Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast

This week I chose the Airbourne tune Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast to represent the ability of the teams this past week.

The Bottineau football team was much too fast for the Turtle Mountain football team in the battle of the Braves. The Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn Sioux were too much for the Linton-HMB Lions as they clawed their way back to a playoff win.

I will be covering the district volleyball tournament this upcoming week, as well as the Jacks hockey opener and the Sioux's home football game.

In this portion of the blog I'd like to thank all of those who actually take time out of their day to read my blog. To recognize my support I'd like to give a shout out to Tanner Bickford, a Bottineau football player, junior and apparently, reader of what I call "Gottoknowbouttineau." Anyway, thanks for reading.

That brings me to my next topic. I would like to open myself to questions from anyone who actually reads this. I would like to do a "mailbag" of sorts using reader emails. So, if anyone would like to send me a question about anything sports or entertainment I'd be glad to answer. I'm especially versed in television shows and fantasy sports. My email is courant1@utma.com, or you can hit me up on twitter @typhoonater467. 

I did moderately well in pick 'em this week going 8-5. However, the rest of the league did much better, with one person going a perfect 13-for-13. I'm falling down the standings and could use a couple big weeks to make a comeback. In fantasy I took down my boss to vault into fourth place at 4-3. In my other league I lost yet again, and fell to 1-6. I'm 4-3 in one other league as well.

I only have a few pictures this week, as there weren't too many home sports matches.

Ladyjacks sophomore Josie Degagne digs out a Jimmies JV shot last Monday.

Freshman, and Bottineau native, Ashleigh Aufforth celebrates after a point last Monday in DCB's final home game.

Bottineau's John Gohman runs toward the outside after a screen pass.

Gohman looks to advance down the field.

Owen Furby takes down the TMCHS runner in the second half.

Bottineau senior Trevor Wettlaufer breaks away down the field.

Sophomore Stephanie Brenden hammers a shot over the net against Rolla last Tuesday.

Stars junior Karlee McCloud passes a serve up to a teammate in the last home game for the Stars.

Senior Katryna Hahn hammers a kill down last Monday.

Hahn again goes for the kill.

Kennedy Olson hits a shot over the net toward the Bulldogs' side.

Panic Station

Often times the world of sports includes panic and chaos, and as the playoffs are soon going to be here, it was that way for many of the Bottineau area teams this week. This is why I chose the song Panic Station off of Muse's new album The 2nd Law to try and describe that.

(Small tangent about The 2nd Law) Muse recently released their newest attempt to push the limits of music and experiment with some previously undealt with things by Muse (80s-ish style, EDM). I felt like the first half of the album was outstanding. After that though, they got a little sappy, a little too experimental and I wasn't nearly as floored.

Anyway, back to sports, I covered many events the past week including both Sioux and Jacks football and Ladyjacks and Stars volleyball.

Upcoming tonight is my final week of Braves football and the last home game of Stars volleyball before the District 11 tournament.

I had the worst week of my entire NFL pick 'em life this past week. I went only 4-10, which dropped me down to seventh place.

I won in both of my fantasy football leagues, and things seem to be turning around (knock on wood).

Many pictures to share this week:

Jacks sophomore Mathis Thomas breaks a tackle early in the game last Saturday.

Jacks quarterback Malcolm Hilliard tries to break a tackle last Saturday.

Malcolm Thompson tries to lead the way for Hilliard after Hilliard scrambled for the first down.

Evans Norris (left) celebrates with Lance Jackson (right) after a second half touchdown catch by Jackson.

Thompson extends to catch a bomb in the first half.

You can't do that.

Thomas gets past several Lions defenders.

Thomas grasps on to the ball as he is dragged down.

Jacks quarterback Jonathan Parks flips a pass to Jackson.

Kanavis Stewart (right) holds off the pass rush as Hilliard delivers a strike.

Hilliard scrambles for a big gain.

Ashleigh Aufforth sets up Jordyn Sondrol last Wednesday against North Dakota State College of Science.

Sophomore Jackie Miller delivers a big hit during the homecoming match last Wednesday.

Leah Parizek winds up for a big strike.

Sondrol wallops the ball down for a kill.

Parizek fights with a Wildcat for a tip.

Sioux fullback Karlie Hancock fights for extra yards in last Friday's 26-22 win over Park River.

