Slow start plagues Baxter football in loss to St. Edmond

BAXTER — Fort Dodge St. Edmond got an historic night from Grant Galles, and the Baxter football team couldn’t overcome a slow start during a 74-24 home loss on Friday.

The Bolts fell behind the Class 8-man District 9 contest 36-8 after one quarter and never recovered.

Galles highlighted the Gaels’ win with three kickoff return touchdowns, one receiving touchdown and a defensive score.

Cade Robinson led the Bolts with 45 yards on 12 carries and six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Baxter (1-2, 0-2 in district play) did not have starters Stadan Vansice or Cael Wishman for the game and Cainan Travis was limited.

Jack Anderson gained 71 yards and scored one TD on six carries, Perrin Sulzle rushed for 16 yards, caught seven passes for 50 yards and one TD and tossed an interception.

Eli Dee threw for 163 yards, two scores and three picks, Travis rushed five times for 51 yards and James Esqueda gained 11 yards on his only catch. Colten Damman was 1-for-1 through the air for 11 yards in his prep debut. It was the first career varsity catch for Esqueda.

Anderson led Baxter’s defense with eight tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss. Nolan Hill contributed 3.5 tackles and Skyler Stoll produced three tackles and two tackles for loss.

Galles had three catches for 63 yards and one TD, averaged 60.7 yards per kickoff return and led the Gaels’ defense with six tackles and a pick six.

Ethan Swisher completed all five of his passes for 103 yards and three TDs and Quintin Jaeschke and Adam Walker each had six tackles and four tackles for loss.

The visiting Gaels (2-1, 1-1) snagged four interception and registered 12 tackles for loss. Koleman Hanson booted nine touchbacks, kicked a 30-yard field goal and was 3-of-4 on his PATs.

Baxter was outscored 25-8 in the second and 13-0 in the third. The Bolts scored the only points of the fourth.