FARGO — A promsing start wasn’t enough for the West Central Broncos in their Premier Football League title game against the Fargo Invaders on Saturday.

The Broncos led by four at halftime but the Invaders ran off 25 straight points in the second half to prevail 35-14 in Premier Bowl IV at Sid Cichy Stadium at Shanley High School.

The Broncos, who came into the game on a five-game winning streak, ended their second season in the league at 6-4. The Invaders won two of three against the Broncos this season and finished 8-2.

“We fell short in the championship game,” said quarterback Steve Peppin. “However, I am extremely proud of our football team, fans and supporters. It has brought great joy to my life to see these men become better men on and off the field through football.”

The Broncos seemed destined for a better fate when running back Joel Bauman zipped 80 yards for a touchdown just 13 seconds into the game.

A Brandon Jones touchdown run and a Lezan Tahir 31-yard field goal put Fargo up 10-7 early in the second quarter. But Bauman struck again, barreling into the end zone from 6 yards out to put the Broncos up 14-10, a lead they took into halftime.

The Broncos had a tough time generating offense in the second half and the second half and the Invaders took command in the third quarter.

Tahir hit a 39-yard field goal to pull the Invaders within one at 14-13, and Jones ran 17 yards for his second touchdown with 1:45 left in the quarter. A two-point conversion put the Invaders ahead 21-14.

The big blow came at 9:30 of the fourth quarter, when Bauman lost a fumble at the Fargo 40 yard line and the Invaders’ Marcus Pratt scooped up the ball and raced 40 yards for a TD that made it 28-14.

Fargo’s defense continued to stymie the Broncos and Alex Becher put the game completely out of reach with a 3-yard scoring run with 90 seconds left in the game.

The Broncos were held to just 8 completions in 20 attempts and 70 yards. Bauman ran for 99 yards on 19 carries.

The Invaders’ Jones finished with 126 yards on 23 carries.

Fargo 35
West Central 14

Broncos (6-4)..................7 7  0   0 — 14
Invaders (8-2).................7 3 11 14 — 35

WC – Joel Bauman 80 run (Keon Thomas kick)
F – Brandon Jones 24 run (Lezan Tahir kick)
F – Tahir 31 field goal
WC – Bauman 6 run (Thomas kick)
F – Tahir 39 field goal
F – Jones 17 run (Kevin Irby pass from Tony Stauss)
F – Marcus Pratt 60 fumble return (Tahir kick)
F – Alex Becher 3 run (Tahir kick)

Broncos
First downs: 9 … Rushing: 28-113 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 8-20-70-3 … Fumbles lost: 1
Rushing: Joel Bauman 19-99-2, Dale Peppin 1-4, Brandon King 1-9, Cameron Halvorson 3-11, Jarrett McAllister 2-5, Jeremiah Harris 1-(-8), Diance Davis (1-(-7)
Passing: King 1-3 6 yds 0-1, Steve Peppin 7-17 64 yds 0-2
Receiving: Andrew Bonnema 1-2, Halvorson 1-6, King 1-28, Bauman 1-(-1), Keante Johnson 3-19, Derrick Dohmann 1-16

Invaders
First downs: 16 … Rushing: 38-171 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 9-16-101-1 … Fumbles lost: 0
Rushing: Brandon Jones 23-126-2, Skyler Jackson 8-33
Passing: Tony Stauss 9-16 101-0-1
Receiving: Nick Jackson 3-50, Matt Petznick 2-14