A resurgent Lake Mills football team recovered from an early deficit to dismantle West Fork 41-13 Friday in Sheffield.

Bulldogs’ running back Jake Brekken delivered another electric performance, rushing for 173 yards and two touchdowns as Lake Mills (4-3, 4-1 Class 1A, District 2) won its fourth consecutive game to move over .500 for the first time this season.

The Warhawks took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter but Brekken’s 33-yard touchdown run made it a 7-6 game.

Levi Dahle scored the first of his two touchdowns in the game with a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.

Lake Mills added a touchdown later in the quarter on a wild play. Tyler Rice intercepted a West Fork pass and returned it to the Warhawks’ 1 yard line, but fumbled and teammate Chris Throne was there to recover the ball in the end zone and give the Bulldogs a 21-7 lead at halftime.

Dahle and Brekken each scored again in the third quarter and Rice finally got into the end zone in the fourth quarter for the 41-13 final.

After starting the season 0-3, Lake Mills finds itself in a prime position to make a return trip to the playoffs as its tied for the second-best record in the district.

The emergence of a young offensive line is largely responsible for the renaissance of the Bulldogs. Lake Mills returned just one starter on the line this season and the group is starting to mature and gel, said Bulldogs head coach Bill Byrnes.

“We had to get that offensive line shored up,” Byrnes said.

With the help of the offensive line Brekken has rushed for 655 yards and nine touchdowns in the last three games.

Lake Mills faces St. Edmond Friday in Lake Mills.

Lake Mills 41, West Fork 13

Lake Mills 6 15 14 6 — 41

West Fork 7 0 0 6 — 13

First Quarter

WF—Winfrey 23 pass from Tuttle (Gaffney kick).

LM—Brekken 33 run (kick failed).

Second Quarter

LM—Dahle 6 run (Byrnes run).

LM—Throne fumble recovery (Brekken kick).

Third Quarter

LM—Dahle 4 run (Brekken kick).

LM—Brekken 5 run (Brekken kick).

Fourth Quarter

LM—Rice 17 run (kick failed).

WF—Shaub 4 run (run failed).

LM WF

First Downs 12 13

Total Net Yards 334 280

Rushes-Yards NA-331 NA-149

Passing 3 131

Punt Returns NA NA

Punts 2-NA 4-NA

Kickoff Returns NA NA

Interceptions-Ret. 2-NA 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 1-3-0 1 2-19-2

Sacked-Yard lost NA NA

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties-Yards 5-NA 5-NA

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—LM, Brekken 18-173, Dahle 10-61, Rice 6-61.

PASSING—LM, Byrnes 1-3-0-3.

RECEIVING—NA

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.