Tonopah started slow again Friday as they have all season long, as midway through the first quarter the score was 6-6 with Beaver Dam.
The Muckers then came alive, scoring 55 unanswered points in the blow-out 61-6 victory in Littlefield, Arizona.
“Touchdowns were scored by six different players in the game. Everyone got playing time on the varsity and we came away with no injuries, the kids did a great job this week,” Muckers coach Duffy Otteson said.
The Muckers rushed for 390 yards, spread among six running backs and passed for 143 yards.
Junior running back Kade Bunker rushed for 143 yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns for the Muckers (3-0 overall, 1-0 Class 1A Southern), with touchdowns of 45, 40, and four yards.
Senior quarterback Tanner Otteson completed 10 of 14 passes for 143 yards and three TD’s, and rushed for 105 yards on eight carries on the ground, handing Beaver Dam its first loss, (2-1, 1-1).
Senior running back and wide receiver Vinny Bagarose also had a good day, catching four passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns, along with senior Tylor Kirkland who had five catches for 70-yards passing.
Also getting into the end zone for the Muckers were sophomore tailback Brandon Scobee, who finished with two TDs and 69-yards rushing, backup quarterback, sophomore John Shiftlet, who scored one TD and 69 yards on three carries and freshman Koby Bunker, who had a 1-yard TD run.
Defensively, the Muckers looked sharp, allowing two touchdowns in the last two weeks and compiling 6.5 sacks against the Diamondbacks.
“Kordell Stark and Freddie Lopez were a force in the backfield and put pressure on the Beaver Dam QB all day,” the coach said. “Our offensive and defensive linemen are the heart of our team and none of our success would happen if it weren’t for them, senior linemen Kordell Stark, Freddie Lopez, Jordon Berkowitz and Brendon Eason did a great job for us today. I am very proud of how well they have played this season for us.”
Leading the Muckers on defense was senior linebacker Brendon Eason, who had 12 tackles and two sacks. Also having a good day on defense was Tanner Otteson, who recorded 11 tackles and one-and-a-half sacks. Senior defensive lineman Jordon Bridgman had four tackles (two for loss).
Tonopah hosts Round Mountain on Friday at 7 p.m. This is the homecoming game, and the second of three home games this season.