ABy Ryan Howe
Times-News writer

The defending Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference champions opened up their 2008 conference campaign with a statement.

"We're the defending conference champs and the title comes through us," said Kimberly–running back Eric Marvin, who scored four first-half touchdowns as the visiting Bulldogs spanked Gooding 49-0 on Thursday.

After losing two non-conference games by a combined 10 points to start the season, Kimberly has rolled off three straight victories with two shutouts.–The Bulldogs have averaged 47 points in their last three games.

"We started slow at the beginning of the year and had some slip-ups. Those (losses) were just flukes," Marvin said. "As you can see we've been blowing opponents out these last three games. That's what we can do."

Kimberly made it look easy in the first half, scoring on six straight drives. Meanwhile the Bulldog defense forced five three-and-outs and a fumble, recovered by Nick Quinonez.

"We're pretty stout on defense," said senior lineman Jamie Folk. "Our main (goal) is to get the shutout and keep the shutout, no matter who's playing."

Marvin racked up more than 150 yards rushing in the first half and scored on runs of 26, 35, 2 and 50.

"We wanted to come out and set the tone early and we did that with an effective running game, and that's a credit to the O-line," Marvin said. "Our offensive line was making some huge holes. It's not that hard, any back can run through that."

Said Folk: "I like to block for Eric. It's fun because he makes things happen. We open them up, he gets the yards."

Marvin wasn't the only back to find daylight against the Senators defense. Braeden Nield added a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter. Quarterback Nick Dame tossed a 40-yard bomb to Isaac Makings to give Kimberly a 42-0 halftime lead.

"They're just bigger, stronger, faster," said Gooding coach Chris Comstock. "We just got whipped."

The second half turned into a glorified scrimmage as the second stringers got plenty of game experience. Junior Blake Rodeman scored an 11-yard touchdown to cap the scoring with 21 seconds remaining in the game. Senior kicker Cody Wadsworth converted 7 of 7 PATs on the night.

"Sometimes when kids play together for so long and what they expect to happen doesn't happen it kind of sets them back on their heels a little bit. I think that's what happened to us at the beginning of the year," said Kimberly coach Kirby Bright. "But I think that everybody's playing together and their starting to gel."

Kimberly looks forward to next Friday when it hosts Wendell in another SCIC game.

"You've got to play every week in this conference because anything can happen with some good football teams and some good coaches in this conference," Bright said.

Gooding will be at Filer next Friday.

Kimberly 49, Gooding 0

Gooding 0 0 0 0 â€" 0

Kimberly 14 28 0 7 â€" 49

First quarter

Kimberly â€" Eric Marvin 26 run (Cody Wadsworth kick) 3:46

K â€" Marvin 35 run (Wadsworth kick) 2:14

Second quarter

K â€" Marvin 2 run (Wadsworth kick) 10:57

K â€" Marvin 50 run (Wadsworth kick) 8:08

K â€" Braeden Nield 9 run (Wadsworth kick) 6:45

K â€" Isaac Makings 40 pass from Nick Dame (Wadsworth kick) 3:57

Fourth quarter

K â€" Blake Rodeman 11 run (Wadsworth kick) 0:21