Commerce Dominates District A-8 Showdown
By Levi Payton, from the Joplin Globe

COMMERCE, Okla. — Going into Thursday's game against Salina, the Commerce defense hadn't given up a point in 16 consecutive quarters.

Make it 20 as the Tigers blanked the Wildcats 56-0 in what some thought would be an old-fashioned dogfight at Commerce High School.

It was a far cry from those expectations, however. The Tigers owned every statistical category, except penalty yards thanks to multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Aside from that, they forced seven turnovers, racked up 256 kick return yards and rushed for 344 yards.

Meanwhile, Salina was held to 188 yards of total offense.

“That’s something that we practice on,” Commerce coach Willie Ng said. “Those things don't just happen. We work on (doing) those things.”

If practice makes perfect, then the Tigers have been preparing well. Their improvement to 7-0 was in no lazy fashion.

Sophomore tailback Bryson Sullivan scored four times to lead the offense. He carried the ball eight times for 132 yards and touchdown runs of 1, 11 and 56 yards. He also returned a punt 50 yards for first-quarter score.

Teammate Josh Pilkinton also went over the century mark with 134 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

“I think (the running game) started clicking,” Ng said. “Our offensive line really stepped up.”

The only thing that wasn't clicking for the Tigers was their passing game. In 12 throws they totaled just 13 yards (11 on one play) and threw two interceptions.

“I wouldn’t say (we're) very concerned, but we are (a little) concerned," Ng said of the passing game. "We need to shore up the pass protection, and then we need to make the right reads and get the ball to receivers."

Salina didn't have much luck throwing the ball either. Quarterback Derrek Brickey appeared to hurt his throwing hand while blocking on the last play of the first half. When he emerged from the locker room to begin the third quarter his right hand was taped and he didn't appear to be able to throw the ball during warmups on the sideline.

Still, the Wildcats tried to throw the ball. The results weren't good as Brickey tossed three picks — the second of which was returned 61 yards by Luke Manning for a score to make it 42-0. The Tigers had four interceptions in the game.

Commerce travels to Ketchum next Friday.