By Kenton Brooks

Phoenix Sports Writer

Coach Joe Thrasher and his Bacone College football team must know what an avalanche feel likes.

After Northwestern State blocked an early field goal, the Rangers then scored a blizzard of points with 45 straight en route to a 52-7 rout of the Warriors in Central States Football League action at the Indian Bowl on Saturday.

“Nothing could go right, from wrapping up to completing passes, staying on the blocks for the run game,” Thrasher said. “After the blocked field goal, I still felt good but then we get pinned inside the 5 yard line on the punt. It snowballed quick.

“I wanted to establish the run early but when you get behind so fast and so quick, you’ve got to go to the passing game. We weren’t efficient. The pressure was on and we didn’t step up to the challenge.”

Bacone, eliminated from any postseason consideration, dropped to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the CSFL. Northwestern, ranked No. 11 in the NAIA poll this week, improved to 7-2 and 2-1.

The Warriors’ running game was anemic at best with three yards gained on the ground, led by Lynn Gross’ 14 yards on five carries. Through the air, Bacone wasn’t much better as Thrasher used two quarterback and they combined for 111 yards.

Starter Jose Del Rio completed 6 of 19 passes for 67 yards and backup Ryan Morrow completed 6 of 15 passes for 44 yards. Erik Walden, who has started the last five games, didn’t play because of a knee injury.

Bacone had 114 yards of total offense and Northwestern had 410.

Bacone’s only points came on a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rophyel Howell with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

Northwestern quarterback Billy Barefield completed 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns, while running for 95 yards on eight carries before leaving the game with 4:56 left in the third quarter with an injury.

Jared Jackson was busy scoring too, running for two touchdowns on runs of two and four yards en route to 74 yards rushing on 28 carries and catching three passes for 43 yards and a 20-yard TD.

Jackson scored all three of his touchdowns in the second quarter and Barefield tossed a one-yard TD pass to Kent McDonald with 12 seconds left in the half. Leading the series 8-3, the Warriors led 28-0 at halftime.