The Forrest Rockets have been fired up to play a real game all preseason and it showed Friday night at Cross Plains as the Chapel Hill squad ran all over East Robertson in a 40-15 season opening blowout win.

“We like to play physical and this group plays for each other,” Forrest coach Eli Stephenson said. “It is always nice to get the first win of the season, now we got to build off of it for Week Two.”

Forrest ran wild over the Indians, putting up 504 rushing yards on 49 attempts for a hefty 10.2 average per rush.

“It was a total team effort,” Stephenson said. “The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and our backs and receivers blocked on the edge all night long.”

The Rockets had three players eclipse the 100-yard mark on the ground with Cole Villazon leading the way with 131 yards on eight carries (16.4 average) and three touchdowns.

“They came out focused from the first whistle to the last,” Stephenson said. “We were able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”

Nick McClendon ran for 125 yards on 13 carries (9.6) and scored once while Blaize Sweeney had an even 100 yards on just six carries for a gaudy 15.7 average per rushing attempt.

“Villazon, McClendon, and Sweeney run the hard ball hard and were moving the chains,” Stephenson said. “They are unselfish backs and do a great job blocking for each other.”

Aiden Freeman also had a big night, rushing for 80 yards on six touches (13.3) and two touchdowns.

“Cody Patin, Tate Garvin, Alex Allen, Sammy Williams, Noah Hill, Braden Bowyer, and Joel Burton came to play physical football,” Stephenson said. “They were opening holes all night long for the backs.”

The Rockets also won the all-important turnover battle 3-0 with Spencer McCown and Joel Burton coming up with interceptions while Noah Hill had a fumble recovery.

“The defense played physical and read their keys all night long,” Stephenson said. “We were able to contain Taylor Groves (QB) with the whole group swarming to the ball and we were able to force a couple of turnovers.”

Villazon opened the scoring with a 12-yard run and Zoe Long kicked the first of her three successful PAT’s.

East Robertson responded with a Drake Alsup 5-yard touchdown catch from Groves and the PAT was good for a 7-7 tie.

From there it was all Rockets as they scored 33 unanswered points on two more Villazon touchdowns runs in the first quarter, followed by a pair of one-yard second quarter touchdown bursts by Freeman and McClendon for a 34-7 halftime lead.

Freeman added a 40-yard touchdown jaunt in the third quarter and the Indians closed with a late touchdown run by Alsup, who took over at quarterback for an injured Groves in the third quarter.

“We knew in the second half East would come out and try to make a big play,” Stephenson said. “On their first play, they tried to hit us deep and McCown was in great position and came up with an interception.”

The Rockets host Portland Friday night for their home opener at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

“We are looking forward to play in front of our home crowd,” Stephenson said. “Portland is a very good football team and they have a lot of returning starters, and they are physical.”

“We got to keep getting better every week, learn from our mistakes and build off of them.”

The Panthers blew out Edmonson County (KY) 35-6 in the Kenway Concrete Bowl at Warren East High School in Bowling Green, KY in their season opener.

Forrest 20 14 6 0-40

East Robertson 7 0 0 8-15

Scoring

First Quarter

Forrest-Cole Villazon 12-yard run, Zoe Long PAT.

East Robertson-Drake Alsup 5-yard pass from Taylor Groves, PAT Good.

Forrest-Cole Villazon 45-yard run, Zoe Long PAT.

Forrest-Cole Villazon 5-yard run, PAT Blocked.

Second Quarter

Forrest-Aiden Freeman 1-yard run, Zoe Long PAT.

Forrest-Nick McClendon 1-yard run, Zoe Long PAT.

Third Quarter

Forrest-Aiden Freeman 40-yard run, PAT NG.

Fourth Quarter

East Robertson-Drake Alsup 3-yard run, Alsup 2-pt. run.

Total Offense: Forrest 565, East Robertson 130.

Rushing: Forrest 504, East Robertson 66.

Passing: Forrest 61, East Robertson 64.

First Downs: Forrest 22, East Robertson 13.

Turnovers: Forrest 0, East Robertson 3.

Penalties: Forrest 17-150, East Robertson 5-45.

Forrest Offense

Rushing: Cole Villazon 8-131-3TD, Nick McClendon 13-125-TD, Blaize Sweeney 6-100, Aiden Freeman 6-80-2TD, Tayton Swift 4-21, Spencer McCown 1-16, Joseph Whitaker 2-12, Chris Davis 2-6, Max Kirby 3-8, Hunter Pendley 2-for-5, Micah McClendon 1-2, Joel Burton 1-(-2).

Passing: Max Kirby 4-6-61.

Receiving: Spencer McCown 4-61.

Kicking

PAT: Zoe Long 3-for-4.

Interceptions

Forrest-Spencer McCown, Joel Burton.

Fumble Recovery

Forrest-Noah Hill.