Culbertson’s Football Season Comes To End With Home Playoff Loss To Belt

Culbertson’s dream football season came to an end when the Cowboys lost to Belt, 36-15, in the first round of the Class C state playoffs in Culbertson on Saturday, Oct. 30.

The Cowboys, who didn’t win a single game last year, entered the contest as the second seed from the Eastern C. Culbertson struggled with turnovers during the first half, and the Cowboys fell behind 8-0 in the first quarter and 24-0 at the half.

Belt’s two touchdowns in the second quarter came on a 19-yard interception return and a 42-yard fumble return.

Defensive highlights for Culbertson in the second quarter included Kyler Kempton stopping a runner short on a fourth-down carry and Justice Bengochea creating a turnover when Belt had the ball inside the Cowboy 10.

The Cowboys displayed great character to open the third quarter as the running of Kempton, Bengochea and Payton Perkins put the ball at midfield for a first down. The Cowboys, however, ended up punting the ball after a thirddown incompletion.

Belt then marched 56 yards and scored on a fourth-down run to take a 30-0 advantage with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter.

A pass from Perkins to Bengochea and a 15-yard scramble run by Perkins put the ball at the Belt 30 on Culbertson’s next possession. The Cowboys’ threat ended due to heavy quarterback pressure from the Huskies.

On Culbertson’s next possession, the Cowboys used completions to Bengochea and James Kirkaldie to move down to the Belt 15. After Perkins picked up two first downs, the Cowboys reached the end zone on a one-yard run by Kempton with 6:14 left.

Belt came right back to score on a 65-yard pass play to put the margin at 36-7 with six minutes to play.

The Cowboys added a touchdown when Kempton broke loose for a 43-yard touchdown run with 1:42 remaining.

Perkins ran in the twopoint conversion for a 36-15 final.