Score early, score often, and score again.

That is exactly what host Ripon Christian did Friday night in a 68-0 shellacking of Pajaro Valley in non-league football action.

“We needed a game like this one just to get healthy,” Knights coach Phil Grams said. “Central Valley Christian was tough last week and we got a little banged up.

“Our defense was embarrassed last week when the back we played against then has been compared to Reggie Bush. Being embarrassed like we were motivated our guys to play better this week. We hammered on them in film on Monday and we hammered on them all week to have a better performance. Their running backs were not bad, but our guys were just motivated tonight.”

Ripon Christian (1-1) led 54-0 at the end of the first half with the running clock invoked midway through the second period, dominating on both sides of the ball with 342 yards of offense to just

9 yards for the Grizzlies (0-1) of Watsonville.

Josh Miller and Trevor Van Elderen led the stingy Knights defense with five stops apiece. Preston Zuidervaart (interception) and Logan De Jong added four stops each and Andrew Mensonides (fumble recovery) chipped in three stops. Miller recovered the last Ripon Christian kickoff when Pajaro Valley failed to cover the ball.

“Our defense came out fired up for this game after a tough loss last week,” Miller said. “Our defense really performed tonight.”

Mason Tameling directed the sizzling Knights offense, completing 4 of 5 passes for 110 yards with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jace Biedleman (two receptions, 53 yards) and a 50-yard scoring toss to Trevor Van Elderen.

“It is crazy fun,” Tameling said. “I love all these guys being around me. They just support me so much.”

Brady Grondz (five carries, 64 yards) scored on runs of 15, 18 and 26 yards.

“This was a great environment,” Grondz said. “Getting back out on our home field was really exciting to put on a show for our home fans.”

Grant Sonke (three carries, 73 yards) picked up the bulk of his yardage on a 59-yard touchdown scamper.

“It’s been a long time since we got to play on this home field,” Sonke said. “It just feels great to be back under the lights with our fans. I can’t say enough about it.”

Preston Zuidervaart (nine carries, 69 yards) scored on 16- and 23-yard runs. Amos Cady ran in a touchdown from 35 yards out and Amos Cady sprinted 25 yards for a touchdown. Ricky Van Unen (nine carries, 58 yards) capped the scoring with a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter and along with Josh Miller (three carries, 18 yards) Unen got all his yards in the second half.  

Ripon Christian travels to San Andreas next Friday to face Calaveras at 7 p.m.

“Next week it is not going to be easy against Calaveras,” Grams said. “Coach (Manny) Mossa has been coaching there a long time and he is going to have them playing better than they have the last few years. They are running the fly offense again, so it should be fly versus fly.”