WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     wwg — The Chargers got off to a bit of a slow start fumbling just outside of their own red zone. But the Charger defense stepped up stopping the Raiders and taking over on downs.

    Then the Chargers started moving the ball behind Andy Merrick and Dana Madson, but were forced to punt when the drive stalled out at their own 45. A running into the kicker penalty moved the ball up five yards but was not enough to get the first down. Madson then booted a punt that was not returned.



    Again the Charger defense rose to the occasion getting a sack and forcing a punt. The short punt was returned by Madson down to the 19 of the Raiders. Merrick then blasted through the line for an 11 yard gain, followed by Madson taking it in, unmolested from 8 yards out, to give the Chargers the lead 6-0 with 6:35 left in the quarter. The two point try was no good.

    On the next possession the Chargers held the Raiders to a couple of first downs with their drive stalling out at their own 42. Andy Merrick returned the punt to the 47 yard line of the Raiders. The M&M boys,  Madson and Merrick, combined to take the ball down to the 15 of the Raiders. On the next play Elzenga completed a pass to Madson who scampered into the end zone for his second score of the night. Elzenga and Madson hooked up again for the two point conversion putting the Chargers up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

    In the second quarter the Charger defense stepped up again pushing the Raiders back to their own one yard line. They were able to get out to their own seven before punting. After getting the ball back at the Raiders 30 the Chargers wasted little time scoring after Elzenga completed a 24 yard pass to Shane Buchman down to the 2 yard line. Then Madson crashed in for the score,  but it was called back on a penalty. Two plays later Merrick dashed 9 yards into the end zone, but again the score was erased by a penalty. With 9:08 to play in the quarter Elzenga tossed a strike to Merrick taking it in from 18 yards out, this time the score stood. The extra  point attempt failed but the Chargers increased their lead to 20-0.

    On the next series the Raiders coughed up the ball on the kick return at their own 20 yard line where Matt Otto recovered the ball. Three plays later Elzenga completed a pass to Levi Bunting for the score with 7:10 to play in the period. The extra point try failed but the Chargers upped their score to 26-0.

    Less than two minutes later the Chargers again took over on downs at the 25 of the Raiders and on the next play Elzenga threw another  strike to Aaron Hass for another touchdown. Elzenga then completed a pass to Buchman for the extra points moving the score up to 34-0 as the half ended.

    In the third quarter the Chargers scored again with 8:09 to play. On the second play of their second possession Madson broke through the secondary and raced 58 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt failed but the Chargers upped their lead to 40-0.

    Near the end of the period Fulda found their wheels and scored two TD’s and two extra points within 20 seconds.

    In the fourth period the Chargers shut the door for good and added another score and extra points to close out the game 48-16. Levi Bunting scored the final touchdown on a 39 yard pass play. Bunting also caught the two point conversion.

    Madson lead the  rushing with 167 yards on 17 carries; Merrick had 81 yards on 9 totes; Sean McCroskey had 31 yards on  2 tries; Otto had 14 yards on 5 carries.

    Passing - Elzenga completed 9 of 13 for 141 yards 5 TD’s and 3 extra points.

    Receiving - Bunting had 54 yards on 3 catches; Buchman had 2 catches for 26 yards; Hass had 1 for 25 yards; Merrick had 1 for 17 yards; Madson  had 2 for 19 yards.

    Madson had 2 punts for  64 yards and  Christians had 1 for 30 yards.

    Punt returns - Merrick had 3 for 34 yards; Madson had 1 for 17 yards; and Tyson Berg had 1 for 10 yards.

    Kick returns - Madson had 1 for 18 yards; McCroskey had 1 for 20 yards.

    Defense tackles - Madson had 10; Otto had 9 and a fumble recovery; Hass and Bunting each had 8; Hass had 1 sack; Bunting had 3 sacks and a fumble recovery; Buchman had 6 and a sack; Schoborg had 6, 1 sac, and 1 fumble recovery; Logan Weis had 7 tackles.

    The Chargers will host Nicollet this Friday at 7:00.