OTTAWA LAKE – A 42-yard touchdown pass from Shea Ruddy to Ryin Ruddy got the season started Friday for the Whiteford Bobcats, who never looked back in a 36-20 win over Blissfield.

The Bobcats led 36-7 before the Royals scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a long touchdown on the game’s final play.

After the Ruddy connection, the Bobcat defense made a great goal-line stand, forcing a turnover. A few plays later, Jake Iott ran for a short touchdown run, then Stepan Masserant scored from 15 yards out before halftime as the Bobcats led 22-7 at the break.

Iott scored on runs of 31 and 25 in the third quarter. He finished with 104 yards rushing on 10 carries. Hunter DeBarr led the Bobcats with 117 yards rushing on 10 attempts. Shea Ruddy had the one pass completion and also ran five times for 70 yards. Drew Knaggs added 69 yards on just eight attempts.

Defensively, Iott was in on 14 tackles while Ryin Ruddy made seven stops.

DeBarr had a 20-yard punt return and averaged 43.0 yards per kickoff return.

The Bobcats took the all-time lead in the series with the Royals, 20-19.

The 1-0 Bobcats take on Ida (0-1) next week.

Whiteford	8	14	14	0	−	36
Blissfield	0	7	0	13	−	20

First Quarter

W − Ryin Ruddy 42 pass from Shea Ruddy (Jake Iott run)

Second Quarter

W − Iott 1 run (run failed)

B − Jack Deatrick 2 run (Aaron Stalker kick)

W −Stepan Masserant 15 run (Iott run)

Third Quarter

W − Iott 31 run (Iott run)

W − Iott 25 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

B −Elliot Strahan 4 pass from Deatrick (Stalker kick)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: Hunter DeBarr, W, 10-117; Jake Iott, W, 10-104; Shea Ruddy, W, 5-70; Drew Knaggs, W, 8-69; Jack Deatrick, B, 11-50; Ethan Stines, B, 5-48; Kassidy Lenz, B, 13-36; Stepan Masserant, 4-27; Luis Trijo, W, 5-22.

Passing: Jack Deatrick, B, 11-17-102; Brayden Fetzer, B, 2-2-68; Shea Ruddy, W, 1-2-42.

Receiving: Trey Bris-Bois, B, 1-64; Ty Cantrell, B, 3-60; Ryin Ruddy, W, 1-42; Eliot Strahan, B, 5-23; Landon Duval, B, 3-14; Tyler Ganun, B, 1-9.