MORAN — It’s hard to tell which is more foreboding for upcoming Marmaton Valley High opponents.
The Wildcat offense was a juggernaut on the ground, pounding out 223 rushing yards in just over three quarters against visiting Chetopa High.
The defense was even better, limiting the Hornets to 48 yards of total offense and a single first down, against a team that averaged more than 500 yards a game in 2011.
The resulting 48-0 whitewash sent fans home early in the Wildcats’ season-opener, courtesy of Kansas’ eight-man mercy rules.
“I was real pleased with our defense,” Marmaton Valley head coach Kent Houk said. “We stepped up and played tough.”
And while Houk was less impressed with the Wildcat offense — “We missed a few blocking assignments; we’re not where we need to be,” he said — there were still plenty of fireworks.
A safety opened the scoring in the game’s first minute, followed less than two minutes later with an 11-yard touchdown run by Cole Becker.
Ryan Smith followed midway through the opening period with a four-yard touchdown scamper to lead 18-0.
Becker’s three-yard plunge into the end zone pushed the margin to 26-0 at the break.
Daylen Houk sandwiched 20-yard touchdown runs around a 48-yard touchdown by Becker in the second half.
Houk’s second touchdown pushed the margin past 46 points, the threshold needed to end eight-man games after intermission.
Becker rushed for 144 yards on 20 carries. Houk rushed eight times for 59 yards.
Smith attempted only one pass, a successful completion to Sage Hall for a two-point conversion in the first half.
Lucas Hamlin led the Wildcat defense with nine tackles and two sacks. Becker and Houk added eight stops apiece. Jared Kale registered two quarterback sacks and Carlos Gonzales recovered Chetopa’s only fumble.
The victory sets up what promises to be a titanic early-season clash next Friday at home against Three Rivers League foe Crest High. The Lancers opened the season Thursday by crushing Pleasanton 46-0.
“It should be a good game,” Houk said.
