TORONTO — The Toronto football team has shown the ability to create big plays in the past several seasons, and that ability was once again on full display as multiple big plays enabled Toronto to defeat Southern Local, 34-0, via mercy rule Friday night at Clarke Hinkle Field.

“Our guys came out and executed the gameplan,” Toronto (1-0) head coach Jaret Aubiel said. “It was nice playing in front of our home crowd. It was a good night.”

The Red Knights created big plays on the ground, through the air and on special teams, while the defense came up with multiple stops on fourth down en route to pitching the shutout.

“They played physical,” first-year Southern Local (0-1) head coach Zack Almy said. “They came out and punched us in the mouth.”

Both teams punted on their first possession of the game, and a good punt return set Toronto up at the Indians’ 47. Two plays later, running back Drake Bouscher broke through the Southern defense on his way to a 42-yard touchdown. The hosts attempted to run for the 2-point conversion, however, the play was not successful keeping the score 6-0 with 7:06 remaining to be played in the first quarter.

Southern drove down to the Toronto 21 on their next possession. Unfortunately for the visitors, a bad snap resulted in a loss, and Southern ended up turning the ball over on downs at the 23.

The Red Knights then marched 73 yards for their second touchdown of the night. Michael Henry, who was making his first varsity start at quarterback, plowed his way in from the 1, and he kicked the extra point to give Toronto a 13-0 lead with 9:25 left to play in the second.

The score was set up by a 37-yard completion from Henry to Colt Joynson.

The Red Knight defense stood tall on the Indians’ next possession, as the boys in red forced Southern to put for the second time. This time, Brady Fair caught the punt at the Indians’ 47, and Fair weaved his way through the Southern defenders on his way to the victors third touchdown of the game. Henry once again booted the PAT to give Toronto a 20-0 lead with 7:42 left to play in the half.

A 23-yard run by Southern’s Landen Heffner on 4th-and-9 of the Indians’ 21 gave the boys in the white jerseys some life, however, the drive quickly stalled after that as Toronto forced another turnover on downs – with this one coming at the Southern 45.

The Red Knights took advantage of the good field position as Bouscher hauled in a 29-yard touchdown reception from Henry, and Henry split the upright’s on his third extra point of the night to give the winning side a 27-0 advantage with 1:33 left to play before halftime.

“I think we have some weapons on offense,” Aubiel said.

The Toronto defense came up with a number fourth down stop on Southern’s first possession of the third, and the Red Knights drove down into the red zone. It appeared as if Toronto was going to score another touchdown, however, a running play from the 3 resulted in a fumble, and the Indians recovered preventing the running clock from coming into play.

Southern was unable to move the ball, and it was forced to punt the ball away to Toronto, and the Red Knights took over at the Indians’ 47. Henry and Fair hooked up for a 30-yard completion, and Caden McGrath scampered around the end en route to a 17-yard score to bring the run clock into play. Henry’s extra point came with no time showing on the clock enabling the Red Knights to take a 34-0 lead into the fourth.

The Red Knights’ defense forced another turnover downs in the fourth, and Toronto ran out the clock on their final drive to bring the game to an end.

“They have got some real strong guys up front,” Almy said. “They have some good linebackers that are able to get downhill. They were able to get into the gaps.”

Southern had zero yards passing in the game as the Indians failed to complete a pass.

“Our defense played well,” Aubiel said. “The Wing-T is tough to stop, and Southern does a good job running it. We did a nice job against it.”

The shutout was Toronto’s third straight in a season opener. The Red Knights have now won five-straight Week 1 games.

Toronto is slated to play Lowellville Friday night on the road. The Red Knights defeated the Rockets, 57-26, least season at home.

“We are going to enjoy this win tonight, and then we are going to get back at it at 9 a.m. tomorrow,” Aubiel said. “We are going to start to get ready for Lowellville. Lowellville has been a good consistent team the last few years. We’re going to be looking to get our first road win of the season.”

Southern Local is slated to play Shadyside (0-1) Friday night at home up at Wigwam Stadium. The Indians and Tigers did not play last season.

“We have got to get ready for Shadyside,” Almy said.