USJ gets big win over Rossville

The final score may not appear to be as dominant as past scores between the football teams at University School of Jackson and Rossville Christian, but the Bruins still came away with their second win in Division II-A West with a 49-28 victory.

USJ dominated the first half when the Bruins scored 28 points in the opening period.

Jacob Buie, who played quarterback in place of senior starter Easton Underwood, connected with Brandon Hauswald for 16 yards.

Mitchell Bodiford, the Bruins’ senior running back, scored a touchdown with 4:41 remaining in the quarter, and that started a string of three touchdowns in about three-and-a-half minutes.

Buie and Hauswald connected for another pass, this time for 25 yards. Wells Smith then caught a 15-yard pass for the 28-0 lead.

Rossville matched USJ score for score in the second quarter.

Hauswald ran 39 yards for his third touchdown of the night before Rossville Christian scored to avoid the shutout.

Bodiford ran for another five-yard score before Rossville Christian scored with a pass play for a 42-14 deficit at intermission.

The final score for USJ came in the third quarter when Hauswald finished his night with a 10-yard run for a score to give him four touchdowns for the night.

That was the last for USJ before Rossville scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Buie finished the night with 93 passing yards, 71 of which came from Hauswald.

Bodiford led USJ with 132 rushing yards on 10 carries.

USJ will have next week off before traveling to Fayette Academy for its third of four district games. With two wins already, the Bruins are assured of at least a playoff berth. A win over Fayette Academy would give the Bruins at least a home game in the first round with a chance of a first-round bye if they were to win the district championship.