The Sioux lineup for a two-point conversion attempt. From left: Kodie Hancock, Karlie Hancock, Hunter Braaten and Logan Hermes.

Kodie Hancock tries to pull down Aggies quarterback Abraham Hankey.

Braaten delivers a pass in the first half last Friday in Westhope.

Kodie Hancock leaps and tries to deflect a Hankey pass.

Stars junior Courtney Gallagher blocks a Velva shot last Thursday.

Bailey Neubauer (left) and Katryna Hahn (right) go up for a block.

Danielle McDonald digs out an Aggies attempt at a kill.

Hahn gets up to try for the block.

Hahn for the kill.

Stephanie Brenden hammers a shot over.

Dashamoe McCarty tries to recover a fumble in the first half last Saturday in the homecoming loss to Trinity Bible.

The Night Time is the Right Time

The days are getting shorter, the nights longer, so night-time games are ahead. I chose the song "The Night Time is the Right Time" by Creedence Clearwater Revival to celebrate evenings out to enjoy sporting events.

I've been doing really well in NFL pick 'em this year. I went 11-3 this past week, getting only the Green Bay and Cincinati upsets wrong (along with everyone else) and a tough Washington upset pick that didn't pan out. I am currently one point out of first place at 49-28.

Fantasy is not going well at all, and I'm not going to talk about it much. I'm just going to go about the season as if I need to win every week, and change nothing to my approach and hope things turn around soon.

I have got a ton of pictures this week, 44 to be exact, enjoy.

Harrison Aide lunges to try and make a tackle last Friday against Carrington.

Bottineau seniors Jesse Klebe (left) and Dalton Sivertson (right) converge to tackle Carrington's Casey Murphy.

Bottineau's John Gohman leaps for a grab at home against Carrington last Friday.

Gohman is tackled by Brady Smith after making a sensational grab. The play was called back due to penalty, however.

The Bottineau offense lines up in the first half.

Klebe fights for extra yards.

Senior Wyatt Johnson stops Murphy in the backfield.

Tanner Bickford lobs a pass in the second half last Friday.

Senior tailback Trevor Wettlaufer runs to the outside.

Lineman Cody Bedlion and Dalton Sivertson try to bring down Murphy.

Senior Bailey Tofteland puts a shelacking on a kill last Tuesday against Drake-Anamoose.

Sophomore Lauren Mach tries to put the ball down for a point.

Hadlee Schell fights to push it over to the Raider side.

Sophomore setter Molly Lodoen sets it to the center.

Tofteland passes a serve.

Damon Bateman makes a tackle last Saturday against Ellsworth Community College.

Qu'Shar Littles (left)  looks to land a big block for Mathis Thomas (right) in the first half last Saturday.

Jonathan Parks tosses a pass down the middle in the first half against the Panthers.

Littles fights for extra yardage after a catch.

Kanavis Stewart takes a screen toward the sideline.

Evans Norris (left), Antwan Moore (right) and David Moore (center) combine to make a tackle.

Jaylen Lee about to deliver a punt.

Lee punts the ball away.

Thomas attempts to juke an opponent.

Thomas looks to run to the outside while Lance Jackson (left) prepares to block.

Tyias Huck hauls in a pass in the second half.

Sophomore Jordyn Sondrol slams down a kill last Saturday against Dawson.

Jackie Miller goes up for a block.

Sondrol tries to block a Buccaneers hit.

Sophomore Josie Degagne digs out a Lake Region State shot last Saturday afternoon.

Sondrol pushes the ball past a Lady Royals blocker.

Leah Parizek is not impressed.

Sondrol about to put down a big shot.

Sondrol receives a serve in the game against LRSC.

Freshman Amber Gable directs a serve to her setter.

Setter Ashleigh Aufforth dishes out a set last Saturday afternoon.

The Ladyjacks celebrate after a point.

Degagne (left), Aufforth (center) and Courtney Hart (right) celebrate after an ace.

Aufforth puts up a set for Sondrol (right).

Katryna Hahn delivers a big strike last Thursday against Rugby.

Hahn reaches to try and get a point last Thursday.

Junior Courtney Gallagher about to hammer a shot to the Panthers side.

Stephanie Brenden gets a kill.

Klebe (center) watches as Jake Carrol (left) and Owen Furby (right) celebrate a Stars victory last Thursday over Rugby.