Rams roll up 495 yards in win against Dansville
BY BOB BENZ THE LEADER

BATH - When head coach Wayne Carroll is throwing around the word perfect in successive weeks to open the season, you get the feeling it could be a special year for the Bath Haverling football program.

Perfect aptly described Bath's offense Friday, Sept. 7, against Dansville as the Rams racked up 495 yards of total offense enroute to a 48- 13 rout of the Mustangs in the Livingston I opener for both teams.

The Rams' defense wasn't quite perfect, but very impressive nonetheless. Bath limited a Dansville team that scored 38 in an opening-day win against Midlakes last week to just one touchdown (the Mustangs' other score came on special teams) and a modest 153 yards of total offense.

Still, Bath's offense- which now has 94 points in two games - was the main attraction.

The Rams were especially effective on the ground, amassing 420 yards, while boasting a pair of runners who each eclipsed 150 yards rushing the ball.

In addition, three different Rams scored two touch downs.

"They're a good football team - I told our team we had to probably score 50 because of our game last year, where we won 47-19," Carroll said. "Our offense came to play last year and this year. They put some points on the board. I'm just tickled to death that we got the victory. I'm happy for our team, it was a good team effort and everybody contributed. We were clicking tonight offensively."

Fullback Brett Havens led Bath's multitalented backfield, powering through Dansville's defense for a game-high 158 yards and two touch downs on just 12 carries.

Tailback Andre McCloud spun, juked and sprinted his way to a 156-yard rushing effort on 21 carries. McCloud scored on a 5-yard touch down jaunt and also hauled in a 24-yard touch-down pass- one of his four catches on the day, which added up to an additional 48 yards.

"Everybody's a weapon, everybody contributed- offensive line did really well and kept it up through the whole game," McCloud said. "When we have different backs, it's just easier for me, easier for them. They key on me, the other guy runs, they key on the other guy, I run and then we've got a little passing game going. We're on top of the world as coach says, right now."

Quarterback Jake Kuver found McCloud and two other receivers, while throwing for 75 yards and a score on 6-of-9 passing. Kuver also got it done with his legs and opened the scoring by going around right end for a sevenyard touch down on a perfectly-executed run fake less than two minutes into the contest.

Kuver scored on runs of 7 and 30 and finished with 42 yards rushing on four attempts.

Kuver's first TD came two plays after Nick Carroll picked off Dansville quarterback Garrett Hoag on the game's second play from scrimmage and returned it 30 yards to the Mustangs' 8. Hoag's pass was hurried after being pressured by Bath defensive end Danny Herrick, who recorded a sack for a loss of 12 yards later in the game.

Trailing 7-0, the Mustangs tied the score when Hoag found Colton Green down the left sideline on a perfectly-thrown 55-yard touch-down pass midway through the opening quarter.

However, Bath answered on its ensuing possession then McCloud scored on a 5- yard run on the second play of the second quarter to cap a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive that chewed up 5 minutes and 27 seconds off the game clock.

The Rams also scored on their next possession when Havens went in from a yard away.

After stalling on downs with less than a minute to play in the first half, Cody Hutcheson's interception set up what proved to be a backbreaking score for the Rams.

With just 47.5 seconds left, Havens found a huge hole in the line and broke free for a 63-yard touch-down run, giving the Rams a commanding 27-7 lead at the break. Bath's offensive line of Tyree McCloud, Mark Bart, Ben Chissom, Drew Seager, Eric Argentieri, Craig Chissom and Dave Harris played a big part in the Rams' 495 yards of offense.

Hutcheson rushed for 27 yards and picked up a second-half touch down.

The Rams shut the door on the Mustangs defensively in the second half and were led by T.C. Carroll's teamhigh nine tackles. Eric Argentieri finished with eight tackles, while Nick Carroll registered six tackles and had two interceptions- one on the game's second play from scrimmage and the second on the final play from scrimmage.

Dansville's lone secondhalf touch down came when Tyler Koch returned a kick 83 yards for a score. The Mustangs fell to 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in Livingston I.