Staff writer
In the second district game of the season, the Bluebirds scored early and often Friday in a 56-6 rout of St. John.
On the first play from scrimmage, Josh Schmidt hit Jordan Griffin for a 65-yard scoring jaunt. Less that 2 minutes later, Schmidt kept the ball and went 65 yards for another score, and the Bluebirds led 14-0 with 10 minutes to play in the first quarter.
“Our passing plays are play action (faked handoff) so it often draws the opponent’s linebackers into the line of scrimmage, and then our receivers are wide open,” said Schmidt.
The Schmidt — Griffin combination worked again for a 39-yard touchdown and a Josh Schmidt to Jayce Schmidt pass went for 41 yards to the 1-yard line. Trevor Beisel took the honors of plunging for the next Bluebird score.
It was 26-0 before St. John eluded Bluebirds tacklers and went 50 yards for its only score of the night.
Josh Schmidt answered by connecting on pass play to Beisel that went for 43 yards, and Goessel led at the quarter 32-6.
It took almost five minutes into the second quarter for the Bluebirds to score again. Another Josh Schmidt to Griffin pass netted 35 yards and resulted in a score.
Zach Zogleman got into the scoring column on a 5-yard scamper and with 1:43 left in the second quarter, Josh Schmidt sprinted 63 yards for the final touchdown.
The Bluebird defense prevented St. John from scoring for the rest of the quarter and the game ended at halftime, due to the 45-point mercy rule in 8-man football.
The Bluebirds completed six passes for 233 yards and 4 touchdowns. Goessel ran the ball for 232 yards and 4 touchdowns. Miguel Guerrero led the team with 5.5 tackles, followed by Kenny Hammond with 5 stops.
Goessel, now 5-2, will play at Canton-Galva on Friday.