SHERBURNE – After going backward more that forward for nearly a quarter, Sherburne-Earlville’s offense unleashed a torrent of quick-striking plays that quickly put the game out of reach Saturday afternoon against Clinton.

S-E evened its mark on the season, and won its all-important Section III Class C division opener defeating the Warriors, 28-8.

Sophomore Austin Jasper rushed for 117 yards, and his late first-quarter touchdown ignited his team’s performance. Jasper, who had two rushes early in the quarter for negative 10 yards, hit the hole up the middle, shrugged off a couple of Clinton tacklers, and raced 60 yards for six points.

The Marauders scored two more touchdowns early in the second quarter to signal the rout. “We just wanted to wash the bad taste out of our mouth after last week,” said S-E coach Mike Jasper, who was referring to last week’s 28-21 loss to Frankfort-Schuyler. “We felt like we should have won or had a shot at winning that one, and we let it go. We wanted to make sure we put the hammer down, and got this one.”

The Marauders’ defense did indeed lock down on the Warriors making it one dimensional in a hurry. Clinton rushed for just 54 yards, and was forced to make 26 pass attempts. By the fourth quarter, about the only running plays called by Clinton were scrambling efforts by quarterback Sam Olsen.