Becker's Andrew Stanger admitted he was shaky before Saturday's season-opening game against Hutchinson. After all, he was taking over as starting quarterback for the state champion Bulldogs.

“I was a little nervous at the start,” the senior said. “But after the first play all the butterflies went away.”

That wasn’t enough to keep the bees away, as Stanger played with a swollen (non-throwing) left hand, a potentially painful distraction.

Stanger was unfazed by the untimely bee sting as he scored Becker’s first touchdown of the season on a quarterback sneak and threw a touchdown pass in the opening quarter of the Bulldogs’ 41-14 rout of the Tigers at Becker High School.

“He (Stanger) was outstanding and had a great summer playing 7-on-7,” Becker coach Dwight Lundeen said. “I couldn’t be happier with how he played.”

Stanger completed 14 of 23 passes for 171 yards. Because of harsh winds, Stanger avoided throwing the ball vertically and instead found his receivers on shorter lateral routes.

What hasn’t changed in the offseason is Becker’s overwhelming defense that held a skilled DeLaSalle team to just one touchdown in last year’s state Class 4A championship.

“We have seven returning starters on defense,” Lundeen, said. “I never, ever  defer (the opening kickoff) - but I deferred today. Why? Because of seven studs on defense.”

Senior captain Milan Kent, a key cog in the Bulldogs' defense, plays outside linebacker while also handling a share of the running duties.

“He’s probably one of the best two-way players in the state,” Stanger said.

Kent was limited by a labrum injury last season which kept him predominately on defense. Now, Kent is ready for any extra workload Lundeen is willing to give him as he rushed for 88 yards on seven carries opening day.

While there is still much to perfect after just one game, Kent and Stanger agree when the Bulldogs perform to their best ability they’re the top team in Class 4A.

“We know that no one’s gonna beat us,” Stanger said. “The only way we’re gonna lose is if we beat ourselves.

“We’re looking to go back-to-back, that’s our goal.”

Becker senior captains Andrew Stanger and Milan Kent each had a hand in two touchdowns en route to a 41-14 victory over Hutchinson Saturday afternoon at Becker High School.

The Bulldogs’ stingy defense held the Tigers scoreless in the first 24 minutes resulting in a 27-0 lead at halftime.

The game featured two state tournament-caliber programs -- Becker (1-0) is the defending state Class 4A champion while Hutchinson was knocked out in the semifinals last year.

Stanger, in his first start at quarterback, lunged forward on a one-yard dive into the end zone for the first score. Late in the first quarter, he found Alex Meidt on an crossing route for a 27-yard touchdown.

Hutchinson (0-1) mustered just 22 yards on the ground and was held to one first down in the opening half.

The Tigers’ showed no signs of quitting as they traded touchdowns with Becker in the third quarter. A bright spot of Hutch’s offense was Isaiah Nelson’s 13-yard touchdown run where he shed a defender and cut into the end zone.

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