Adam Papin/MDN – Velva running back Hank Bodine (No. 20) leaps over Beulah defender Ronan Klindworth (No. 13) as he fights for extra yards during the Aggies win over the Miners.

VELVA – Sometimes the best way to keep an opponent from scoring is to keep their offense on the sidelines. That strategy worked well for Beulah in the first quarter of their match-up against Velva/Drake-Anamoose/Garrison on Friday in Velva, as the Miners used up 11 minutes of the first quarter, moving 87 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

Unfortunately for Beulah, when Velva finally got the ball, they scored 40 points before Beulah got back in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. The Aggies cruised to a 40-13 win.

Treyson Inglehart and Hank Bodine each scored multiple touchdowns, and Matt Jochim added a seven-yard touchdown reception of his own for the Aggies. Velva also scored a safety, when Beulah snapped the ball out the back of the end zone in the third quarter.

“I didn’t get one [touchdown] last year until game five,” said Bodine. “So it felt pretty good to get one in game two. We came in a little flat, but I was really happy with how we played after that. We really fired off the ball, and we played really well.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Velva head coach Matt Weidler.

“It’s a great win,” said Weidler. “It’s a great program over there, well coached schematically. They pose a lot of problems for you. Offensively, we were able to run the ball and got some things through the air, so it’s a good team win for the players.”

Beulah’s defense did show some life in the second half, stopping Schepp on a 4th and goal from the two-yard line to stop the Aggies from extending their lead.

With 3:23 left, Beulah quarterback Trace Beauchamp ran 68 yards for a touchdown to cut the Aggies lead to 40-13.

Velva quarterback Ben Schepp went 14 of 17 for 232 yards passing, and two touchdown passes.

At halftime, the North Dakota A.P. Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA) awarded retired Velva coach Larry Sandy with the group’s Special Achievement Award, which is the highest award the NDAPSSA gives. Sandy was one of three winners this year, with Linton coach Dan Carr and Bismarck St. Mary’s Dan Smeeker.

Velva improves to 2-0 on the year. The Aggies will travel to Des-Lacs Burlington to take on the Lakers in the Region opener for each team. Beulah drops to 1-1. The Miners will continue their scheduling gauntlet with a trip to Bowman County next week before hosting Dickinson Trinity on Sept. 8.