SANFORD — After suffering its first loss of the season last week, the seventh-ranked Sanford High School football team was looking to get back into the win column as it hosted Fowler at SHS Field. 

The Mustangs roared to a 34-0 lead late in the first half. The Grizzlies were not willing to roll over and die as they scored touchdowns in the second, third and fourth periods. But Sanford rolled to a 56-22 win. 

“Fowler a good team,” said Sanford coach Joe Cary. “They’re going to do that. They’re going to fight and scrap and they’re never going to give up. We had a good first half lead. We came out and developed out run again in the second half. We just kind of got the clock running and went from there.” 

The Mustangs got a break on the opening kickoff as the Grizzlies fumbled and Sanford recovered. It scored seven plays later on an 8-yard run by Gauge Lewis. Cash Caldon scored on the two-point conversion to give the Mustangs an 8-0 lead. 

Fowler turned the ball over on downs on its first possession and Sanford took advantage of the good field position. This time Caldon tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Craig Ford. Caldon again made the two-point conversion and the Mustangs led 16-0. 

Ford set up the Mustangs’ next touchdown as he intercepted Gage Gottbehuet. Caldon scored on a 6-yard quarterback keeper, but the two-point conversion was no good. 

Sanford forced Fowler to punt on its next possession and the Mustangs scored again. This time Lincoln Reynolds went to the end zone from 21 yards out. The two-point conversion again was unsuccessful, and Sanford led 28-0. 

Fowler punted again on their next possession and Sanford took advantage again. Reynolds found the end zone for the second time this time on a 37-yard run. The two-point conversion was no good and the Mustangs led 34-0. 

Fowler finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter. Gottbehuet threw a 4-yard TD pass to Boyd Rogers, but the two-point conversion was no good and the Mustangs led 34-6 at halftime. 

Sanford had the first possession of the second half, and it scored again. Caldon got to the end zone again on a 39-yard run. The two-point play was no good and Sanford led 40-6. 

The Grizzlies scored on their first possession of the second half. Trever Ketner went to the end zone on a 4-yard run, and Gottbehuet threw to Erick Hernandez and Fowler cut the lead to 40-14. 

Sanford scored two more times in the third quarter. Caldon found Ford for the second time in the end zone this time on a 7-yard pass. Caldon made the two-point conversion for a 48-14 lead. 

The Mustangs scored again on the last play of the third quarter. Caldon scored on a 14-yard run, and Caldon also tossed the two-point conversion to Ford. 

Fowler wrapped up the scoring as Gottbehuet threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Rogers. Gottbehuet also threw to Jake4 Manchego on the two-point conversion. 

Sanford rolled up 426 yards of total offense – 265 rushing and 161 passing. 

Reynlds led all rushers with 118 yards on 12 carries. Caldon had 86 yards on 14 carries, and Lewis had 66 yards on 14 carries. 

Caldon completed 13 of 19 passes for 161 yards. McCray Larsen was the leading receiver with five catches for 72 yards. Ford had three receptions on three receptions, and Lewis had 20 yards on two catches. 

The Mustangs held Fowler to just 41 rushing yards. However, the Grizzlies accumulated 179 yards through the air. 

Sanford (3-1) will host Wiley on Friday. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. 

“I think they’re just another team like Fowler,” Cary said. “They come from the Arkansas Valley and all of those t5eams like to hit and the like to be physical. They’re going to try to develop their run and do those things. They’re going to be a tough team too.” 

Sanford 56, Fowler 22 

Fowler 16 18 18 8 – 22 

Sanford 0 6 8 0 – 56 

First quarter 

S – Lewis 8 run (Caldon run), 8:34 

S – Ford 11 pass from Caldon (Caldon run), 2:05 

Second quarter 

S – Caldon 6 run (pass failed), 9:30 

S – Reynolds 21 run (run failed), 5:05 

S – Reynolds 37 run (pass failed), 3:09 

F – Rogers 4 pass from Gottbehuet (pass failed) 

Third quarter 

S – Caldon 39 run (run failed), 10:39 

F – Ketner 4 run (Hernandez pass from Gottbehuet), 7:40 

S – Ford 7 pass from Caldon (Caldon run), 2:32 

S – Caldon 14 yards (Ford pass from Caldon), 0:16 

Fourth quarter 

F – Rogers 75 pass from Gottbehuet (Manchego pass from Gottbehuet), 7:05