The Bushnell-Prairie City High School football squad started its season Friday, making the 140-mile trip to Polo for an eight-man interdivision contest against the Marcos.
Big plays allowed the host to take control in the opening half on the way to a 50-0 victory.
Polo had the first possession of the game, but came up empty when Jonavan Harrell intercepted a JT Stephenson pass at the Spartan 15 yard-line.
But the Spartans offense went three-andout and was forced to punt.
The Marcos scored on their second possession as Stephenson broke free on a quarterback keeper and ran 71 yards for the touchdown.
The conversion run failed, but Polo led 6-0 with four minutes and 30 seconds left in the opening period.
The Marcos then executed a successful onsides kick with Quinton Hart recovering the ball for Polo at the B-PC 39.
Three plays later, Jordan Reed scored a 34-yard run. Stephenson then connected with Korbin Cavanaugh for the two-point conversion that gave the hosts a 14-0 lead with 2:55 left in the quarter.
B-PC’s next drive ended when Spartan QB Parker Guppy was intercepted by Stephenson on the first play of the second quarter.
Stephenson and Cavanaugh then hooked up for a 68-yard pass for Polo’s third score of the game. Reed added the conversion run that made it 22-0 with 9:15 remaining before halftime.
Polo then added a pair of touchdowns in the final 3:31 of the half in building a 36-0 lead.
Reed scored on a two-yard run before Elias Perez intercepted a Guppy pass and returned it 19 yards for a pick-six with 33.5 seconds remaining. Stephenson added the PAT run as the home team cruised into halftime.
B-PC had the ball for more than seven minutes to open the second half, but eventually turned the ball over on downs at Polo 24.
The Marcos built the lead to 42-0 when Stephenson connected with Damon Rowe for a 34-yard TD.
Polo added its final score with 8:39 remaining on a 51-yard run.
B-PC finished with 67 yards of total offense.
Through the air, quarterback Parker Guppy was 4-of-15 for 39 yards and two interceptions, while Thomas Anderson completed 1-of-4 passes for 23 yards.
Parker Groutage had one catch for 23 yards, while Dylan King added one catch for 31 yards. Jonavan Harrell added two grabs for seven yards.
The Spartans finished with just five yards rushing on 22 carries.
Harrell had 15 yards in seven carries, while Haydin Hart added 11 yards on four carries. Groutage also added one carry for 15 yards.
On defense, Harrell and Cam Shinn recorded interceptions for the Spartans.
The Marcos rolled up 309 yards rushing on 32 carries.
Stephenson finished with 161 yards rushing on 10 carries, while Reed added 84 yards and two scores on 13 carries.
Stephenson was 2-of-5 passing for 102 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Spartans (0-1) will play their home opener Saturday at 1 p.m. against Hanover River Ridge (0-1).
The Wildcats lost their season opener at home to Ridgewood 50-14.
River Ridge trailed 36-0 at halftime.
