ST. JOSEPH – Backup quarterback Jeremy Rush ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the St. Joseph Bears opened up Big 16 West Division play with a 48-0 victory over Niles Friday night.
The Bears (2-1, 1-0) also got a trio of touchdown runs from Jamaal Jackson.
The Vikings (1-2, 0-1) were no match for the Bears from the get-go.
St. Joseph rolled up 34 points in the opening half and finished the game with 460 yards in total offense, including 343 on the ground.
On the other side of the football, Niles was playing without starting quarterback Cameron Sly (shoulder) and Myles Busby (suspension).
The Vikings were only able to muster 141 yards in total offense, of which all but one yard came on the ground.
Niles was 2-of-12 passing for 1 yard.
Rush, who threw for 11 yards on 7-of-12, hit Bobby Symonds for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:09 to play in the opening quarter.
The Bears followed that up with a 21-yard Jackson touchdown run just three minutes later to take a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.
Jackson opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 6-yard run with 6:39 left in the first half.
Rush then scored the first of two touchdowns, this one a 7-yard effort. His second score, a 6-yard jaunt to the end zone, came with 1:23 left in the first half.
St. Joseph scored a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to complete the scoring.
Jackson scored on a 56-yard run in the third quarter and Ty Taylor scored from 5-yards out in the final 12 minutes.
Offensively for the Vikings, Aaron Davis rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries.
Nick Lucero and David Garner both played quarterback for Niles.
Jackson finished the night with 235 yards on 17 carries to lead the Bears rushing attack.
Niles returns home Friday night to take on Portage Central in a Big 16 non-divisional contest.

Niles 0 0 0 0 – 0
St. Joseph 14 20 7 7 – 48
SJ – Bobby Symonds 13 pass from Jeremy Rush (Josh Akins kick)
SJ – Jamaal Jackson 21 run (Akins kick)
SJ – Jackson 6 run (Akins kick)
SJ – Rush 7 run (kick failed)
SJ – Rush 3 run (Akins kick)
SJ – Jackson 56 run (Akins kick)
SJ – Ty Taylor 5 run (Josh Fagras kick)