HOLMES TOWNSHIP — The Wynford Royals — a young football team — faced a rugged schedule over the first three weeks of the season.

Friday night, the Royals moved from the frying pan directly into the fire, taking on the defending state champion Carey Blue Devils.

Carey dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football, getting good balance on offense while limiting Wynford to just 79 total yards in the game en route to a 42-0 Northern 10 Athletic Conference win.

The win was the 19th straight for the Blue Devils, who haven’t lost since Aug. 20, 2021 — 30-15 to Hopewell-Loudon. Carey hasn’t scored less than 37 points in a game this season.

The Royals’ tough schedule hasn’t been lost on first-year coach Cyle Skidmore.

“The four games we’ve played, they’re all good teams,” Skidmore said. “They all have good culture, good traditions, and they have really good kids right now.”

Carey coach Jon Mershman said that the Royals will get better.

“Wynford is a good team,” Mershman said. “I know they are 0-4 but they have played some really good teams. That team is getting better and better. I’m glad we kinda played them early this year because I think that’s a team that’s going to grow as the season wears on and really will be a solid team.”

The challenge against the Blue Devils was a brutal one for the Royals.

Carey rushed for 252 yards on 41 carries while throwing for 125 more.

“I’m really psyched about the way we played tonight,” Mershman said. “We played a whole four quarters, really impressive. Our defense was lights out and got three turnovers. And the offense held on to the ball and didn’t commit any turnovers.

“I thought we were very efficient on offense We finished in the end zone which is what we want.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Carey (3-0, 1-0 N10) scored on the first play of the second quarter when Austin Niederkohr scored on a 20-yard run and a 7-0 lead.

Moments later, quarterback Lance Rickle hit Jordan Mattimoe from 69 yards out and a 14-0 lead.

The Blue Devils put the game away late in the second quarter when Rickle scored on a 13-yard run and fullback Landen Kemerley scored on a one-yard run.

Carey held a 27-0 lead at the half.

“We were a little stagnant at first but as the game went on, we kinda wore them down a little and got that running game going,” Mershman said.

The Blue Devils added two more scores in the third quarter on a one-yard Kemerley run and a 10-yard burst from Connor Norden.

“Carey is a really good football team,” Skidmore said. “You gotta respect what they do. They’re big, they’re physical, that’s a really good football team. You gotta respect what they do.

“Overall, they are extremely tough. We struggled at times, especially up front. Carey controlled the line of scrimmage; I have to give them that.”

Wynford struggled offensively the entire night. Anthony Evans led the Royals on the ground with 24 yards on eight carries and the Wynford passing game completed just one pass with three interceptions.

“The defense played really well, and they are led by Landen Kemerley,” Mershman said. “He’s a four-year starter for us.”

“It’s a solid defense, they do things right,” Skidmore said of the Blue Devils. “They put kids in the right positions, and they got good personnel and that’s what they do right now.”

Box score

Score by quarters

Carey             0          27        15          0   — 42

Wynford       0           0           0          0   — 0

Scoring summary

Second quarter

C — Austin Niederkohr 20 run (Lance Rickle kick), 11:22

C — Jordan Mattimoe 69 pass from Rickle (Rickle kick), 8:53.

C — Rickle 13 run (Rickle kick), 3:34.

C — Landen Kemerley 1 run (kick failed), :07.

Third quarter

C — Kemerley 1 run (Rickle kick), 6:46.

C — Connor Norden (Carter Smiley run), 1:00.

Individual statistics

Passing

Carey: Lance Rickle 10-12-0 125; Wynford: Ashton Warren 1-6-3 14.

Rushing

Carey: Eli Steen 13-58, Connor Norden 6-34, Lance Rickle 7-42, Nathan Brodman 3-11, Austin Niederkohr 7-90, Landen Kemerley 5-12; Wynford: Anthony Evans 8-24, Ashton Warren 8-22, Kohan Keith 2-13, Kaiden Blair 7-7.

Receiving

Carey: Dominic Yeater 5-38, Landen Kemerley 1-10, Austin Niederkohr 2-7, Carter Smiley 1-8, Jordan Mattimoe 1-69; Wynford: Kaiden Blair 1-14.

Team statistics

C                W

First downs                 16                 3

Rushing                    41-252        25-65

Passes                        10-12-0       1-6-3

Yards passing            125                14

Total yards                 377               79

Fumbles-lost              1-0               1-0

Punts-Avg                 0-00.0       3-36.0

Penalties                    5-35           6-60