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Photo by Hans Hallgren

Angelo Raftopoulos cheers on his fellow Bulldogs during the second quarter of the game against visiting Battle Mountain High School. The Bulldogs ran off to an early lead in the game, putting 31 points on the board to the Huskies 7 before the half.

Photo by Hans Hallgren

MCHS junior Colin Walt goes for the sack against Battle Mountain's Parke Robbins, forcing him out of bounds in the third quarter. The Bulldogs' win against the Huskies brings their record to 3-0.

Losing one fullback is bad.

Losing two might be disastrous.

Not for the Moffat County High School boys varsity football team.

The team overcame injuries to senior fullbacks Pablo Salcido and Jasen Kettle to beat Battle Mountain High School, 45-7, on Friday at Moffat County High School.

One of the large reasons for the team's success was sophomore fullback Mason Updike.

In a game in which Kettle started but later had to leave because of a shoulder injury, Updike was able to keep the offense in tempo as he rumbled for two touchdowns and ate up the clock late in the second half with violent rushes up the middle.

Updike was at a loss for words after the team's victory.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "It's exciting. It's just crazy."

The Bulldogs looked to be in fine shape after Kettle, starting in place of the injured Salcido, ran for two quick touchdowns of 69 and 79 yards on his way to 207 first half rushing yards.

The Huskies had problems catching up to the speedy Kettle, especially when he ran to outside, and he quickly led the Bulldogs to a 14-0 advantage.

After a long drive in which he was pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line, he didn't immediately get back up.

Enter Updike.

Last year, he had several touches in blow-out scenarios, he said, so rushing win a close game was something new.

"I didn't breathe," he said. "I just ran."

Before Updike's big second half, the Bulldogs found the end zone twice more before the end of the second quarter.

Quarterback Matt Linsacum threw a touchdown pass to tight end Brady Conner for the third straight game to get the Bulldogs to 21-0.

A quarterback sneak shortly after put the game at 28-0, and after a Bulldogs field goal and an 89-yard kick return by Battle Mountain's Chris Libertini, the score was 31-7.

In the second half, it was Updike's turn to shine.

For his first touchdown drive in the third quarter, he ran behind wide reciever Scott Mann, who leveled a vicious blow to a Huskie defender to open up a lane for Updike.

"I was just running behind Scott, and he had that block," Updike said. "I could see I was headed to the promised land."

His second touchdown was a little less dramatic.

"I just fought threw," Updike said. "Leaped over and into the end zone."

The Bulldogs' defense again was solid, with the only points coming from a kick-off return.

Miguel Molina and Jordan Wilson had interceptions, and linebackers Nathan Tomlin, Halen Raymond, C.J. Walt, Brian Ivy and Todd Stewart were apt at keeping Battle Mountain's dual quarterbacks Jake Engle and Parke Robbins at bay.

Moffat County (3-0 overall, 2-0 in Western Slope League) will travel to Palisade on Sept. 25.