By ERIC FORTUNE

sports@vindy.com

POLAND

The Poland Bulldogs probably couldn’t have scripted a better sequence of first half play against the Jefferson Area Falcons.

Scoring on all six of their possessions in that opening half, the Bulldogs overwhelmed the Falcons with a 45-8 rout Friday night at Dave Pavlansky Field.

Poland coach Ryan Williams was quick to temper the one-sided play that his Bulldogs employed, but noted it was a step in the right direction.

“I’m sure when we watch the film, there will be lots of mistakes, lots of things to work on, but we’re real proud of our effort,” Williams said.

He should find some things to smile about as the Bulldogs (2-1) had 275 total yards in the opening half to the Falcons’ 53 with nine first downs to just two for Jefferson (1-2).

“That’s all the guys around me, the line giving me time, and Diaz making a great play on it. That’s all,” quarterback Cole Kosco said. “I think we just came out to play our style of football. We had a hard week of practice. Coach said we had three real good offensive days. I think we came out and played how we are used to, just try to be us, nothing special.”

Colt McFadden was instrumental early on in the kicking game with six of Jefferson’s seven possessions starting at the 20 while the Bulldogs enjoyed field position in Jefferson territory or near midfield en route to 38 first half points.

“He’s our secret weapon,” Williams said. “We just love what he does. Knowing you have 80 yards to defend is awfully nice.”

Six players carried the ball on the ground for the Bulldogs in the opening half with Reid Gold leading the way with 71 rushing yards on just four carries.

His 56-yard run a minute and a half into the game started the Bulldog onslaught with Jonah Spencer and Dante Romero’s six and two-yard runs pushing the lead out to 21-0 at the 3:24 mark of the first quarter.

“Those guys worked awfully hard too all week long preparing our team,” Williams said. “They prepared to win and it’s nice when you can share the wealth a little bit and get guys who’ve earned the right to get some of those carries.”

After a 29 yard field goal from McFadden pushed the advantage to 24-0, Kosco got in on the action with nine yard run at the 4:23 mark of the second quarter.

Kosco finished the night with 147 yards passing.

“He’s been progressing very well,” Williams said. “We’re real proud with where he’s at. He keeps doing the right things and taking care of some of those details. Tonight was a chance for him to throw and run.”

Kosco found Mike Diaz for 46 of those yards on the Jefferson sideline to push the Bulldog lead out to 38-0 right before the half.