After finding out my main camera wasn’t going to work, it was all free and easy. I don’t know how the pictures from the other camera will turn out, but it will have to do.

As for the game itself, Osborne pulled away after a close first half to a 52-28 victory. Thunder Ridge appeared to get right back in the game after recovering a Bulldog fumble at it own 2 and converting it into a touchdown on a 72-yard scamper by Trent Rietzke around right end. The Longhorns missed the 2-point conversion, but trailed by only two with just over three minutes to go before halftime.

Unfortunately for the home team, Osborne came right back and scored a touchdown with six seconds to go before halftime. It might have been worse than 32-22 at the break if not for a penalty.

The Bulldogs recovered a short kickoff following their fourth touchdown, and on what appeared to be the final play of the first half, Osborne quarterback Jake Tiernan threw a pass deep down the right sideline which Cullen Grabast hauled in at the 5. He averted a Longhorn tackler and dove into the end zone.

The score was for naught. There were offsetting penalties–illegal formation against Osborne and an illegal hit against Thunder Ridge. Osborne got another play, but Tiernan just took a knee.

The Bulldogs drove to a touchdown on their first possession of the second half. Rietzke struck back by returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, but that would be Thunder Ridge’s last hurrah. Osborne dominated the rest of the game and won by a comfortable margin.

Osborne, which won the 8-man Division I state championship in 2013, hasn’t lost since the 2012 regular season finale. And here’s an interesting fact which may bode well for the Bullldogs: each of the previous two visiting teams to win at Kensington, Hill City in 2010 and Rock Hills in 2012, reached the Division I state championship game, even though they lost.

The drive back was rather easy. I passed Smith Center’s bus at Stockton, and Phillipsburg’s bus just south of Plainville. I passed on stopping at Hays and headed right back to Russell.

I want to go to Kansas City later today to visit everyone at Buffalo Wild Wings. I’m scared some won’t want to see me.