Citizen Staff/Cory Schaefer
Randolph's Jon Roberts (10) and Corey Pfeffer combine to crunch Markesan's Joe Quade and jar the ball loose Friday night.
MARKESAN — It was fitting that Randolph's statistical leader Friday night was a converted lineman.
Zach Reuter, who normally doesn't touch the ball after snapping it, carried 23 times for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Rockets' 36-7 nonconference win at Markesan. Randolph held a 213-24 edge on the ground against their former league rivals.
"It was exactly the start we wanted," said Randolph coach Zach Kouba, referring to the game and the season at the same time. "We wanted to run the ball and see where it takes us."
Randolph took the opening drive straight down the field and took up nearly half of the first quarter in the process. Quarterback Ben Syvertson had the first of his three short TD runs from a yard out as the Rockets struck first.
"We definitely got beat at the line of scrimmage, just like last year," Markesan coach Kevin Wopat said. "I'd like to see us execute a little better offensively."
Markesan went backward on its first four possessions. Kyle Kelm's sack of sophomore Alex Dallman, who filled in from Brett Strahota, forced a punt and set the Rockets up at the Hornet 36.
Syvertson fumbled on the next play and but a procedure penalty helped kill the Hornet drive. Markesan was flagged 10 times for 70 yards and had some key early drops.
"Everyone preaches penalties and we're no different," Wopat said.
"Some of ours were just silly. It's not acceptable."
Randolph again started in Hornet territory and finished a 45-yard drive in five plays. Reuter rumbled in from three yards out but Syvertson bobbled the conversion snap leaving the edge at 13-0.
The conversion would be a moot point by the end of the quarter. Jon Roberts sacked Dallman in the end zone for a safety and Reuter's 12-yard return on the ensuing free kick left Randolph at the Hornet 35.
Reuter's run of 11 yards on 3rd-and-9 led to Syvertson's 7-yard keeper and a 22-0 edge. It could have been worse after Kelm blocked Ryan Krueger's punt to set the Rockets up at the Hornet 10 but a penalty led to Kelm's 32-yard field goal sailing wide left.
"We had a couple of fumbles and we got nothing off that blocked punt," Kouba said. "We could've put them away earlier."
Kelm disrupted the Hornet offense from his left end spot all night. Between either using his reach to alter passes or to shed blockers and reel in ball carriers, he caused plenty of problems for Markesan's spread.
"It's tough to outrun a kid that tall who's a good athlete," Wopat said of Kelm.
Syvertson picked off Dallman on the opening drive of the second half and returned the pick to the Hornet 10. Brian Kampstra's 3-yard TD run made it 29-0 just 2:12 into the second half.
Markesan put Strahota in at quarterback and responded immediately. On 3rd-and-9, he scrambled until he located Lucas Brown behind the Rocket secondary for a 51-yard bomb.
Syvertson's third scoring run, this from a yard out, sealed the game in the fourth quarter. Between Randolph's rushing attack and its pass rush, the undersized Hornets couldn't hold the Rockets back.
"Our defensive line really set the tone," Kouba said. "All our backs carried it well, especially Zach."
Randolph hosts Pardeeville next week. Markesan visits Plainfield Tri-County.
RANDOLPH 36, MARKESAN 7
Randolph 15 7 7 7 - 36
Markesan 0 0 7 0 - 7
R - Syvertson 1 run (Kelm kick)
R - Z. Reuter 3 run (pass failed)
R - Safety, Roberts sacked Dallman in end zone
R - Syvertson 7 run (Kelm kick)
R - Kampstra 3 run (Kelm kick)
M - Brown 51 pass from Strahota (Laper kick)
R - Syvertson 1 run (Kelm kick)
Ra Ma
First downs 13 8
Total Net Yards 232 200
Rushes-yards 45-213 22-24
Passing 19 176
Comp-Att-Int 2-5-0 11-25-2
Penalties-Yards 5-25 10-70
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: RUSHING-RA, Z. Reuter 23-100. MA, Schueler 8-13. PASSING-RA, Syvertson 2-5-0-19. MA, Strahota 3-6-0-65, Dallman 8-19-2-11. RECEIVING-RA, Pfeffer 1-15. MA, Brown 3-103.