BRODHEAD - Walworth Big Foot senior running back Mason Dixon knew what was at stake in the Rock Valley South Conference season opener against Brodhead-Juda.
Dixon rushed for 176 yards on eight carries and scored four touchdowns to help the Chiefs roll to a 42-7 win over Brodhead-Juda Friday night.
"It's a great feeling," Dixon said. "They have been a team that has been one of our rivals. It will probably be one of our tougher games this year."
Dixon raced for a 60-yard TD on just the third play of the Chiefs' first possession. The Cardinals had a botched punt and the Chiefs took over at the Cardinals' 26-yard line. Four plays later, Big Foot cashed in when Dixon scored on a 3-yard TD plunge to give the Chiefs a 14-0 lead. Dixon also scored touchdowns on 57- and 38-yard runs.
The Chiefs (2-0, 1-0 Rock Valley South) racked up 337 total rushing yards and forced three Cardinals' turnovers that led to 14 points. Brodhead-Juda (0-2, 0-1 Rock Valley South) will look to pick up its first win at Edgerton next week.
"At 0-2 we got our work cut out for us," Brodhead-Juda senior quarterback Matt Trotter said. "Two years ago, we started out 0-2 and we ended our season in Madison. It's always good to play a couple of tough teams early to work the kinks out. It will make every aspect of our team better."
Big Foot senior Matt Ripkey dodged tacklers and raced in for a 79-yard TD run to extend the Chiefs' lead to 21-0 with 6 minutes, 3 seconds to go in the second quarter.
Big Foot's Tim Long intercepted a Trotter pass late in the second quarter to set up the next scoring drive for the Chiefs. Three plays later, Dixon rumbled 57 yards for a touchdown to give the Chiefs a 28-0 halftime lead.
"Defensively, I think we made some plays," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said. "We just gave up a few too many big plays. We couldn't stop the big plays."
The Cardinals moved the ball throughout the game, but couldn't sustain a scoring drive until late in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals marched 71 yards in 10 plays and sophomore Reeve Lincoln scored on a 2-yard TD plunge. Lincoln rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. He did most of his damage in the second half after running backs Cody Suiter and Derek Turner sprained ankles in the first half.
"It stinks to get beat 42-7 on your home turf," Lincoln said. "Scoring that touchdown was big momentum for Edgerton. I will run harder and show people what I and the team are made of next week."
Matthys said Suiter and Turner suffered ankle sprains and he wasn't sure after the game if they can play next week at Edgerton.
"We will have to check with them tonight," Matthys said. "I think Reeve did a nice job tonight. We have to give credit to Hunter Colden for leading in there at fullback."
Lincoln gave credit to his offensive line and remains ready for an expanded role if Suiter and Turner miss any games.
"Our line got a good push for me," Lincoln said. "Without them, I'm nothing."
Another aspect the Cardinals can build off of is their passing game. Trotter was 10-of-16 passing for 96 yards and two interceptions. Brodhead-Juda senior Cole Bauman had six receptions for 68 yards.
"The passing game will only get better," Trotter said. "I have to get better at setting my feet and keeping my elbow up. The connection between Cole and I will only get better."
Trotter also rushed for 40 yards on 16 carries.
"I think Matt Trotter played a good game," Matthys said. "He really made some plays when plays broke down."
Dixon rushed for 176 yards on eight carries and scored four touchdowns to help the Chiefs roll to a 42-7 win over Brodhead-Juda Friday night.
"It's a great feeling," Dixon said. "They have been a team that has been one of our rivals. It will probably be one of our tougher games this year."
Dixon raced for a 60-yard TD on just the third play of the Chiefs' first possession. The Cardinals had a botched punt and the Chiefs took over at the Cardinals' 26-yard line. Four plays later, Big Foot cashed in when Dixon scored on a 3-yard TD plunge to give the Chiefs a 14-0 lead. Dixon also scored touchdowns on 57- and 38-yard runs.
The Chiefs (2-0, 1-0 Rock Valley South) racked up 337 total rushing yards and forced three Cardinals' turnovers that led to 14 points. Brodhead-Juda (0-2, 0-1 Rock Valley South) will look to pick up its first win at Edgerton next week.
"At 0-2 we got our work cut out for us," Brodhead-Juda senior quarterback Matt Trotter said. "Two years ago, we started out 0-2 and we ended our season in Madison. It's always good to play a couple of tough teams early to work the kinks out. It will make every aspect of our team better."
Big Foot senior Matt Ripkey dodged tacklers and raced in for a 79-yard TD run to extend the Chiefs' lead to 21-0 with 6 minutes, 3 seconds to go in the second quarter.
Big Foot's Tim Long intercepted a Trotter pass late in the second quarter to set up the next scoring drive for the Chiefs. Three plays later, Dixon rumbled 57 yards for a touchdown to give the Chiefs a 28-0 halftime lead.
"Defensively, I think we made some plays," Brodhead-Juda coach Jim Matthys said. "We just gave up a few too many big plays. We couldn't stop the big plays."
The Cardinals moved the ball throughout the game, but couldn't sustain a scoring drive until late in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals marched 71 yards in 10 plays and sophomore Reeve Lincoln scored on a 2-yard TD plunge. Lincoln rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. He did most of his damage in the second half after running backs Cody Suiter and Derek Turner sprained ankles in the first half.
"It stinks to get beat 42-7 on your home turf," Lincoln said. "Scoring that touchdown was big momentum for Edgerton. I will run harder and show people what I and the team are made of next week."
Matthys said Suiter and Turner suffered ankle sprains and he wasn't sure after the game if they can play next week at Edgerton.
"We will have to check with them tonight," Matthys said. "I think Reeve did a nice job tonight. We have to give credit to Hunter Colden for leading in there at fullback."
Lincoln gave credit to his offensive line and remains ready for an expanded role if Suiter and Turner miss any games.
"Our line got a good push for me," Lincoln said. "Without them, I'm nothing."
Another aspect the Cardinals can build off of is their passing game. Trotter was 10-of-16 passing for 96 yards and two interceptions. Brodhead-Juda senior Cole Bauman had six receptions for 68 yards.
"The passing game will only get better," Trotter said. "I have to get better at setting my feet and keeping my elbow up. The connection between Cole and I will only get better."
Trotter also rushed for 40 yards on 16 carries.
"I think Matt Trotter played a good game," Matthys said. "He really made some plays when plays broke down."
