The Ballard Bombers exploded offensively Friday night, cruising to a 56–14 road victory over Des Moines North in Week 6 district play.  The win marked Ballard's first district victory of the season, improving their record to 1–5 overall (1–1 district) as they head into the second half of the conference slate.

Ballard set the tone early, scoring 21 first-quarter points and never looking back.  The Bombers led 28–6 at halftime before a dominant third quarter put the game well out of reach with four more touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Bryce Miller turned in a career performance, completing 9 of 15 passes for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns, spreading the ball efficiently to six different receivers.  Miller also added 52 rushing yards on 4 carries, keeping the Polar Bears' defense off balance all night.

Senior playmaker Dillon Shoen had a standout night, scoring four total touchdowns — three on the ground and one through the air — while rushing for 46 yards on just 6 carries and adding 47 receiving yards.  Junior Jack Plucar provided a spark out of the backfield as well, carrying the ball 10 times for 88 yards and a 46-yard touchdown run.

Through the air, senior Easton Ersland caught two passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Jake Clement added a 9-yard touchdown reception.

On the defensive side, the Bombers were just as dominant, forcing four interceptions on the night.  Aidan Wilson returned one for a touchdown, while Shoen, Kanen DeYoung, and Blake Brendeland each added picks of their own.  Sophomore Trent Baker tallied the team's lone sack, and the defense held North scoreless in both the first and fourth quarters.

Special teams also contributed to the complete performance — Sam Hoffman went 8-for-8 on PATs, while the Bombers averaged 26 yards per punt return and 24.7 yards per kickoff return to set up favorable field position all game long.

Ballard's balanced attack and defensive takeaways helped them secure a statement win as they continue to build momentum in district play.

Up Next: The Bombers return home Friday, October 10, to host Gilbert at 7:00 PM in another key district matchup.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography