NEODESHA Humboldt Highs defense took a bit longer than expected to find its groove Friday.
The Cub offense, on the other hand, was humming along from start to finish.
Spearheaded by senior standout Conor Haviland, Humboldt erupted for 36 unanswered points 30 after halftime to roll to a 56-14 season-opening victory.
Haviland picked up where he left off from his highly decorated junior season, rushing for 249 yards and four touchdowns, the last one of which included a half-dozen or so broken tackles as he galloped 45 yards to paydirt.
Haviland aso rushed for scores of 47, 30 and 5 yards, all of which came after Neodesha scored in the waning seconds of the second period to pull within 20-14. His 47-yarder came on the final play of the half pushed Humboldts lead to 26-14.
Meanwhile, the Cub defense was aided by the insertion of several younger players after halftime head coach Logan Wyrick was looking for guys that would hit and the results were devastating.
Neodesha gained 199 yards in the first half and only five after intermission.
Humboldt had 141 yards of offensive through the first and second quarters, on only nine plays from scrimmage.
That was because Humboldt scored so quickly, and didnt need that many snaps..
Isaiah Coronado got things started late in the first quarter with a 69-yard jaunt, then Jackson Aikins returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown after Neodesha scored early in the second period.
Gavon Page connected with Cooper Jaro on a 39-yard laser for Humboldts third score of the contest.
The Bluestreaks responded with a touchdown at the 19-second mark of the half.
The rest was all Humboldt, which hits the road again next week in Fredonia.
After Haviland left his mark on the scoreboard, repeatedly, Jaro wrapped up the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
By then, the Cubs had triggered a running clock because the point spread exceeded 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Humboldt 6-24-24-656
Neodesha 0-14-0-014
