By Ernie W. Webb III
BURLINGAME – Burlingame coach Jeff Slater didn’t mince words early in the second quarter of a Lyon County League game against rival Madison, repeatedly telling his team it was playing soft.
After a slow start, particularly on defense, the Bearcats took Slater’s words to heart, cruising to a 66-16 blowout in a game that ended late in the fourth quarter due to the 45-point mercy rule.
Burlingame (3-0, 2-0 in the LCL) was tied with Madison (1-2, 1-2) at 8-8 early in the first quarter and led 24-16 midway through the second period when they closed the half with three touchdowns in span of 4 minutes, 37 seconds to take a commanding lead.
JD Tyson, who accounted for eight of the Bearcats’ nine touchdowns, ignited the sizz with a 6-yard run at the 4:37 mark. After forcing a punt, Tyson hit Drake Skirvin on a 17-yard scoring pass and added a conversion pass for Dane Winters.
Winters, who had 168 total yards and a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown, capped the scoring in the first half on a 12-yard toss as Burlingame took a 44-16 edge into halftime.
After Homecoming ceremonies Friday night, the game was postponed due to lighting and continued Monday evening. The Bearcats picked up where they left off in the second half, pushing the lead to 52-16 with a six-play, 42-yard drive.
Tyson, who rushed for 105 yards, capped the series with a 4-yard run, and Skirvin hauled in a conversion pass from Tyson.
Madison countered with a long, time-consuming drive on its first possession of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs failed to convert after a snap over the quarterback’s head put them in a fourth-and-goal home from the 22.
The Bearcats led 60-16 midway through the final frame after Winters’ 9-yard reception from Tyson and a conversion reception by Timmy Roberts.
Burlingame forced and recovered a fumble, one of eight for Madison, at the Bulldogs’ 15 on the ensuing kickoff, and ended the game on a 22-yard pass from Tyson to Skirvin.
Tyson finished with 352 total yards, including 247 through the air on 21-of-29 passing, while Winters had 143 receiving yards on 12 grabs. Skirvin added 60 yards on four catches. The Bearcats had 420 yards and 20 first downs.
Colton Isch paced Madison with 148 yards, including 129 rushing on 22 carries. The Bulldogs had 181 total yards, but committed four turnovers.
Burlingame opens district play on Friday at Centre-Lost Springs (0-3).
BURLINGAME 66, MADISON 16
Madison 8 8 0 0 — 16
Burlingame 16 28 8 14 — 66
First Quarter
BHS – Dane Winters 47 punt return (Drake Skirvin pass from JD Tyson)
MHS – Colton Isch 56 run (Isch run)
BHS – Winters 4 pass from Tyson (Winters pass from Tyson)
Second Quarter
BHS – Tyson 16 run (Skirvin pass from Tyson)
MHS – Ish 37 run (Isch run)
BHS – Tyson 6 run (Pass failed)
BHS – Skirvin 17 pass from Tyson (Winters pass from Tyson)
BHS – Winters 12 pass from Tyson (Pass failed)
Third Quarter
BHS – Tyson 4 run (Skirvin pass from Tyson)
Fourth Quarter
BHS – Winters 9 pass from Tyson (Roberts pass from Tyson)
BHS – Skirvin 22 pass from Tyson (end of game)
GAME IN FIGURES
MHS BHS
First downs 10 20
Rushes-Yards 32-162 26-173
Passing 6-14-2 21-29-1
Passing yards 19 247
Total yards 181 420
Punts 3-33.3 None
Fumbles-lost 8-2 1-0
Penalties 4-29 5-37
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Madison: Isch 22-129, Cruz Leiser 10-33. Burlingame: Tyson 13-105, Winters 7-25, Roberts 5-27, Danny Cain 1-26.
RECEIVING – Madison: Cade Hurlbutt 3-12, Octavian Dean 1-6, Lane Smith 1-2, Brayden Grimmett 1-(-1). Burlingame: Winters 12-143, Skirvin 4-60, Roberts 4-28, Brock Moon 1-16.
PASSING – Madison: Isch 6-10-2 19. Burlingame: Tyson 21-29-1 247.