Sports writer
The 2008 Goessel High School football season began with a 50-0 victory Friday at Centre.
The Bluebirds never punted, and the offense rolled up 164 yards rushing and 56 yards passing.
Speedster Craig Banman scored on a 31-yard running play and kicked the extra point, giving the Bluebirds a 7-0 lead.
Later in the first period, Austin Unruh connected with Weston Hiebert for a 23-yard pass play that went for a score, leaving the Bluebirds with a 13-0 lead at the end of the quarter.
Travis Fensky notched his first touchdown of the season with a 16-yard run, and Unruh connected with Banman for the conversion.
Goessel increased its lead again when Weston Hiebert was able to block a Cougar punt and Johnathan Berkholz recovered the ball for a 13-yard score.
Unruh passed to Fensky for the conversion and the Bluebirds were up 29-0.
Unruh connected with Fensky again for a 16-yard touchdown and Fensky carried the ball for the conversion giving the Bluebirds a 36-0 lead.
Still in the second quarter, Banman broke loose for an 11-yard run and kicked the extra point, giving Goessel a 44-0 lead going into half-time.
Goessel’s Banman broke free to start the third quarter with his longest run of the night, sprinting 47 yards for a score.
The eight-man mercy rule came into play and the game was ended with Goessel winning 50-0.
“Defensively, we played very well,” GHS head coach Justin Coup said.
Cameron Stultz came away with an interception and three solo tackles.
Weston Hiebert blocked a punt and was credited with three solo tackles. Austin Unruh was 4-4 passing and recovered a Cougar fumble.
The Bluebirds racked up 164 rushing yards with Banman averaging 13.5 yards per carry, and Fensky 8.0.
The receiving squad gathered in four passes, with Hiebert catching a 23-yard pass for a score, Stultz catching two passes for 17 yards, and Fensky taking a 16-yard pass for a touchdown.
Goessel will be at home Friday against White City in a another non-district game.