It took some time, but the Polo Marcos found its defense in its Illinois 8-Man Football Association opener Friday night against Bushnell- Prairie City.
Exchanging offensive haymakers with the Spartans for the first 13 minutes, the home team controlled the final two-plus quarters in recording a 72-24 victory.
Looking to improve on last season’s 1-8 record, the visiting Spartans hung with the defending I8FA runner- up for the first period- plus.
B-PC reached the Marcos 17 on the opening drive before turning the ball over on downs at the Polo 25.
Mercer Mumford started the scoring with a 68-yard run on Polo’s third offensive play. Quarterback Jordan Reed connected with Eli Perez for the two-point conversion, giving Polo an 8-0 lead at the 5:21 mark of the opening period.
The Spartans needed just two plays and 58 seconds to respond.
Jonavan Harrell broke free for a 52-yard score and added the conversion run to tie the contest at 8-8 at the 4:23 mark.
Polo responded 18 seconds later when Mumford scored his second TD of the night on a 40-yard run. Reed at the PAT run that gave the Marcos a 16-8 advantage.
Special teams then came into play as Cayden Engelkes recovered an on-side kick for Polo at the Spartan 42.
Three plays later, Reed scored on a 37-yard run and Mumford added the PAT run that gave the host a 24-8 lead with 2:11 left in the opening frame.
B-PC was deep in Polo territory at the end of the first quarter when the contest was halted due to lightning.
The game resumed 45 minutes later with B-PC opening the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run by Harrell. He added the conversion run to close the gap to 24-16 just six seconds into the period.
But Polo answered quickly as Reed scored on a 34-yard run just 22 seconds later. He then connected with Estaban Salinas for the PAT pass to re-establish a 16-point lead at 32-16.
But the Spartans answered once again, this time 48 seconds later.
On the second play of the next possession, Dylan King raced 65 yards for B-PC’s third touchdown of the night.
Harrell added the PAT run, closing the gap once again to 32-24 with 10:44 to go before halftime.
At that point, Polo went to the air with Reed throwing three touchdown passes in the final 6:02 of the half in giving the Marcos a 56-24 advantage by halftime.
Reed had scoring throws of 10 and 25 yards to Mumford, along with an 11-yard strike to Ryder Falvre. He also added the conversion run on all three scores.
Polo scored twice in the second half.
Reed and Mumford connected for a 25-yard score at the 8:14 mark of the third quarter. Reed threw to Perez for the PAT, pushing the advantage to 64-24.
The Marcos’ final score came on the opening play in the fourth quarter on a 50-yard run by Jackson Willis. Falvre added the PAT run to wrap up the scoring.
B-PC finished with 283 yards rushing on 38 carries.
Harrell recorded 124 yards and two TDs on 18 carries, while King added 87 yards and a score on seven carries.
Defensively, Zaedin Hart led the way with 12 total tackles, including three solos. Harrell and Braylon Griffits added six total tackles each. Harrell recorded three tackles-for-loss.
Polo finished with 365 yards rushing on 32 carries.
Mumford recorded 179 yards and two scores on 11 carries, while Reed added 115 yards and two TDs on 16 carries.
Reed was also 6-of-8 passing for 121 yards and four TDs.
Mumford had four catches for 90 yards and three scores.
The Spartans will play their home opener on Friday, facing Champaign St. Thomas More (1-0). The Sabers opened their season Saturday with a 22-12 home win over Peoria Heights.
