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Gladiators roll past Nighthawks

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Gladiator running back Andrew Burnell clashes with a host of Janesville Nighthawk defenders in the first quarter at Clinton High School on Saturday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Gladiator Marchez Range takes the opening kick off all the way for a touchdown against the Janesville Nighthawks on Saturday.

CLINTON — Rock County jumped to a 51-0 halftime lead en route to a 65-2 victory over the Janesville Nighthawks in a Great Midwest Football League game at Clinton High School on Saturday.

The Gladiators won their seventh straight game to go to 7-2. Rock County plays at first-place Twin City (Bloomington-Normal, Ill.) next Saturday night in the final regular-season game. Twin City is 8-1, but lost to the Gladiators earlier this season.

Marchez Range opened the game with a 91-yard kickoff return for touchdown. T.J. Listenbee added a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Rock County quarterback Danny Roberts ran for touchdowns covering 4, 10 and 40 yards. He finished with four rushes for 69 yards, leading the Gladiators to a 201-yard rushing game on 20 carries.

Roberts also hit Nick Hammon with a 32-yard scoring pass, while Andrew Brunell, DeAndre Harrell and Cody St. Michael added touchdown runs of 4, 1 and 3 yards, respectively.

Derek Wickhem converted all nine extra points.

Two safeties completed the game scoring. Carl Crawford blocked a Nighthawk punt out of the end zone, and the Nighthawks avoided a shutout when they tackled a Rock County runner in the end zone.

The Janesville safety was set up by a punt by the Nighthawks’ Anthony Fredricks that pinned the Gladiators back at their half-yard line.

Maurice Talton caught three passes for 26 yards, as Roberts went 7 of 15 for 92 yards.

The Gladiator defense was led by Hammon and Kyle Meinert, who each had a sack, and Byron Moss and Shane Martin, who each had an interception.

Tyler Honek joined Crawford with a blocked punt.

GLADIATORS 65, NIGHTHAWKS 2

Rock County 30 21 7 7—65

Janesville 0 0 0 2—2

First Quarter

RC—Marchez Range, 91 kickoff return (Derek Wickhem kick). RC—Danny Roberts, 4 run (Wickhem kick). RC—Andrew Brunell, 4 run (Wickhem kick). RC—Safety, punt blocked by Carl Crawford out of end zone. RC—Roberts, 10 run (Wickhem kick).

Second Quarter

RC—Nick Hammon, 32 pass from Roberts (Wickhem kick). RC—DeAndre Harrell, 1 run (Wickhem kick). RC—T.J. Listenbee, 75 punt return (Wickhem kick).

Third Quarter

RC—Cody St. Michael, 3 run (Wickhem kick).