The top-ranked Davenport Bulldogs routed Depew, 52-6, Friday night to go 5-0 for the season and keep their string of dominating defense intact.
The Dawgs have won their five games by a cumulative score of 230-14, scored three shutouts and won four of their five games via the 45-point mercy rule.
“We keep on working on ourselves and getting better,” coach Grant Powell said. “If you’re meant to 45 someone, then you better do it in a dominating fashion. And if it’s a nail biter, you need to be doing that in a dominating fashion so that when we do get tested again, we’re ready and not surprised by it.
“I’ve told them that every snap could be your last and to value each game the same whether it’s going to be a 45 or not. They’ve done a really good job staying the course and they have a district championship on their mind.”
Against Depew, the Dawgs allowed just 94 yards of total offense and one touchdown that came long after the outcome was decided.
“Our linebackers are putting a ton of pressure on the quarterback and the secondary is playing well, too,” Powell said. “We thought that if we could stop their big receiver, the pass game wouldn’t be there, so we put one of our corners - Carter Marshall - on him.
“He didn’t have a single receptions and Carter had two interceptions.
“So it’s the combination of the defensive line, the linebackers getting pressure and the secondary doing their job and knocking down footballs as well as getting a couple of interceptions.”
Davenport had no problems on offense against Depew, averaging more than 10 yards per snap and racking up seven touchdowns.
Brody Robinson carried 10 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for six yards.
Chase Mitchell completed nine of 1 passes for 150 yards and two scores and rushed three times for 18 yards.
Jaxson Brinkley completed one pass for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Chace Buchanan caught two passes for 15 yards and carried four times for 32 yards and a touchdown Aydan Stancell carried four times for 71 yards and a touchdown, Reece Murfin caught two balls for 80 yards and a touchdown Marshall caught two passes for 47 yards and a pair of touchdowns Davenport finished with 208 yards and four touchdowns rushing and passed for 174 yards and three touchdowns.
Up next is Yale, which is 1-3 for the season and lost to Depew, 50-0.
Despite their dominance to date, Powell said he doesn’t believe the Dawgs will have any problems keeping their edge.
“That’s always a worry,” he said. “But I think this group right here is different. After we got our first win against Kremlin-Hilldale, that was obviously exciting because it set the tone for the season.
“We thought our next real test going to be Savanna and then we 45 them. Then we get the big win against Weleetka.
“At the end of every game, whether it’s at the half or the end of the game, the excitement is the same.”
Following Yale, the Bulldogs will host Gans in their first district game.