DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

Those concerned with Coach Joe Drennon’s Grand Saline Indians possibly overlooking winless Harmony in their District 9-3A, Division 2, opener at home Oct. 4 had little to worry about as it turned out.

The undefeated Indians improved their season record to 5-0 and their district mark to 1-0 with a dominating 51-0 victory over Harmony (0-6, 0-2).

Indian junior quarterback Jett Taylor completed six out of 13 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown while also carrying the ball 15 times for 184 yards rushing and two TD’s.

Senior running back Colt Boyd registered 146 yards rushing on 16 carries and four rushing TD’s.

Sophomore wide receiver Kolton Prox caught two passes for 19 yards and had one carry for 42 yards rushing against Harmony.

The Indians finished their district opener with 477 yards of total offense including 393 yards rushing and 84 yards passing.

Defensively, senior defensive tackle Trenton Green had eight total tackles including three tackles for losses; and senior middle linebacker Carson Brown had eight total tackles including one tackle for a loss.

Senior defensive end Francisco Elizalde had five total tackles including one tackle for a loss; and senior outside linebacker Pedro Elizalde had five total tackles including two tackles for losses and one fumble recovery.

Cornerback Prox had one tackle for a loss and one interception. Middle linebacker Boyd had six total tackles and senior defensive tackle Gabe Lewis had four total tackles, one tackle for a loss, and one quarterback sack.

Grand Saline’s defense allowed 44 total yards including four yards rushing in addition to forcing two turnovers, an interception and a fumble recovery against Harmony.

The Indians received the opening kickoff and wasted little time in establishing the tone for the evening as they moved 48 yards in five plays.

Taylor ended the drive with a 33-yard touchdown run. Pedro Elizalde added the extra point giving Grand Saline a 7-0 lead with 10:28 remaining in the first quarter. Taylor opened the drive with an 11-yard run.

After a Harmony punt, the Indians moved from their own 24 to the Harmony 36 in seven plays including running gains of 10 yards by Prox and 15 yards by Boyd but on fourth down and seven, the scoring threat ended as a pass from Taylor to Boyd was incomplete giving Harmony possession.

Harmony drove as deep as the Grand Saline 47 but on fourth down, Harmony quarterback Jordan Escalante was tackled for a one-yard loss ending the Harmony possession.

On the next play, Taylor raced 46 yards for a TD. Pedro Elizalde added the extra point giving the Indians a sudden 14-0 advantage with 1:34 to play in the first quarter.

After a Harmony punt, the Indians advanced 88 yards in four plays with Boyd ending the drive on a 39-yard TD run extending Grand Saline’s lead to 20-0 with 8:25 remaining in the second quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked. Boyd opened the scoring march with a 10-yard run.

Harmony had a second down and 12 at its own 38 when a pass completion from Escalante to Jabob Rider was fumbled by Rider after a 19-yard completion which was recovered by the Indian defense.

Six plays later, the Indians ended a 57-yard scoring drive with a 3-yard TD pass from Taylor to Blane Thompson. Pedro Elizalde added the extra point giving Grand Saline a 27-0 lead with 2:51 remaining in the second quarter. Key plays in the Indian scoring drive included a 26-yard pass completion from Taylor to Thompson and an 11-yard run by Boyd.

Grand Saline’s defense forced another Harmony turnover on the next series of downs as Escalante’s pass on third down and three at midfield was intercepted by cornerback Prox and returned to the Harmony 40.

Seven plays later, the Indians added to their advantage as they closed out a 40-yard scoring march with a 1-yard TD plunge by Boyd. Pedro Elizalde added the extra point giving the Indians a commanding 34-0 lead with 15 seconds remaining before halftime. A 25-yard run by Taylor was a key play in the scoring drive for Grand Saline.

After a Harmony punt early in the third quarter, the Indians moved from midfield to the Harmony 27 primarily on the strength of a defensive pass interference penalty against Harmony but on fourth down and five at the Harmony 27, the Indians’ scoring threat ended as Taylor’s pass to Thompson was incomplete giving Harmony possession.

Following another Harmony punt, the Indians extended their lead with a 62-yard scoring march in five plays as Boyd ended the drive with a 9-yard TD run. Pedro Elizalde added the extra point giving Grand Saline a 41-0 lead with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. A 39-yard run by Taylor and a 16-yard pass completion from Taylor to Thompson were key plays in the scoring march for Grand Saline.

After a Harmony punt, the Indians moved 56 yards in four plays with Boyd ending the march with another 9-yard TD run. Pedro Elizalde added the extra point extending Grand Saline’s lead to 48-0 with 10:23 to play in the fourth quarter. A 42-yard run by Thompson was a key play in the scoring drive for the Indians.

Harmony muffed the ensuing kickoff allowing the Indians to recover the loose football at the Harmony 34.

Five running plays later, on fourth down and five at the Harmony 13, Pedro Elizalde drilled a 30-yard field goal to give the Indians a 51-0 advantage with 6:19 remaining to complete the scoring.

Following a huge Van Zandt County rivalry game in Edgewood Oct. 11 against the Edgewood Bulldogs in Edgewood at 7 p.m., the Indians will return home for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Paris Chism Oct. 18.