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Paw Paw's Kyle Williams turns upfield, shaking South Haven's Marquiz Dixon on the way to a touchdown run after a reception during Thursday night's game at Paw Paw's Falan Field. Both of Williams' receptions went for TDs, covering 158 total yards. - (Erik Holladay | MLive.com)
Justin McCauley
PAW PAW ? Paw Paw has finished at the top of the Wolverine Conference football standings three of the past four seasons.
It's a different Wolverine now, though, with the addition of three schools and the conference splitting into two six-team divisions.
The more things change, the more Paw Paw looks the same.
The Redskins hit the ground running during Thursday night's season opener, scoring four touchdowns in each of the first two quarters en route to a 62-21 running-clock victory over visiting South Haven at Falan Field.
RELATED:?Photo gallery from Paw Paw's victory over South Haven
"Everyone's been saying, 'Oh, you lost so many good players, you're not going to be good this year,'" said Paw Paw senior quarterback Justin McCauley, referring to the loss of players such as Marquis Gill and Andrew Buskirk, the Kalamazoo Gazette's Divisions 1-4 players of the year in 2011 and 2010, respectively.
"But this pretty much made the statement that we're going to be good no matter what team we face."
McCauley had a big say Thursday and did all his damage in the first 24 minutes, as the Redskins roared to a 53-14 lead during an opening half that took 1 hour, 29 minutes to complete.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder completed 8 of 12 passing attempts for 210 yards and two long touchdown strikes (87 and 71 yards, both to junior Kyle Williams in the first quarter), and rushed six times for 115 yards and one score (55-yard gallop).
"Paw Paw is probably one of the better teams in our league over the last few years," South Haven coach Cory Cunningham said. "We missed some opportunities, we laid the ball on the ground a few times, we dropped some opportunities (for possible) touchdowns."
Paw Paw amassed 629 yards of offense, including 395 rushing yards on 35 attempts. Junior Timmy Wielenga scored on a 13-yard TD run, junior Caleb Hall crashed in from the 1-yard line twice for scores and classmate Caleb Schley sprung free for a game-high 105 yards on two carries, including a 60-yard scoring scamper, in a reserve role.
Redskins senior Cody Small caught a 13-yard TD pass from sophomore Jay Doll. Hall led the defense with six tackles, and senior Sammy Rice had an interception.
"We've lost a lot of skill the past two years, and the kids have gotten a little upset about it that everybody talks about it like that, but our kids have worked so hard," Paw Paw coach Brad Hessler said. "They're great kids, in the weight room, our summer workouts, 7-on-7; we've worked hard here, we had a pretty decent scrimmage.
"You never know what's going to happen the first game, but wow, what can you do? (South Haven has) some pretty good skill kids out there."
South Haven showed some potential, particularly in sophomore QB Trenton Smiley, who was making his first varsity start, and receivers Marquiz Dixon and Kamron Ferguson. Smiley finished 17-for-31 passing for 204 yards with three TDs.
Dixon, a 6-1, 180-pound senior, had six receptions for 106 yards, highlighted by a 60-yard score. Ferguson (6-2, 160), a junior, hauled in seven passes for 87 yards (22-yard TD). Sophomore Alec Washegesic caught an 18-yard scoring pass.
"We're going to be at the top of the heap as far as our athletes," Cunningham said. "We've got to get tougher both mentally and physically, and (then) I think we'll be able to compete.
"(Smiley) went from a freshman quarterback last year to Friday night lights," Cunningham said. "He's a sophomore, I mean, the kid's a gamer. He can throw the football for us."
Paw Paw piled up 458 yards of offense in the first half alone. The Redskins opened the game with an onside kick, recovered by senior DeMarcus Leak, and marched down the field to take an 8-0 lead 2:05 into the contest.
Paw Paw led 26-0 at the end of the first quarter and 41-0 four minutes into the second frame before the Rams, coming off a 1-8 season, got on the board.
McCauley credited Paw Paw's big boys up front.
"Our line hasn't been very good in practice, but when they got out here, they really kicked it up and that's pretty much all I can say ? the line helped so much more," he said. "When the line was blocking, it was there and you could do whatever. I have to thank the line for that."
Email Scott DeCamp at sdecamp1@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ScottDeCamp.
Source: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-4946576383275255346
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