No. 3-ranked Broncos down Tigers in opener

STAPLETON -- Stapleton, the No. 3 ranked team in Nebraska Class D-2 and last year's state runnerup, opened the 2007 season Thursday with a 48-22 victory at home over Maywood.

Stapleton led 8-0 after one quarter and 28-8 at halftime. Then the Broncos added 14 more points in the third quarter.

Maywood outscored the Broncos 22-6 in the fourth quarter.

Jon Walz scored on touchdown runs of 5, 3, 8 and 18 yards for the Broncos. Todd Walz added TD runs of 5 and 17 yards. Chris Bruesing added a 38-yard TD run.

Trent Whitman scored on a 39-yard run for the Tigers and threw a 9-yard TD pass to Brandon Arent. Dan Stinman scored on an 11-yard TD run and added a 2-point conversion. Dex Dodson contributed a PAT run.

Maywood fumbled three times and recovered one. Stapleton fumbled four times and recovered two.

Whitman completed 3-of-6 passes for 49 yards and rushed 8 times for 76 more. Dodson rushed for 53 yards on 7 carries. Dan Stinman rushed for 38 yards on 7 carries. Kelvin Arent had 31 yards on 8 carries.

Brandon Arent had 2 catches for 44 yards.

Todd Walz rushed for 85 yards on 9 carries for the Broncos, followed by Jon Walz with 74 yards on 13 carries and Buesing with 69 yards on 6 carries.

Todd Walz completed 3-of-5 passes for 34 yards. Austin Kramer completed his only pass for a 13-yard gain.

Jon Walz caught 2 passes for 21 yards. Buesing and Todd Walz each caught 1 pass for 13 yards.

On defense, Buesing made 12 tackles. Jon Walz had an interception.

Maywood hosts Maxwell Aug. 31 while Stapleton hosts Wauneta-Palisade.