WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     WWG —  For the  Chargers it was an ill wind that blew from the northwest at Hills last Wednesday night. Patriot running back Dalton Bass padded his stats putting up 270 yards rushing against the Chargers.

    The Patriots won the toss and deferred their choice to the second half. The Patriots kick went out of bounds giving the ball to the Chargers at their own 35. The Chargers went three and out and were forced to punt. Kicking into the strong wind the ball went out of bounds  near the mid-field. The  Pats found the end zone four plays later for the first score of the night. After a successful extra point try the Pats lead 8-0.



    On the next series the Chargers started on their own 20 after the kickoff sailed out of the end zone. Again the Chargers went three and out and were forced to punt into the wind, again the ball went out at the 50 yard line.

    This time the Charger defense rose to the occasion holding the Pats to three and out forcing a punt. Again the Chargers were  unable to pick up a first down and were forced to punt. The wind carried the ball out of bounds a couple yards beyond the 50 yard line.

    After getting into Charger territory,  Charger _____________

recovered  a Patriot fumble just inside the Charger 40. The Chargers then picked up a first down near midfield as the quarter ended. The drive ended two plays into the second quarter when John Elzenga’s pass was picked off and returned to the Patriots 40. Several plays later the Pats scored on a 7 yard run. The Charger defense stuffed the extra point attempt but the Pa’s upped their lead to 14-0.

    On the next series the Chargers went three and out punting again. The punt ended up near mid-field where the Pats took over. Two plays later Aaron Hass fell on another Patriot fumble at the  45 of the Chargers. Unfortunately the Chargers still were unable to get anything going and were forced to punt. This time Dana Madson’s punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback. The Patriots then marched the ball down field but were stopped cold by the Charger defense when they came up with a big sack just before the close of the half.

    The Patriots pretty much had their way scoring three times in the third quarter. The first score was on a 5 yard run by Bass, later he scored from 20 yards out and the Pats cashed in later in the period with a 9 yard pass play. In the fourth quarter the Pat’s tacked on another score making the final 42-0.

    Rushing: Madson had 40 yards on 10 carries; Merrick had 20 yards on 5 carries.

    Punting: Madson had 5 punts for 132 yards; Walker Christians had 1 punt for 20 yards.

    Defense: Madson had 19 tackles; Logan Weis had 15 tackles; Buchman had 13 tackles and 1 fumble recovery; Tristan Joel had 11 tackles and 1 fumble recovery; Levi Bunting had 8 tackles and 1 sack; Hass  made 5 tackles and 1 sack, and a fumble recovery.