Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Bishop Ryan senior Corbin Okeson (54) and junior Cutter Kent (71) bring down Garrison/Max senior Dawson Wimer in the first quarter of Saturday's game at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot. The Lions defeated the Troopers 44-0.

Just minutes after kicking the ball to Garrison/Max, Bishop Ryan football head coach Roger Coleman urged the Lions to play with more intensity.

The Lions (8-1, 6-1 Region 3) responded, throttling the Troopers (3-5, 2-4 Region 3) 44-0 in a rare Saturday morning affair at Herb Parker Stadium.

In the first half, Ryan junior running back Logan Merck accounted for four touchdowns. Junior quarterback Nick Sanders found Merck for three scores, and the running back also scampered in for an eight-yard touchdown.

“Structurally, they didn’t really block one of our best players,” Coleman said. “He had a pretty good day.”

The game started at 9:30 a.m., which caused both teams to start off sluggish. Once the Lions found their groove, they dictated the engagement’s terms.

“After the first 10-12 minutes, we got things rolling,” Coleman said. “We kind of dominated the game both ways. It ended up great, but we didn’t start with the fire that we should have.”

Senior defensive end/linebacker Corbin Okeson led the Lions’ defensive charge. Okeson repeatedly gashed through the Troopers’ line and applied pressure.

“We have a really good front seven,” Okeson said. “Our backers are really good at flowing and making tackles. Our defensive line, especially, is pretty dominant. It’s just having a motor and being able to go out there and grind every play. You have to have that mentality.”

After Okeson and the defensive crew did their part, Ryan took a 28-0 lead into halftime. The Lions offense had unfinished business, however.

Sophomore kicker Bram Johannsen kicked an early chip-shot field goal, forcing the running clock. Late in the third quarter, junior running back Jaxon Feller knifed his way through the Troopers’ defense en route to a 47-yard touchdown run.

“I have a great line, so I give all the credit to them,” Feller said. “I just find where I’m supposed to be going, find a hole and go.”

Sophomore running back Rylan Vibeto added some insurance with his first rushing touchdown. At that point in the fourth quarter, Ryan held an insurmountable 44-0 lead.

After the final whistle sounded, the Lions high-fived and chest-bumped. The players knew they had locked up the Region 3 No. 2 seed with playoffs starting next week.

“When you’re doing something you love, you’ve got to have fun with it,” Feller said. “You can’t be serious all the time. You have to be serious to get the job done, but having fun is the most important part. I love this game.”

Ryan will host a playoff game on Oct. 26 against New Salem-Glen Ullin at Herb Parker Stadium.

Even if the game is played early in the morning again, Okeson said he believes the Lions will be ready.

“It’s just preparing us for the Fargodome,” he said.