CASSOPOLIS — A rare feat was almost accomplished Friday by the Cassopolis football team in its 55-0 win over Centreville.

The Rangers’ defense didn’t allow a first down until 50 seconds remained in the game.

Rangers coach Bernard Thomas was surprised when told after the game about the Bulldogs lack of first downs.

“I wasn’t aware that they didn’t have any first downs,” said Thomas, whose team improved to 2-1. “I wasn’t too concerned about that. Obviously, you always want to play for a shutout. That’s something the defense works at it and it gives them a goal. The defense played very well. (Centreville) runs a version of the wing-T so at least we’ve had a chance to get a glimpse at how to play against it. We know that they don’t run it nearly as well as Edwardsburg. But the longer you see something the better at it you get. Now, we’ve seen a little of the wing-T so hopefully there will be a carry-over next week when we play Edwardsburg.”

Cassopolis held Centreville, which fell to 1-2, to 37 total yards. The Bulldogs punted after five of their seven offensive possessions in the first half.

What the Rangers did after one of the punts provided a spark for the hosts.

Kevin Hatcher’s 38-yard punt return in the first quarter gave Cassopolis field position at Centreville’s 36-yard line. Soon, a scoreless game would be taken over by the Rangers. Cassopolis drove 36 yards on six plays with Tyrone Christopher’s one-yard plunge giving the Rangers a 6-0 lead with 4:19 left in the first quarter. That scoring was the start of seven straight scoring drives for Cassopolis.

“Every game we’ve played Kevin has done a good job back there,” Thomas said. “Even the game we lost against Lawton, when we fumbled the ball 10 times, Kevin still gave us great field position. He’s a weapon and that’s why he’s back there. I’ve told him to make sure that he catches the ball and then make something happen. Things like that will get your team revved up. You’re always looking for something to get momentum on your side. I that that did it for us tonight.”

A 35-0 Cassopolis lead at halftime put a mercy-rule, running clock into affect to start the second half. The Rangers had 11 first downs to none for the Bulldogs in the first half. Cassopolis compiled 284 yards in the first half compared to only 26 for Centreville.

The longest touchdown play in the first half came in the second quarter when brothers Dwayne Morgan and VaShaun Morgan hooked up on a 69-yard touchdown pass. VaShaun was wide-open at Centreville’s 35-yard line and then outran Bulldog defenders and went the distance. That score gave the Rangers a 21-0 lead.

Dwayne Morgan completed 6-of-8 passes for 118 yards.

The Rangers’ running game was led by the tandem of Evan Brown and Tyrone Christopher. Brown rushed for 149 yards on 13 carries with four touchdowns. Christopher added 104 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Brown now has 11 touchdowns on the season.

“I just come out and play hard every game,” said Brown. “I’m trying to prepare for the Eddies next week. I know they’re a good team. I’m going to see what I’m made of next week.”

Brown thought he could have played better against Centreville.

“I’d give myself a B for a grade,” Brown said.

Brown had touchdown runs of 20 and 28 yards in the second half.

“Over the last two weeks I’ve seen growth out of Evan,” Thomas said. “He’s a great athlete and he was always a great football player. But I think their were some other things that he had to work on like leadership. He’s maturing and as he gets better as a person he gets better as a football player because he works harder.”

Centreville 0 0 0 0 — 0

Cassopolis 6 29 13 7 — 55

CA_Tyrone Christopher 1 run (kick blocked).

CA_Evan Brown 23 run (Christopher run).

CA_VaShaun Morgan 69 pass from Dwayne Morgan (Blaise Suseland kick).

CA_Dwayne Morgan 3 run (Suseland kick).

CA_Brown 5 run (Suseland kick).

CA_Brown 20 run (Suseland kick).

CA_Brown 28 run (run failed).

CA_Kevin Hatcher 8 run (Suseland kick).