Mize quarterback Tony Agee leaves St. Aloysius defenders, from left, Justin Liddell, Austin Golding and Jim Clapp, in the dust for some of his 82 rushing yards during the Bulldogs’ 41-6 win on Friday. (Melanie Duncan ThortisThe Vicksburg Post)

[10/11/03]A bevy of Mize running backs turned Farrell Field into a race track Friday night.

The Bulldogs (5-2, 4-0 Region 4-1A) ran 53 times for a gaudy 501 yards, and six different players scored rushing touchdowns in a 41-6 thumping of St. Aloysius.

“The offensive line opened all the holes we needed,” said Mize sophomore Jasper Ducksworth, who led all rushers with 161 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown run. “They allowed us to do what we had to do.”

Ducksworth, the latest in a long line of Mize Ducksworths to star on the football field, scored on a 20-yard run in the first quarter. Senior Justin Ducksworth ran for 104 yards on eight carries and also scored on a touchdown run. Quarterback Tony Agee completed 3-of-4 passes for 80 yards as well.

The Mize ground game was so dominant, it had 21 plays of 10 yards or more and scored at will. The Bulldogs caught the most resistance from the penalty flags, suffering 12 penalties for 85 yards, and also fumbled three times all on scoring marches.

“They’ll be the same next year,” said St. Al coach Jim Taylor of Mize’s offensive production. “It’s about tradition and expectations. They produce a good program every year from bottom to top.

“If you don’t outwork them, you will be in trouble. That’s the bottom line.”

Agee added 82 yards on six carries and scored the first touchdown of the night, a 33-yard run 2 minutes, 10 seconds into the game.

Jasper Ducksworth’s score midway through the first gave Mize a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs upped the lead to 28-0 after touchdown runs by Perry Jones and Travis Autry with 8:23 left in the first half.

The Flashes, who were led by Rob Jones’ 113 yards on 15 carries, scored their only points of the night with 4:59 left in the half on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Drew Mazzanti to Anthony Rector.

Mazzanti threw for 82 yards on 6-of-21 passing and one interception.

Justin Ducksworth’s third quarter touchdown increased the Mize lead to 35-6, and Clay Robinson added a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

“We’ve been playing pretty good on offense lately,” said Mize coach Kenny Robinson, whose team will battle rival Mount Olive on Friday night for first place in the region. “We’ve been playing aggressive and I really thought this game would have been a lot tighter than it was.”