Lions flatten Bismarck early; Red Devils roll

BISMARCK — Jessieville’s Oliver Nasilai was a force on both sides of the ball against Bismarck Friday night in a

3A-5 opener.

The senior carried nine times for a team-high 77 yards and one touchdown and racked up 12 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks in Jessieville’s

41-0 win.

After Nasilai’s five-yard score, Adam Saveall connected with Dylan Wright for an 18-yard touchdown and Hunter Ault recovered a Bismarck fumble in the end zone to make it 21-0 after one quarter.

Colton Ault had touchdown runs of seven and 38 yards in the second quarter while Saveall found Dalton McClard from five yards out.

Saveall completed 12 of 19 passes for

162 yards, Wright with three catches for 55 yards and Joey Benson two for

45 yards.

Jessieville’s B.J. Holloway recorded eight tackles, one pass deflection and one interception while Aaron Murders and Jeffery Scott each had one sack. The visiting Lions limited Bismarck to

60 yards, forcing three turnovers. Improving to 3-1, Jessieville hosts Glen Rose next week at Phillips Field. Bismarck (2-2) next goes to Haskell Harmony Grove.

Mountain Pine-Dierks

DIERKS — After a winless 2016 season, Mountain Pine is enjoying a turnaround under second-year coach Sam Counce.

The Red Devils routed Dierks 42-14 in the 2A-7 opener for both teams Friday night, Mountain Pine improving to

3-1 with its third-straight win. “I expected it,” Counce said, “but I was prepared for us not to be 3-1. I felt like we had good talent, but I knew that it would depend on how they would respond to adversity.”

Despite an inauspicious start, the Red Devils led Dierks 14-0 early and

28-6 at halftime.

The Outlaws started with a pooch kick, and the Red Devils “just watched it,” Counce said. “That pushed the panic button for me. After that, they threw an interception, and then we scored, but you want it to start smoothly.

“The kids played hard,” he said. “It’s good for them to face some adversity. I think that now they understand how to win.”

Fay Haywood had 13 carries for 124 yards and a score, and Eli Browning carried eight times for 51 yards and two scores. Haywood and Browning each scored conversions. Collin Smith, Devon Washington and Josh Walpole each scored touchdowns, Smith on a 28-yard run.

Next up: winless Mineral Springs on homecoming night at Stanley May Field.

“This next weekend is big,” Counce said. “It’s homecoming. We are going to work on getting better during the week. Things are good in Red Devil land now. We’re where we want to be, but we can’t be satisfied.”

Winning, Counce said, “fixes a lot of problems. They don’t get as tired when we’re ahead,” he said. “They tend to put things out of their mind like being tired and minor injuries.”

* Matt Herron, who went out with a high ankle sprain against Jessieville in Week 1, missed Friday’s game.

“Herron was not dressed out, but we had him taped up,” Counce said. “He was able to move pretty well. We hope to get him back for homecoming. He may not be 100 percent, but he’s ready to be back.”