General | August 28, 2021 | 20:12

River Rouge raced to a 56-0 win over Eastpointe on Saturday at the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic. 

Nine seconds into the game Rouge scored on an 85-yard kickoff return by Markell Gilford to make it 6-0.

Davion Hill recovered a Marquise Campbell and quarterback Christian Johnson turned it into a 12-yard TD pass to Jalen Holly with eight minutes, four seconds left in the first quarter. Johnson ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-0.

The Panthers defensive line gave Campbell no time to set up and he ran for his life throughout the first half.

A bad snap by Eastpointe on fourth down gave Rouge the ball on the Shamrock 18.

On the first play from scrimmage Johnson hit Holly for his second TD of the quarter to make it 20-0. 

After Jerry Cross recovered a fumble Johnson raced around right end for 65 yards and a score with 64 seconds left in the first to give the Panthers a 28-0 lead.

Johnson hit Brandon Wideman with an 8-yard strike with 8:24 left in the half to make it 35-0.

After Joseph King got sick on the field after getting hit in the stomach with 6 minutes left in the half, the game was delayed more than 20 minutes and the second quarter resumed after halftime.

With a running clock, sub De'Monnie Hendrix scored from eight yards out to make it 42-0.

"We had a good game today; our receivers, OL and quarterback,'' said Holly. "We've been waiting on this game since we lost in the state championship game. After this game 24-hour rule and we move on.

Johnson rushed for 78 yards and completed eight of 15 passes for 111 yards.

"A lot of people don't know but I was the quarterback in junior league and Christian and I were battling back then,'' said Holly. We came to high school, and we've been doing a lot of off-field training without the team; all seven of the receivers. We have great chemistry.''