Call them Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside.

The combination of A.J. Green and Marquise Curtis was too much for visiting Brandywine in its season opening 35-8 loss to Cassopolis Friday night.

Green pounded the middle of the Bobcats defense for 163 yards on nine carries while Curtis added 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Green was also a factor on defense as he scooped up a bad pitch from Brandywine quarterback Vinny Peel and returned it 20 yards for a score as the Rangers (1-0) led 27-0 at halftime.

“He’s a beast,” Cassopolis coach Dan Purlee said about Green. “Brandywine did a pretty good job of taking away our inside game last year. But they stayed in their base front and gave us the opportunity to run that play. It’s just an inside play and A.J. is just a tough, physical runner. He’s a football player. But it’s good to have Marquise (who didn’t play last year) back. He’s an explosive kid who can make big plays for us. We’ve got the inside presence of A.J. and some kids who can get on the outside and do some damage.

Cassopolis alternated quarterbacks throughout the game and it paid dividends as Bryce Saxton got the Rangers on the board first in the opening quarter with a 1-yard quarterback keeper.

Green would score on a 30-yard run as the Rangers made it 16-0 after one following  a pair of Matt Locke extra points.

Curtis scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 7-yard run in the second quarter before Green returned the fumble for a touchdown.

Brandywine, which defeated Cassopolis 27-26 last year, showed some character by coming out and scoring on its opening possession of the second half.

Jeshua Wiese finished the 79-yard drive with a 23-yard run. Peel connected with Austin Knapp for the 2-point conversion.

“We challenged the kids at halftime to come out and play hard and not quit,” Brandywine coach Mike Nate said. “We challenged them to be team players and to come out and take adversity head-on and they did that.

“Even though it was 35-8 there was a lot of good stuff too. We moved the ball, we ran some pretty good plays. But you have to give the credit to Cass. They wanted it and they are a darn good football team. If there is anybody on our schedule better than that I am hoping not.”

The Rangers capped the scoring

On Curtis’ second touchdown, a 16-yard run late in the third quarter.

Brandon Anderson scored on the 2-point conversion run.

Cassopolis finished with 299 yards of total offense, all of which came on the ground as the Rangers did not attempt a single pass.

Brandywine had 193 yards rushing, while Peel was 10-of-14 for 87 yards and a pair of interceptions. He was also sacked seven times.

Wiese led the rushing attack with 128 yards on 12 carries.

Cassopolis hosts Mendon Thursday night, while the Bobcats host LaLumiere.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

 

CASSOPOLIS 35, BRANDYWINE 8

At Cassopolis

Brandywine               0          0          8          0 – 8

Cassopolis                  14       13       8          0 – 35

C – Bryce Saxton 1 run (Matt Locke kick)

C – A.J. Green 30 run (Locke kick)

C – Marquise Curtis 7 run (Locke kick)

C – Green 20 fumble return (kick blocked)

B – Jeshua Wiese 23 run (Austin Knapp pass from Vinny Peel)

C – Curtis 16 run (Brandon Anderson run)