DAWSON -- Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg senior Joel Bauman seemed like a sure bet to break the state career rushing record Tuesday night in the Fighting Saints' Section 5A quarterfinal game against Dawson-Boyd.
After all, the standout running back was leading the area with 1,392 yards, an average of 174 yards per game and he needed only 41 yards to become the state's all-time leader.
But the Blackjacks' defense stuffed him all night, limiting him to a season-low 16 yards in 24 carries en route to a 49-0 whitewash at R.B. Clay Field.
Bauman entered the game with 7,463 yards, 40 from tying the state mark of 7,503 set by Tyler Evans of McLeod West in 2001.
Bauman helped KMS win the Class A state title last season when he rushed for 2,941 yards. With many of his teammates from that team having since graduated, Bauman found the holes a little tougher to find this season.
