Edwardsburg’s Michael Kempton (30) comes down with a ball against White Pigeon in the Eddies’ 49-0 victory over the Chiefs. Edwardsburg is now 2-0 on the season. (Vigilant/Argus photo/KELLY SWEENEY)

By JEFF FISHER

Vigilant/Argus

The 49 in the Eddie’s scoring column looked impressive enough on the scoreboard at a sticky Leo Hoffman Field.

But Edwardsburg football coach Kevin Bartz seemed to enjoy the big round “0” on the visitor’s side of the scoreboard even more.

The Eddies defense pitched its first shutout of the season by holding visiting White Pigeon, a member of the St. Joseph Valley Conference,  to 67 total yards of offense in a 49-0 blowout Thursday (Sept. 2) night while playing the second half of the game with a running clock because of the 35-point mercy rule.

Defensively, the Eddies forced three interceptions, one by Chad Tevlin for a 24-yard return, recovered two fumbles and held the Chiefs (1-1) to only six first downs and yielded only 19 passing yards for the game.

“Our defense played very good. we’re just more aggresive this year.  We have a different mentality this year. We’ve got chemistry going and a trust and a belief in each other,” Bartz said.

Edwardsburg also showed some pretty impressive offensive firepower against the Chiefs. The Eddies rolled for 416 rushing yards, 429 total yards.

Austin Stinnett had seven rushes for 89 yards and a third quarter touchdown run. Lee Williamson netted 58 yards and caught one pass from Ethan Zimmerman.

The Eddies only punted once in the game late in the second quarter.

“We got everybody involved offensively, all four of our fullbacks scored and the inside trap seemed to be open,” Bartz said. Our offensive line did a great job, we preach down-field blocking and they did that well. It was a good team victory, good win for us.”

Edwardsburg (2-0) went 99 yards in nine plays on their first possession, capped by a 6-yard Ethan Zimmerman run to post the first score.

The Eddies busted for four touchdowns in the second quarter.  Cole Golden started the touchdown parade on a 1-yard run to go up 14-0.

After the Chiefs’ fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, recovered by Justin Steinke, Tevlin went for 27 yards up the middle for a score.

Tevlin then picked off a Nate Wolf pass and went 24 yards to pay dirt.

Matt North would score from five yards out to put the hosts up 35-0 at the half.

“We just had no answers for anything they did, they just stuck it to us and beat us up, ” Chiefs coach Jason Vogel said. “We knew coming in that they were good and it finally caught up to us after we beat them the last two years.”

Mike Niblock led the White Pigeon rushing with 59 yards on 14 carries.

“I saw improvement from last week and that is what we were looking for,” Bartz added.

The victory avenged a double overtime loss to the Chiefs last season.

The Eddies host another opponent from the St. Joseph Valley Conference in Bronson Friday night.

White Pigeon 0 0 0 0 — 0

Edwardsburg 7 28 7 7 — 49

E – Ethan Zimmerman 6 run (Jeff Roberson kick)

E – Cole Golden 1 run (Roberson kick)

E – Chad Tevlin 27 run (Roberson kick)

E – Tevlin 24 interception return (Roberson kick)

E – Matt North 5 run (Roberson kick)

E – Austin Stinnett 31 run (Roberson kick)

E – Justin Steinke 23 run (Roberson kick)