Off to a strong start

By Sam Peterson

Grant County Herald

The 2026 season could not have started much better for the Border West Buccaneers. The team started off on their home field in Wheaton Sept. 4 against Stephen-Argyle Central and finished with a thrilling 26-20 win. A week later, the Bucs went on the road to play Hancock and blew out the Owls 46-0 to start 2026 2-0.

Border West 26

SAC 20

The Bucs kicked off the 2026 season with a one-possession win over Stephan-Argyle Center behind a big night from quarterback Owen Deal.

It was a bit of a slow start for both teams offensively in the first quarter of 2026 action, but Stephen-Argyle Central scored the only touchdown of the quarter halfway through to take a 7-0 advantage after one. Thanks to a 47-yard touchdown run from Tryg Olson in the second quarter and successful two-point conversion, the Bucs took an 8-7 lead. Just before the end of the half, Border West scored again on a 18-yard pass from Owen Deal to Brock Martig to take a 14-7 lead into the halftime locker room.

The Bucs stretched their lead even more when Deal completed a short pass to Sam Rinke that he broke for 61 yards and a touchdown to push the advantage to 20-7 with seven minutes left in the third. The Storm scored quickly in the fourth quarter to cut it back down to one possession, 20-14. Border West was always able to keep their noses in front and a bruising 19-yard run from Martig carried bodies into the endzone to give the Bucs a 26-14 advantage with just eight minutes left. SAC came back to score within a minute to keep the game tight, making it 26-20. The Bucs could not score the final seven and a half minutes, but were also able to stop the Storm to secure the six-point win.

Through the air, Deal finished the game 11 for 14 for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Martig was the main target and he had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Sam Rinke caught one pass for 61 yards and a touchdown. Teague Nachbor caught four passes for 22 yards. 

On the ground, Tryg Olson led the team with 86 yards and a touchdown off nine carries. Dylan Groebner added 71 yards on 16 carries.

Martig led the team on defense with 10 solo tackles, two assists and led the team with two tackles for loss. Groebner chipped in with nine solos and six assists.

BW 0 14 6  6  – 26

SAC 7  0  0 13 – 20

Scoring plays

1st quarter

SAC – 21-yard rushing TD

2nd quarter

BW – Tryg Olson 47-yard rushing TD

BW – Owen Deal 18-yard passing TD to Brock Martig

3rd quarter

BW – Owen Deal 61-yard passing TD to Sam Rinke

4th quarter

SAC – 2-yard rushing TD

BW – Brock Martig 19-yard rushing TD

SAC – 80-yard passing TD

BW Individual Stats

Passing – Owen Deal 11-14, 156 yards, TD-2

Receiving – Brock Martig 5-76, TD; Sam Rinke 1-61, TD; Teague Nachbor 4-22; Tryg Olson 1-(-3)

Rushing – Tryg Olson 9-86, TD; Dylan Groebner 16-71; Owen Deal 15-29; Brock Martig 1-19, TD

Defense – Brock Martig 10 solos, 2 assists, TFL-2; Dylan Groebner 9 solos, 6 assists; Sam Rinke 3 solos, 1 assist, TFL; Jaxon Gary 3 solos, 1 assist; Tryg Olson 3 solos, sack, TFL; Blake Bohlen 2 solos, 2 assists; TysonShay 2 solos, 3 assists; Kashtyn Schmidt 2 solos, 2 assists, sack, TFL; Logan Hennessy 1 solo, 1 assist; Patrick Volker 1 solo, 4 assists; Griffin Klemm 1 solo, 1 assist; VXX Redner 1 solo, TFL; Zander Murphy 4 assists; Tristen Schultz 1 assist

Border West 46

Hancock 0

The Bucs absolutely dominated on the road against the Owls. The team cruised their way through 48 minutes and dominated with a 46-0 victory. 

Deal started the game quickly with a pair of touchdown passes to Teague Nachbor and Sam Rinke in the first quarter to give the Bucs a 14-0 lead. The onslaught continued in the second quarter with a 39-yard passing touchdown from Deal to Nachbor, a four-yard TD pass from Deal to Jacob Blume and a four-yard rushing touchdown from Dylan Groebner to give the Bucs a commanding 32-0 lead at the halftime break.

The Bucs called off the dogs a bit in the second half, but still were able to stretch their advantage. A 17-yard rushing touchdown from Groebner in the third quarter and a seven-yard rushing touchdown from Tristen Schultz in the fourth quarter made the final score 46-0 and gives the Bucs a 2-0 record through two games.

Deal had a big game for the Bucs at quarterback, finishing 15 for 19 for 197 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball six times for 43 yards. Teague Nachbor was the leading receiver for the Bucs, finishing with six catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Tryg Olson caught three passes for 76 yards, Jacob Blume had two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown and Sam Rinke caught three passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Dylan Groebner led the team with eight carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns. 

This week, the Bucs will be at home in Wheaton when they welcome Clearbrook-Gonvick to town Friday, Sept. 18.

BW 14 18 6 8 – 46

Hancock 0   0  0 0 –  0 

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

BW -Owen Deal 5-yard passing TD to Teague Nachbor – 8-0

BW – Owen Deal 6-yard passing TD to Sam Rinke – 14-0

2nd Quarter

BW – Owen Deal 39-yard passing TD to Teague Nachbor – 20-0

BW – Owen Deal 4-yard passing TD to Jacob Blume – 26-0 

BW  – Dylan Groebner 4-yard rushing TD 32-0

3rd Quarter

BW – Dylan Groebner 17-yard rushing TD 38-0

4th Quarter

BW – Tristen Schultz 7-yard rushing TD 46-0

Border West individual stats

Passing – Owen Deal 15-19, 197 yards, 4 TD

Rushing – Dylan Groebner 8-72, TD-2; Blake Fuhrman 3-45; Owen Deal 6-43; Tryg Olson 5-24; Tristen Schultz 2-9, TD

Receiving – Teague Nachbor 6-96, TD-2; Olson 3-76; Jacob Blume 2-25, TD; Sam Rinke 3-10, TD; Brock Martig 1-(-10)