Slow start plagues Baxter football in loss to Colo-NESCO

BAXTER — The Baxter football team couldn’t overcome a slow start against Colo-NESCO on Friday.

The Bolts piled up 580 total yards, but it wasn’t enough as the Royals won the Class 8-man District 9 contest 50-48 to spoil Baxter’s Homecoming.

The win snapped a three-game skid by Colo-NESCO. It also was the Royals’ second straight win over Baxter after the Bolts won the first five in the series since 2018.

Colo-NESCO led 16-6 after one quarter. Baxter (2-3, 1-3 in the district) trimmed its margin to two at halftime, but the two teams played even in the second half.

Perrin Sulzle led the Bolts with 266 passing yards, 209 rushing yards and six total touchdowns. He also had eight tackles on defense.

Eli Dee completed two passes for 36 yards and one score and hauled in 10 passes for 101 yards and two TDs, Cade Robinson rushed for 60 yards on 11 carries and caught 10 passes for 85 yards and Stadan Vansice finished with nine catches for 110 yards and one score.

Robinson and Sulzle rank tied for seventh in 8-man this season with 24 receptions, while Vansice ranks tied for 10th with 23.

Maddux Tuhn scored the first varsity receiving touchdown of his career. It was a 2-yard TD catch.

Cael Wishman returned from an injury to produce six tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss, Cainan Travis registered seven tackles and Aiden Johnson had 4.5 tackles.

Jack Anderson tallied 3.5 tackles and Trevor Hamilton posted three tackles.

Mark Bower led Colo-NESCO (3-3, 1-3) with 100 rushing yards and three scores and 10 tackles.

Breckin Clatt finished with 66 rushing yards and one TD, 47 yards on three catches and 12.5 tackles. The Royals rushed for 209 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry.