Mexico falls behind Warrenton big start, big plays in 35-0 loss

Mexico didn’t improve after a slow start on Friday.

The Bulldogs lost 35-0 at Class 4 No. 6 Warrenton to close the regular season. The beginning of Friday’s game put Mexico in an early hole that wasn’t overcome as Warrenton (9-0) scored on its first drive, and Mexico (2-7) didn’t score on a 12-play opening drive.

Head coach Steve Haag said Mexico’s offense didn’t muster much after the opening drive as the Bulldogs finished with 168 total offensive yards – 120 on the ground. PJ Perkins was the leading rusher with 49 yards on nine carries. Warrenton, on the other hand, had 433 total offensive yards and eight plays of at least 20 yards.

“We just didn’t get started very well,” Haag said. “We had it down in their territory and just didn’t capitalize. For them, we just gave up big play after big play.”

Warrenton led 28-0 at halftime and were led by quarterback Charlie Blondin’s 222 yards and three touchdowns on 14-for-21 passing, and Austin Haas’ 147 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

The Warriors are undefeated this year after five straight losing seasons while Mexico is rebuilding and has its worst record since a 1-9 campaign in 2012. Haag said there is much difference between the programs from even just a season ago as the Bulldogs, which finished 4-6, won that meeting 33-19.

Mexico has faced a fair share of challenging teams this season and will need to start districts on Friday with one. The Bulldogs are the No. 7 seed in the Class 4 District 4 tournament and will travel to No. 2 Holt (6-3), which has five straight winning seasons and competed as a Class 5 school only a season ago. The Indians were 8-2 a season ago and 13-1 the year before that as the state runner-up.

“We see sparks of a team that we could be but just don’t see any consistency,” Haag said. “When you’re young like we are and you’re playing these bigger schools, you have to be consistent. The last couple weeks, we haven’t done well blocking up front. When you’re running the offense we’re running, everybody’s got to be on the same page and be clicking.”

Mexico boys finish second in JV race at Bowling Green

The Mexico junior varsity boys had a good showing Friday in Bowling Green.

The Bulldogs finished second, along with DeSoto, out of six schools with 66 points and was behind winner St. Charles’ 18 points. St. Charles had the top three runners, including winner Samuel Bland with his time of 18:25.

Mexico had four finish in the top 50 of the 93-runner field with Christian Frederickson having the top mark in 12th with a time of 20:18. Kyle Lewis was next in 15th with a 20:27, William Bingham was 23rd with a 21:11 and Landon Higgins was 29th with a 21:27.

Mexico competes in the Class 4 District 3 meet hosted by Clayton at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Vincent Park in St. Louis.