to break away from a Rugby defender in Bottineau last Friday.

Bottineau's Trevor Wettlaufer (No. 21) puts a punishing hit on the Rugby ball carrier.

Bowers pushes the Panther defender down the field.

Sophomore Cody Beaver awaits the snap for a punt in the first half.

Ladyjacks freshman Josie Degagne smacks a shot over the net last Tuesday against Trinity Bible College.

A frustrated Ken Keysor (left) sits next to asst. coach Troy Chandler last Tuesday in Bottineau.

DCB freshman Jordyn Sondrol extends for a kill away from the net.

Kelsey Gullett (left), Sondrol (middle) and sophomore Jillian Hole (right) await the Lions serve.

Jacks quarterback Jose Sanchez prepares to toss a pass last Sunday against Concordia JV.

DCB freshman receiver Lance Jackson cuts past three Cobber defenders last Sunday.

Jacks kicker Alec Burks unloads for the opening kick off. Due to the gusty winds Mike Lopez was employed to hold the ball.

Jacks defender Keith Francis fights with a Cobber receiver for the ball.

Jacks wide receiver Sid Hunter (left) blocks for back Darius Bowers (right) during the first half.

Sanchez squirms in the pocket to avoid the Concordia pass rush.

Joel Hluchaniuk-Lockwood puts a good lead block on a run play last Sunday.

Sophomore Keith Osgood dives to make a catch last Sunday.

Mathis Thomas holds as a Cobber defender tries his best to strip the ball.

Sanchez delivers a pass.

Are you ready for some football?

The NFL kicked off their season the past weekend and my picks did not go as well as I expected. I went 8-8 on my picks this past week.

As far as Bottineau sports were concerned it was a pretty good week. The Bottineau Braves upset one of the top teams in the Region in Bismark-St. Mary's. Westhope beat Rolla and Bottineau's volleyball team won the Glenburn Invitational, avenging a loss earlier in the week to Kenmare.

This week I will be covering Dakota College volleyball and football and a big rivalry game between Bottineau and Rugby in football.

Week 2 NFL picks:
Detroit over KC
Buffalo over Oakland
Ravens over Tennessee
Jets over Jacksonville
Cleveland over Indianapolis
Arizona over Washington
Tampa Bay over Minnesota
Green Bay over Carolina
New Orleans over Chicago
Pittsburgh over Seattle
Dallas over San Francisco
New England over San Diego
Denver over Cincinnati
Houston over Miami
Philadelphia over Atlanta
St. Louis over Giants

I have lots of pics from this past week:

A DCB second baseman turns the double play in an exhibition against Williston State last Wednesday.

A DCB freshman strikes out on a big cut.

The DCB freshman starter was effective for the first two innings.

A Jacks player fouls off a pitch.

Ladyjacks freshman Josie Degagne receives a serve last Wedensday against Williston.

DCB sophomore Jess Mehling prepares to serve last Wedensday in Bottineau.

Degagne (right) and Jillian Hole (left) block a Teton shot.

DCB sophomore Zach McBeain shows his lumberjack pride during the volleyball game. (The girls seemed to be amused.)

Degagne digs out a Teton shot.

Degagne after she made a dig.

The crowd laughs and cheers as a Teton player misplayed a spike and it smacked her in the face.

Kelsey Gullett (left) looks on as freshman Jordyn Sondrol receives a WSC serve.

Newburg-Westhope junior Bailey Tofteland receives a Rolla serve last Tuesday.

Eagles junior Jade Teske passes last Tuesday in Newburg.

Teske hits one over the net.

Eagles senior Taylor Kersten pushes it over.

Kersten serves last Tuesday against Rolla.

Kersten receives a serve.

Freshman Lauren Mach receives a serve last Tuesday.

Junior Hadlee Schell serves against Rolla.

Gerard Schuchard lines up before the Herby Derby last Saturday at Thunder Mountain Speedway.

A three way Herby Derby collision last Saturday.

Sioux senior Taylor Lesmann gives a little extra effort last Friday in Rolla.

Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn head coach Tom Nesvold watches the flag during the National Anthem.

Senior lineman Jacob Romsos is helped off the field after injuring his left leg.

Sioux sophomore quarterback Hunter Braaten unloads a pass in the first half.

Braaten fights for extra yards with a North Prairie Cougar draped over him.

(Good timing, slightly out of focus) Junior Kodie Hancock makes a leaping grab.

Sioux junior back Karlie Hancock breaks a tackle on a run up the middle last Friday.

A Cougar player interrupts a pass intended for Kodie Hancock.

Hancock (left) and Lesmann (right) fight for the same pass after some route confusion.