Following a 42-8 rout over Roland-Story in Week 1, the Hawks continued to run roughshod over whatever was in their path here Friday night.

South Hamilton (2-0) rushed for 314 yards, scored through the air and never gave Madrid a moment to breathe in a 45-6 thumping that was one-sided from the opening kickoff.

“Overall I thought our kids played well,” South Hamilton head coach Corey Klemp said. “There were situations where we turned the ball over a couple times and put ourselves in some tough positions, but the kids responded well to that.”

Three turnovers — two fumbles and an interception — by South Hamilton only kept the final score in the realm of respectability. The Hawks scored on their other six possessions, as Madrid (0-2) failed to slow down the running game.

South Hamilton halfback Brock Galetich (9) protects and right side of fullback and ball carrier Lane Swenson (right) during Friday’s game against Madrid. The Hawks improved to 2-0 with a 46-5 rout of the Tigers. DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

Halfbacks Trevor Thompson and Brock Galetich rushed for 135 and 79 yards, respectively, and fullback Lane Swenson bullied his way between the tackles for 87 yards. All three scored at least one touchdown for the second straight week.

“We had good balance again, and it’s the unit as a whole,” Klemp said. “We have an explosive backfield, both power and speed, but it all starts up front and those guys (on the offensive line) did a really nice job. Carter Balvanz was thrown into a starting role and did a really nice job.”

Thompson, a senior and three-year starter, has proven to be more than a handful early in the season. He gouged Madrid for 10.4 yards per carry and is averaging 8.5 through two games. His two touchdowns against the Tigers upped his total to five on the season.

Thompson was a menace defensively as well. At his familiar linebacker role in the middle of the field, he piled up a game-high 81⁄2 tackles and picked off Madrid quarterback Brady Leonard once.

“Thompson had a phenomenal game,” Klemp said. “Just watching film, his flow to the ball was exceptional, and then he had another physical night running the ball.”

DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

South Hamilton’s three-pronged backfield attack has already churned out 692 yards and reached the end zone 11 times.

“There’s definitely more balance back there this year,” Klemp said. “Going to double tight, it really makes it completely unpredictable to where the ball is going pre-snap and I think that’s really helped too with how defenses align against us.”

All three backs found the end zone in the first half to stake South Hamilton to a 24-0 edge at the intermission. Thompson broke free on a 21-yard TD jaunt, Swenson shoved his way in from the 4, and Galetich came out of the backfield and reeled in a 23-yard scoring pass from quarterback Freddie Lewis.

Another long Thompson run, this time from 54 yards, increased the lead to 32-0 less than two minutes into the third quarter. Swenson made it 39-0 on a 1-yard plunge just a few minutes later.

Galetich increased the margin to 45-0 on a 4-yard run early in the fourth and Klemp called off the dogs the remainder of the way.

Madrid avoided the shutout on a 5-yard run by Leonard with 5:09 remaining. Leonard accounted the majority of the Tigers’ offense; he rushed for 64 yards and completed 6 of 15 passes for 79 yards.

Madrid finished with 229 yards, a large portion of the output coming in the fourth period.

“Defensively we played really well,” Klemp said. “Our secondary did a really nice job again, and really all three levels had good games.”

Austin Busch and Elijah Balderas also intercepted Leonard, and Swenson jumped on a fumble to go along with 31⁄2 tackles. Tycin Barkema collected four tackles. Landen Skartvedt finished with 31⁄2, and Busch and Gavin Swenson both added three.

That aforementioned tough test? It’s likely to come this Friday when South Hamilton hits the road to face Dike-New Hartford (1-1) in the Class 1A District 3 opener for both teams. The Wolverines were ranked No. 3 in the initial Associated Press poll, but were handed a 35-0 loss by top-ranked (Class A) Grundy Center on Friday.

And Klemp knows that loss won’t sit well in Dike.

“After last week, I know they’re going to be hungry and focused on this game … it’s going to take on a lot more meaning for them,” he said. “There’s no doubt our kids will be focused and ready.

“This is a chance for this team to kind of cross that next hurdle. It’s the beginning of district play and it’s a storied program in Dike-New Hartford.”

South Hamilton 45, Madrid 6

Friday at Madrid

SH 16 8 15 6 — 45

Madrid 0 0 0 6 — 6

First Quarter

SH — Trevor Thompson 21 run (Brock Galetich run), 7:26.

SH — Lane Swenson 4 run (Galetich run), 1:22.

Second Quarter

SH — Galetich 23 pass from Freddie Lewis (Kyler Hodnefield pass from Lewis), 10:17.

Third Quarter

SH — Thompson 54 run (Thompson kick), 10:40.

SH — Swenson 1 run (Lewis run), 7:54.

Fourth Quarter

SH — Galetich 4 run (pass failed), 10:46.

MAD — Brady Leonard 5 run (kick blocked), 5:09.

Individual Statistics

Rushing — SH: Trevor Thompson 13-135, Lane Swenson 15-87, Brock Galetich 8-79, Gavin Swenson 3-12, William Mendoza 1-1, Freddie Lewis 1-0. Madrid: Brady Leonard 12-64, Gavin Owensby 10-42, Conner Williams 6-41, Jacob Kockler 1-3, Eli Welden 2-1, Matt Fuller 1-(-1).

Passing — SH: Lewis 1-2-1 23. Madrid: Leonard 6-15-3 79.

Receiving — SH: Galetich 1-23. Madrid: Cayden Fuson 4-74, Fuller 2-5.

Tackles — SH: Thompson 81⁄2, Tycin Barkema 4, L. Swenson 31⁄2, Landen Skartvedt 31⁄2, G. Swenson 3, Austin Busch 3, Lewis 21⁄2, Kyler Hodnefield 21⁄2, Dominic Summers 21⁄2, Galetich 2, Blake Harris 11⁄2, Elijah Balderas 11⁄2, Nic Flaugh 11⁄2, Preston Stoecker 1, Gatlin Johnson 1, Clayton Ubben 1, Carter Hewitt 1, Jack Moline 1, Mendoza 1⁄2, Stellen Willis 1⁄2, Aiden Johnson 1⁄2.

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