ZILLAH -- Staying exclusively with the running game, Toppenish ground out a 12-7 victory over Zillah in the season opener for both teams.

The Wildcats got two long first-half scoring runs to jump ahead, and the Leopards, which attempted just seven passes themselves, never threatened.

Carlos Ramirez scored on a 46-yard run in the opening quarter, and Josue Chavez had a 60-yard scoring burst, part of a 102-yard rushing night, to lead Toppenish, which finished with 204 rushing yards.

Jay Patterson scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter for Zillah, but the Leopards didn't generate much offense, with Patterson leading the way with 40 yards rushing.

Zillah had seven different players rush the ball, but the Leopards had just 104 yards on the ground to go with 8 through the air.

Toppenish 6 6 0 0 -- 12

Zillah 0 0 7 0 --7

Top -- Carlos Rmirez 46 run (kick failed)

Top -- Josue Chavez 60 run (run failed)

Zil -- Jay Patterson 4 run (Jose Rodriguez kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Toppenish, Rosendo Aguilar 7-27, Chavez 8-102, Ramirez 11-51, Ralfie Osorio 1-15, Ivan Macias 4-8, Patrick Peters 3-1. Zillah, Jacob Olivas 5-10, Patterson 10-40, Alex Gonzalez 5-10, Tanner McCombs 8-11, Cameron Bounds 3-10, Logan Olney 7-20, Rodney Treece 1-3.

PASSING -- Toppenish, no pass attempts. Zillah, McCombs 1-7-0-8.

RECEIVING -- Toppenish, no pass attempts. Zillah, Gonzalez 1-8.