SYCAMORE — Mohawk needed a win to start league play. It also needed a catalyst to break open a close game.

The Warriors found both in the form of Brayden Chester, as the hosts opened Northern 10 Athletic Conference play here Friday night with a 56-15 win over Buckeye Central.

Mohawk (1-3, 1-0) led 8-7 after one quarter as both teams found the endzone. First junior Ben Bogner ran in from 3 yards, with his quarterback counterpart Derex Dean then throwing a 37-yard pass to Heath Jensen.

But a blocked punt by Chester at the Buckeye 3-yard-line resulted in a second quarter touchdown that put the Warriors on top 29-8 with 6:58 to go in the half.

It seemed to be the momentum swing that Mohawk needed as it pushed its lead to 36-15 at halftime, with each team scoring with under 3:30 to play.

“Our kids, man, it’s been a long time coming. We’ve had some close ones,” said Mohawk head coach Eric Daniel which lost its first three games, two of them by five points or less.

“Maybe a little doubt seeping in from the kids. They needed some vindication, and I was glad to see they got it. They deserve this. They’ve done all the right things.”

Bogner ran for 137 yards passed for 174 on a highly efficient 17-of-21 attempts. Six receivers got in on the action.

“A lot of maturation. He’s throwing the ball on time, in the windows we knew would be there. He’s starting to drill the ball in there. He took his licks as a sophomore at times and even this year he has some throws he wants back,” Daniel said.

“He’s a captain as a junior for a reason. He does all the right things.”

Buckeye Central (2-2, 0-1) suffered its second straight setback after opening the season with a pair of easy wins.

“I’m really proud of our kids. We’ve had some injuries. We had some injuries last week and we had some injuries right away and we had to put some guys in positions where they haven’t played much,” Bucks head coach Chad Jensen said.

“It’s 8-7 at one point, we’re battling and down a score late in the second half. We lost to a good team.”

Daniel’s message to his team was this win is the key to start the second season.

“We told the guys non-conference is over. We’re better for it. It galvanized us and we’re healthy, so let’s go.”

Chester’s performance drew praise and credit for igniting his team.

“His special teams performance — awesome. He does it all for us and has a great attitude for us. He blocked that punt. What a momentum swing that was,” Daniel said.

“Their quarterback is very savvy, and we were having trouble containing him. And they’re faster than what we thought, too. We were scrambling a little bit, and for him to flip the field for us with the scoop and score. A huge play from a kid we challenged this week to take over the game at times. Even when the ball isn’t in his hands, he’s making plays.”

The 190-pound senior was all over the field defensively also and had an interception.

“He kicks for us. He punts for us. He starts both ways. We put a lot on him,” Daniel said.

Buckeye Central hosts Carey next Friday and Wynford travels to Mohawk.

“We know Mohawk’s a good team. We got 25 kids on the roster, and we lose a few kids and it’s tough for us. Our kids don’t make excuses. It’s next man up and they go in and play,” Jensen said. “But any time you give up a special teams touchdown, that’s bad. They’re aggressive and when you give up one that the offense didn’t earn, that’s going to be a problem.”

The Blue Devils topped Wynford 34-0 and will present the Bucks with another physical challenge.

“Carey’s a really good football team. Our kids aren’t going to quit, and our kids love football. They’ll come back tomorrow morning, watch film and be ready to go,” Jensen said.

It’ll get no easier for Mohawk either, when the Royals visit Warrior Stadium.

“They’re much improved. They’ve had some nail biters. They’re physical, man. You could argue they outplayed Galion and gave up a couple special teams scores that hurt them. They ain’t fooling us. We know what they are, smash-mouth football.

“It’s gonna be a slobberknocker here and our kids know it,” Daniel said. “That’s a huge game for us in league play. A huge game.”

Box score

Score by quarters

Buckeye Central       8            7          0         0   — 15

Mohawk                       7           29        13         7   — 56

Scoring summary

First quarter

M — Ben Bogner 3 run (Brant Kirian kick), 5:04.

BC — Heath Jensen 37 pass from Derex Dean (Dom Dean run), 2:52.

Second quarter

M — Bogner 1 run (pass failed), 10:57.

M — Kaleb Bish 32 pass from Bogner (Bogner run), 8:08.

M — Brayden Chester blocked punt recovery (Nick Golling pass from Bogner), 6:58.

BC — Derex Dean 10 run (Dom Dean kick), 3:23.

M — Andrew Woodland 6 pass from Bogner (Kirian kick), :32.

Third quarter

M — Kayne Hayman 25 pass from Bogner (kick failed), 9:39.

M — Bogner 47 run (Kirian kick).

Fourth quarter

M — Evan England 2 run (Kirian kick), 4:41.

Individual statistics

Passing

Buckeye Central: Derex Dean 9-25-1 144; Mohawk Ben Bogner 17-21-2 174.

Rushing

Buckeye Central: Derex Dean 9-29, Dom Dean 5-13, Isaac Hiler 5-7; Mohawk Ben Bogner 16-137, Braylan Mullholand 4-22, Evan England 5-21, Kahne Hayman 4-21, Braxton Frisch 3-(-2).

Receiving

Buckeye Central: Heath Jensen 3-67, Jack Phillips 5-63, Isaac Hiler 1-14; Mohawk Kaleb Bish 6-68, Kahne Hayman 4-49, Brayden Chester 4-40, Gavin Barth 1-10, Ander Woodland 1-6.

Team statistics

BC               M

First downs                  7                  13

Rushing                     19-49         32-199

Passes                        9-25-1        17-21-2

Yards passing             144               174

Total yards                  193              373

Fumbles-lost               1-1               0-0

Penalties                      5-43           8-71