Taylorsville » The Brighton Bengals were too strong, too fast, and just too good for the Taylorsville Warriors on Friday night, winning in blowout fashion 54-0.

From the first whistle, the Bengals carried the play on either side of the football. Several thunderous hits early in the game set a tone for the game, and the Warriors were never able to reach the level of intensity set by Brighton. The defense had Warrior quarterback Gabe Bloomfield on the run every time he dropped back to pass, sacking him seven times. By game's end, the Bengals' defense hadn't allowed a single Taylorsville completion.

"Last year we were not physical," said Brighton coach Ryan Bullett. "It was one of a number of things we talked about during the offseason."

Brighton endured their own difficulties last year, managing a paltry 2-10 season before losing out to Pleasant Grove in the first round of the 5A tournament. Thus far this season, the Bengals haven't allowed a point through two games.

The offense's performance was just as spectacular. Running backs Darren Later and Sosake TaKai each had long runs for touchdowns, 65 and 68 yards, respectively. The Bengals finished with 355 yards rushing.

Coming in at the end of the first drive to replace starting quarterback Derek Newell, who injured his ankle, sophomore Andy Jones held his own, throwing for 67 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another.

After scoring on the their first drive of the game on Zane Smith's 8-yard reception from Jones, the Bengals started to pull away on the Warriors' next possession. On fourth down, the snap sailed over punter Jared Stenberg's head, and as he went to fall on it, he was mobbed by a crowd of Bengal defenders. Brighton defensive back Nick Layton scooped up the ball and stumbled three yards into the end zone to give the Bengals a 14-0 lead.