LITCHFIELD -- The Litchfield Dragons averaged less than four yards a carry, but their 70 rushes covered 257 yards as three short touchdown runs was all they needed to post a 21-0 non-conference win over Staples-Motley in the season opener Thursday.
Kyle Kusler led the rushing attack for Litchfield with 139 yards on 25 carries. Quarterback Nic Johnson followed with 95 yards on 19 keepers, including a two-yard TD run right before the first-half clock ran out, and Jon Barrick scored on a two-yard and an one-yard run on the way to piling up 40 yards.
The Dragons, who had 19 first downs to Staples-Motley's four, could have put up more points, but four turnovers squandered those opportunities.
It was the fourth year in a row that Litchfield opened the season with a win over Staples-Motley.
Litchfield 21, Staples-Motley 0
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Staples-Motley 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Litchfield 6 8 7 0 -- 21
Lit - Jon Barrick 2 run (pass failed)
Lit - Nic Johnson 2 run (Johnson run)
Lit - Barrick 1 run (Andy Stoeckler kick)
Staples-Motley
Team statistics
First downs: 4 ... Rushing: 24-75 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 5-17-32-1 ... Fumbles lost: 3 ... Penalties: 9-71
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Individual statistics
Rushing: Caleb Nurnberger 18-63, Trevor Ness 1-6, Cody Lind 4-3, Ryan Halverson 1-3 ... Passing: Caleb Nurnberger 5-17-32-1 ... Receiving: Brandon Wing 3-16, Trevor Ness 2-16 ... Punting: Jose Alba 5-32 ... Interceptions: Brandon Wing 1 ... Fumble recoveries: Cody Lind 1, Mike Dailey 1, John McFedries 1 ... Tackles (solo-assist): not available ... QB sacks: none
Litchfield
Team statistics
First downs: 19 ... Rushing: 70-257 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 1-4-8-1 ... Fumbles lost: 3 ... Penalties: 6-42
Individual statistics
Rushing: Kyle Kusler 25-139, Nic Johnson 19-95, Jon Barrick 16-40, Cody Hanson 3-12 ... Passing: Nic Johnson 1-4-8-1 ... Receiving: Kyle Kusler 1-8 ... Punting: Aaron Valiant 2-31 ... Interceptions: Dominic Devine 1 ... Fumble recoveries: Tanner Gassman 1, Steve Hendrickson 1, Tom Wold 1 ... Tackles (solo-assist): Jess Housman 5-2, Alex Berglund 3-1, Aaron Solbrack 1-3, Steve Hendrickson 3-0 ... QB sacks: Alex Berglund 1
