The Bulldog victory train rumbled through Winnetonka last night and didn’t slow down until Kearney rang up 353 yards of offense in a 52 to 8 win over the Griffins.

Dual-threat quarterback Casey Rooney ran for 41 yards and threw for 126 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs scored 52 unanswered points against Winnetonka.

The Griffins jumped on the scoreboard quickly at 8:12 in the opening quarter as quarterback Dean DeJesus hit Aaron Kampert on a 19-yard strike. Amir-Ethen Bensalem ran for the 2-point conversion stunning Kearney’s defense with an 8-0 lead.

*Senior Zach Grace breaks a tackle before scoring in Kearney’s first touchdown drive. (Kelly Gentry Photo)*

The Bulldogs answered with Senior running back and tight end, Zach Grace following a bruising Bulldog offensive line into the endzone for 6. Cameron Emmons fumbled on the ensuing 2-point attempt, but the ball was scooped up by wide receiver Bryce Page for the 2-point conversion.

“We told our kids all week, we can’t overlook anybody and we’re going to get everybody’s best shot. Hats off to ‘Tonka, they came right out and punched us in the mouth and go up 8-0,” said Kearney Head Coach Logan Minnick. “I was really proud of how our kids handled that adversity and we came right back with the score and the 2-point, and we never looked back from there.”

The first quarter, sleeping-giant Bulldog defense awakened at 9:56 in the second quarter as Winnetonka quarterback, Dean DeJesus was tackled in the endzone for a safety. Casey Rooney completed a pass to Manny Linthacum for a 35-yard touchdown.

*Cameron Emmons crosses the goal line on one of four rushing touchdowns against the Griffins. (Kelly Gentry Photo)*

Bulldog junior running back Cameron Emmons scored twice in the last two minutes of the first half behind senior left tackle Carter Schmidt and the rest of the Kearney offensive line, taking the score to 31–8 at the half. The ever-dependable Grant Jacobson was 6 of 6 on point after kicks.

It was second verse, same as the first in the third quarter as Cameron Emmons followed the blocking of 6’6”- 275-pound left tackle Carter Schmidt and 6’3”- 235-pound tight end Zach Grace into the endzone for 6-yard and 5-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter.

With 2:03 remaining in the third quarter, senior running back Danny Petree dashed 63 yards down the sideline for a score, taking the Bulldogs to the final score of 52 – 8.

“I think it took us about a quarter to wake up and once we did, we played physical football and had to match their physicality,” said Coach Minnick. “Coach (John) Crutcher does a great job. They were very well prepared, had a good game plan, they came out physical, and their kids play hard.”

The 5-0 Kearney Bulldogs travel to 1-4 Ruskin for another district match-up on Friday, September 30.

KPGZ Sports – Mike Davis contributed to this story