RUSHVILLE - Batesville’s Senior quarterback Will Jaisle passed for six touchdowns to four different receivers - four in the third quarter alone - and 360 yards Friday night at Rushville’s Hinshaw Field to hand the Lions a 55-20 defeat on homecoming night. It’s the Bulldogs’ 18th straight win over RCHS as they improve to 4-0 on the year. The Lions drop to 2-2.

From the one-minute mark of the first half through an extended halftime to the waning seconds of the third period, the Bulldog offense did about anything it wanted. When all’s said and done, the scoreboard changed from a tight 14-12 contest to a reading of 49-20. A Carson Hartley 66-yard scamper in the fourth produced a running clock for the unbeaten Dogs.

Quinn Barada pinballed for a 39-yard score for the home team with 2:41 left in the first half. The conversion attempt failed to knot the game at 14, but Batesville fumbled away the ensuing kickoff to put the ball 25 yards from the goal line. The Lions, though, only gained three yards. Jaisle and his crew wasted no time.

He hit frequent target Damien Dance for a quick 18, another to No. 5 that ended with a diving scoop for 13 more and Dance again for a 40-yard heave all the way to the Lions’ 7-yard line. A play later, Jaisle rolled to his left and slung one across the field to Hartley in the end zone. Brady Wonnell’s kick made it 21-12 at the break.

Having elected to kick off at game’s beginning, BHS had the first possession of the second half. Jaisle carried for a pair of first downs and classmate Gage Pohlman - now BHS’ all-time rusher - converted a 4th-and-2. Alex Krekeler then made an over-the-shoulder grab and took it in for a 34-yard TD. 

The Lions gained one first down on their drive but again turned it over on downs. The next play from scrimmage, Dance had a 53-yard TD reception and the rout was on. Batesville then recovered a Lion fumble near midfield and on a 3rd-and-5 play from the RCHS 48, the Dogs got a long scoring strike from Jaisle to Dance. Wonnell put the Dogs up 30 at 42-12.

A good kick return by Ralph Eakins led to a 40-yard TD pass from Nick Jarman to Braydon Wilson on Rushville’s next possession. Then, late in the third after a Lions’ personal foul, Jaisle connected with Dance for a 58-yard catch and score.

RCHS was stifled on the game’s opening drive and punted away. On the Bulldogs’ first offensive play, Jaisle hooked up with Krekeler for 31 yards. Pohlman picked up another first down and two Hartley runs later, Stenger caught a 22-yard zinger from Jaisle just inside the left pylon for the game’s first points.

The Lions had an answer. Eakins and Barada moved the pigskin for a first down, but Rushville faced 3rd-and-15 shortly after. Jarman then dropped back and lofted one deep for Eakins and a 61-yard scoring play; the conversion failed. The Dogs followed with their only three-and-out of the night. Barada got the crowd fired up with a 34-yard run on the Lions’ next possession. However, on a 3rd-and-10, Jarman’s pass was picked off by Stenger. 

BHS extended its 7-6 lead early in the second frame after two Dance grabs moved the sticks to 1st-and-goal. Pohlman carried to the 1 and Jaisle did the rest. Rushville responded with a 13-play, 85-yard scoring drive. 

The Dogs rolled up over 540 yards of offense and Dance is credited with 271 of those. Barada rushed for 164 yards.

BHS has its first official Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference game Friday, 7 p.m. at 2-2 East Central. The Trojans have won the last 10 meetings. RCHS looks to retain the War on 44 trophy as the Lions head east to face Connersville.

Bulldogs 55, Lions 20

B - 7 14 28 6 - 55

R - 6 6 8 0 - 20

Scoring

First Quarter

B - Stenger 22-yard pass from Jaisle, 8:08. Wonnell kick.

R - Eakins 61-yard pass from Jarman, 5:44. Run failed.

Second Quarter

B - Jaisle 1-yard run, 9:20. Wonnell kick.

R - Barada 39-yard run, 2:41. Run failed.

B - Hartley 7-yard pass from Jaisle, :3.4. Wonnell kick.

Third Quarter

B - Krekeler 34-yard pass from Jaisle, 7:18. Wonnell kick.

B - Dance 53-yard pass from Jaisle, 5:08. Wonnell kick.

B - Dance 48-yard pass from Jaisle, 3:24. Wonnell kick.

R - Wilson 40-yard pass from Jarman, 1:48. Sam Pavey run.

B - Dance 58-yard pass from Jaisle, :17.9. Wonnell kick. 

Fourth Quarter

B - Hartley 66-yard run, 5:49. Kick failed.

Total yds: B 543, R 378

Rush yds: B 183, R 240

Pass yds: B 360, R 138

1st downs: B 13, R 12

Penalties: B 3-25, R 5-45

Fumbles/lost: B 3/1, R 1/1

Stats: BHS-Rushing: Pohlman 10-50, Hartley 9-98, Jaisle 7-35. Passing: Jaisle 12-18-360. Receiving: Krekeler 2-65, Stenger 1-22, Dance 8-271, Hartley 1-7. RCHS-Rushing: Barada 22-164, Eakins 7-49, Pavey 8-25, Jarman 2-2. Passing: Jarman 5-19-138 (2 INT). Receiving: Eakins 1-61, Wilson 3-71, Barada 1-6. (Unofficial)