ALBERT LEA, MINN – The Midwest Rampage was nice enough to spot its opponent six points early on in a Southern Plains Football League showdown of unbeaten teams here Saturday evening.

But the generosity didn’t last long. And by the time the black and orange let up, the Albert Lea Grizzlies were too dazed and confused – and way too far behind – to do anything about it.

Behind a franchise single-game record 436 yards passing from quarterback Ben Jass, the Rampage (3-0) continued its impressive early-season dominance by pancaking the Grizzlies, 47-24.

The Rampage scored 33 consecutive points after giving up the early touchdown off a blocked punt, and led 47-12 before the Grizzlies (2-1) scored a pair of meaningless fourth-quarter touchdowns.

“(Saturday’s) game was very physical and we stepped up and played blow for blow with the Grizzlies and came out on top,” Rampage head coach Matt Girdley said. “My guys beat them in the trenches on both sides of the ball to control the game.”

The visitors piled up 567 yards of total offense, 116 of those coming on the ground from tailback Ross Haren. Jeromy Keehn (5 catches, 187 yards) and Gunnar Wyatt (5 catches, 139 yards) were both favorite targets of Jass, who completed 14 of 21 passes and tossed four touchdowns.

“It’s no secret what we’re going to do on offense, but the fact is we have an outstanding receiving corps and our ground game, which starts with our linemen, is very punishing,” Jass said.

Jass had former Iowa Hawkeye Eric Rothwell blocking for him up front. The 6-foot-4, 330-pounder helped to open up gashes for Haren and gave Jass plenty of time in the pocket.

Haren knotted the game in the first quarter on a 10-yard run and former UNI Panther Joe Cason opened up the second quarter onslaught with an 11-yard interception return to the house.

The Rampage defense limited the Grizzlies to just 207 yards of offense while collecting four turnovers – Nick Plueger also picked off a pass, while Brian Miller and Curtis Russell recovered fumbles.

Through three games, the Rampage hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown.

“As a whole, the defense is very unselfish,” Rampage middle linebacker John Elkin said after recording a team-high seven tackles, including two of the team’s eight sacks. “The entire team is about being a brotherhood with one goal in mind – to win.”

Plueger and Andy Sowle added six tackles each. Miller was in on four stops and also recovered a fumble.

Wyatt kicked a pair of 27-yard field goals and reeled in a 65-yard touchdown pass from Jass in the second quarter. Kris Schult was on the receiving end of a 45-yard TD toss to help send the Rampage into the intermission up 33-7.

Jeromy Keehn (75 yards) and Taylar Karas (15 yards) got in on the pass and catch touchdown fun in the third quarter.

The Rampage now goes into its bye week looking to get rested and healthy before a two-game homestand against The Panic (1-2) and the Southwest Huskerz (3-0) on May 30 and June 6.