PINEVILLE, La. — Ruston High football put together a nearly flawless game Friday night defeating the Pineville Rebels 62-0 to pick up its sixth straight win and improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in District 2-5A play.
Ruston dominated in nearly every area of the stat book with 424 yards rushing compared to just 27 for Pineville along with 23 first downs compared to seven.
Ruston struck quickly twice in the first quarter in the first three minutes; first with an 18-yard screen touchdown toss to senior wide receiver Aaron Jackson. On the ensuing Pineville drive, senior defensive tackle Christian Davis fell on a bad snap in the end zone for a second Bearcat touchdown.
The Bearcats extended their lead to 21-0 after a 10-yard touchdown run by sophomore Jordan Hayes with 4:43 to go in the first quarter. Hayes totaled 130 rushing yards in the first half on just 10 carries.
“I thought our first group did a very good job in the first half with execution on offense and getting the ball in the end zone,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “I thought our defense did great getting them stopped. And I think our special teams executed very well. It’s what I wanted to do going into this ballgame; regardless of what the situation was or who we were playing.”
Pineville struggled with bad snaps in the first quarter, and finished with minus 36 rushing yards, while the Bearcats put up nearly 90 yards on the ground in the first quarter.
Jackson scored his second touchdown of the first half on a 40-yard touchdown pass on a beautiful throw by senior quarterback Jaden Osborne with 11:54 to go until halftime. After a block point after attempt, the Bearcats led 27-0.
Senior fullback Lajaveon Ellis scored from inside the one-yard line with 7:07 in the second quarter to extend the lead to 34-0. The Bearcats scored touchdowns on their first four offensive drives of the night.
After another Hayes touchdown to start the third quarter (this from 58 yards out), the Bearcats were able to put in non-starters on both sides of the football for most of the remainder of the night. Sophomore running back Dylone Brooks scored a touchdown from six yards out with 6:07 left in the third quarter to give Ruston a 48-0 score. The clock ran for the remainder of the night.
“I challenged the second groups offensively, defensively, and on special teams to make sure they played the game well,” Baugh said. “I kind of got on them at halftime because they had an opportunity in the second quarter to really go out there and do something. I told them that if you’re on offense, your job is to get the ball into the end zone regardless of what the situation is on the clock. And if you’re on defense, your job is to get out there and make stops. I was really pleased with all of them in the second half. I was proud of our kids.”
Sophomore quarterback Josh Brantley ran in a 27-yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper after selling a play fake to Brooks. Freshman fullback Lander Smith rushed in from one-yard out for a touchdown, as well. Ruston only punted one time for the entire night.
Hayes’ 188 yards on the night is the second game in a row the sophomore has eclipsed 180 yards rushing. Jackson caught two touchdowns for 58 yards total.
Ruston returns to action for homecoming night Friday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. against the West Ouachita Chiefs. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. The Jerrod Baugh Coach’s Show can be heard on Z107.5 FM 30 minutes before kickoff. The game will be streamed on BearcatNationNetwork.com.
