Citizen Staff/JIm Kelsh
Lodi's Lucas Stronach (7) breaks up this pass intended for Columbus' Blaine Schmidt (84).
COLUMBUS — Columbus' hopes of shutting down Lodi running back Keith McBride were doused early on Friday night. Very early.
The senior back took the opening kickoff 84 yards for a score and then added two other first half touchdowns to lead Lodi to a 44-0 Capitol Conference North victory over Columbus.
McBride finished the night with 159 yards rushing on 18 carries and also earned the praise of Columbus coach Jason Brunell. "He's one of the best backs in the state," Brunell said. "He's a beauty to watch."
His teammates aren't that bad either. Lodi (5-1, 2-0 conference) had its way with Columbus dominating the first half before sitting its starters for the most of the second half. On the night, Lodi held Columbus to a minus 31 yards rushing and never let Columbus (0-6, 0-2) near the end zone.
"They were bigger, faster and stronger than us," Brunell said. "There's a reason they are leading our conference and most likely to win it."
Following a 40-yard field goal by Richie Hamann to make the score 10-0 midway through the first quarter, McBride picked up his second TD on an 11-yard run with less than a minute to play in the first quarter.
A blocked put that was recovered on Columbus' 15 yard line, led to the Blue Devils' next score when Lodi quarterback Lucas Stronach teamed up with Bradey Bauman for the first of their two touchdowns in the second quarter. The first, from 11 yards out, made it 23-0 with 11:14 to play in the first half, and the second made it 30-0 on a 5-yard pass play with 6:27 left in the second. McBride made it a commanding 37-0 when he raced in from 28 yards out with 3:53 left in the first half.
The Blue Devils put the finishing touches on their rout when Kyle McKearn capped the opening drive of the second half with a TD run from five yards out.
Lodi finished the game with 215 yards on the ground on 18 carries, most coming in the first half.
Columbus, which will travel to Lake Mills next Friday, managed only 45 total yards in the game.
LODI 44, COLUMBUS 0
Lodi 16 21 7 0 - 44
Columbus 0 0 0 0 - 0
LODI - McBride 84 kickoff return (Hamann kick)
LODI - FG Hamann 40
LODI - McBride 11 run (kick failed)
LODI - Bauman 11 pass from Stronach (Hamann kick)
LODI - Bauman 5 pass from Stronach (Hamann kick)
LODI - McBride 28 run (Hamann kick)
LODI - McKearn 5 run (Hamann kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs - L 15, C 3. Rushing (Att.-Yds.) - L 37-215, C 12- -31. Passing yards - L 120, C 76. Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) - L 7-11-0, C 9-21-2. Penalties-yards - L 5-40, C 4-40. Fumbles-lost - L 1-0, C 4-0.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: L - McBride 18-159-3, C - Hayes 3-4. Passing: L - Stronach 7-11-210-0-2, C - Baker 9-21-76-2-0. Receiving: L - Bauman 4-88-2, C - Fagerburg 3-35.