Football: No Scott, no problem for St. Bonaventure in opener

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There were many questions surrounding the program over at St. Bonaventure entering the season, perhaps the most important of which was: How were the Seraphs going to replace Darrell Scott, the team’s star player from last year before he committed to Colorado?

The answer is simple -- use a running back by committee approach. Santa Margarita figured that out real quick Friday night but the Eagles failed each and every time they attempted to stop Devon Blackledge, Isaiah Burton, Patrick Hall and Nolan Rodarte, who combined to rush for 366 yards in a 35-14 season opening victory for the Seraphs, ranked No. 9 by The Times.

Blackledge was in rhythm early on. On his second carry from scrimmage, the junior busted threw the line of scrimmage, raced past the secondary and scored on a 73-yard touchdown run to give St. Bonaventure a 7-0 lead with 4:18 left in the first quarter. He finished with 149 yards.

Burton took over in the second quarter and scored on a 50-yard run to extend the lead to 13-0 with 6:11 left in the first half. The senior added an 87-yard touchdown to give St. Bonaventure a 28-7 lead in the third quarter to essentially demoralize Santa Margarita. All told, he had 167 yards on seven carries.

Following a Dylan Davis interception in the second quarter, Hall got in on the act, scoring on a one-yard plunge to give the Seraphs a 20-0 advantage at the half. Rodarte scored on a 39-yard run late in the fourth quarter with the game’s outcome no longer in doubt.

Gavin Escobar did his best to keep the Eagles close. The 6-foot-6 senior had eight receptions for 135 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. The only other highlight for the Eagles was when A.J. Cruz scored from 22 yards out after catching a hook-and-ladder pass from John Reisinger.

-- Sean Ceglinsky