The Blair Bears couldn't slow Rashad Madden on Thursday night.
The dynamic Ralston back ran for a Class B record 412 yards according to the Omaha World-Herald, leading the Rams to a televised, 49-32 home victory over the BHS football team. The workload broke the 8-year-old, 406-yard mark set by former Ralston back Isaac Wallace.
“Obviously, he's one of the guys that is just tough. He's quick. He's elusive,” Bears coach Bryan Soukup said. “I've had a lot of people tell me all year that he's one of those guys that doesn't need much to get things going.”
Madden scored four touchdowns, including a 72-yarder during the Rams' 21-point second quarter.
“We knew we were going to have our hands full with him,” Soukup said. “He's a special back. Obviously, we struggled to tackle him.”
Blair (1-7 overall) faced Ralston (2-6) without three, key senior defenders, who happen to be three of its top six tacklers this season. Kip Tupa, Mark Donner and Tyler Andersen all watched from the sideline as the Rams scored a season-high 49 points against their team's injury-depleted roster.
“The guys we played stepped in there and gave us everything they've got,” Soukup said.
The Bears' offense, meanwhile, scored its own season high with five touchdowns. Conner O'Neil's 11-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bode Soukup helped BHS to a 8-7 lead when the QB crossed the goal line for a two-point conversion.
“We moved the ball pretty well,” coach Soukup said. “We ran the ball really well and we were able to mix in some pass.”
J'shawn Unger's 2-yard reception pulled the Bears even, 14-14, during the second quarter, but they trailed from there. Madden ripped off his 72-yarder with 5:03 left in the first half before also finding his way into the end zone on the final play before the break.
Ralston QB Harrison Acklie — who also ran for two scores — took the snap 3 seconds before halftime, throwing it out to receiver Hudson Holloway on a hook route before the Ram then pitched it to Madden for 56 yards. The hook-and-lateral touchdown play put Blair into a 14-point hole, 28-14.
“Going down two scores instead of just one right before half was a big momentum build for them,” Soukup said.
The Bears responded with Dane Larsen's 10-yard, second- and third-effort touchdown run in the third quarter, but they never got closer than eight points from there. Soukup added a fourth-quarter touchdown run and a 51-yard scoring pass to O'Neil, but it wasn't enough as Madden never slowed down.
Next, BHS plays its season finale against South Sioux City.
“These kids are fighters and they continue to fight,” Soukup said.
The road game begins at 7 p.m. as the Bears look to avoid their first 1-8 season since 2004.
