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Bulldogs Move On in 6A Football Playoffs

By Craig Olson, 10/29/22, 5:45PM CDT

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The Ottertail Central Bulldogs moved on in the Section 6A High School Football Playoffs with a 27-6 win over Pine River-Backus on Saturday afternoon in Pine River.  The win improves their record to 7-3 and puts them into the Section Championship game with Breckenridge at 5:30pm Friday at the Fargodome.

The winning formula for the Bulldogs on Saturday was Jack Mekalson to Mason Dalluge.  That duo hooked up on three touchdown passes in the victory, including the first one of the game that covered 49 yards and came with 6:29 left in the first quarter.  A two-point conversion  pass to Bricker Bladow made the score 8-0.

The Tigers cut the lead to 8-6 early in the second quarter when quarterback Irvin Tulenchik scored on a one yard run.

OTC increased their lead to 14-6 early in the third quarter on a 65 yard pass from Mekalson to Dalluge and that combo connected on a 37 yard TD pass with 6:23 left in the third for a 20-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The final Bulldog touchdown was a 3 yard run by Mason Hammer, followed by an extra point kick by Owen Buehler for a 27-6 final.

Mekalson completed 5-of-7 passes for 169 yards and Dalluge's 3 catches went for 151 yards.  Hammer had 116 rushing yards on 22 carries.  OTC finished the day with 372 yards of total offense, 203 on the ground and 169 through the air.

Tulenchik ran the ball 9 times for 19 yards and completed 19-of-30 throws for 183 yards to lead the Tigers.  Rian Struss led the receivers with 8 catches for 71 yards.