After a slow start, Harrisburg scored the first 28 points of the game in the second quarter on the way to a 42-8 win over Knox County on Friday.

The Bulldogs averaged over eight yards per carry and finished with 347 rushing yards in the win.    

“We had determined to run the ball vertically as well as the edge, and I think our offensive line was dominant in that quarter. We fell into a good rhythm running the ball, and that was our goal and plan going in,” Harrisburg coach Stephen Hopkins said.

Wyatt Robinson had rushing touchdowns of 27, 21, and 58 yards in the second quarter. He finished with 323 yards and five touchdowns.

“Obviously, Wyatt ran well and we had excellent blocking by our tight ends, Dayton Samuels in particular, and our fullbacks: Tanner Fike and Gavin Curtis,” Hopkins explained.

After the three rushing touchdowns, Harrisburg got a defensive score when Brayden Ott picked off a pass and returned it all the way to the endzone.

“Ott’s pick was a great play to put us up 28-0,” Hopkins said. “He has worked really hard to be a good DB. His stature is why many teams pick on him, and he has really improved.”

Kevin Raines had 10 tackles for the Harrisburg defense. Brayton Stephenson had seven tackles and a sack. Samuels, Curtis, Robinson, and Justus Whitaker each had seven tackles as well.

“Our defense did bend, giving up quite a few more yards than we wanted, but we were committed to stopping the big play passing attack they had used verus Paris,” Hopkins said. “So that meant we were in a light box to stop the run, but it was our trade-off to prevent long scores, which I think was the right strategy.”

Fike led the Harrisburg defense with 14 tackles and a sack. His kicking also helped Harrisburg with the battle of field position on Friday.

“Our kicker did a great job of kicking the ball to certain spots and we had the best kick coverage of the year, forcing them to drive long fields of 70 yards almost every time.”

Hopkins also took responsibility for only touchdown given up by the Bulldogs.

“I got greedy at the end of the first half calling for the speed offense when we had a 28 point lead,” he explained. “We should have just let the half run out, or I don’t think they score as we threw the interception and gave them good field position and enthusiasm.”

Harrisburg improves to 3-2 with the win and will travel to Russellville next, where the Indians are still looking for their first win of the season.