NEWCASTLE – The Torrington High School football team returned to the win column Friday with a 49-14 victory over the Newcastle Dogies.

The Blazers grinded the victory out with a majority of the yards coming on the ground from three main contributors – juniors Trace Floyd and Carson Schultz and senior Cody Pierce.

“Once again, what I was most happy with was our running game,” THS coach Russell Stienmetz said. “We were able to get a first down on the ground when we need to.”

Floyd led the ground attack with 163 yards rushing on 13 attempts and a score, while Schultz added 76 yards. Pierce had 32.

“Trace Floyd had a heck of a game running the ball,” Stienmetz said. “Cody Pierce and Carson Schultz also ran the ball hard.”

One of the main takeaways from Friday for the second-year coach was the yards after contact.

“Sometimes they would get touched or hit, but they were able to grind for more yards,” Stienmetz said.

The Blazers only had to throw the ball eight times in the game as Torrington scored the first 22 points of the game.

Junior quarterback Beau Bivens run for a pair of scores in the first quarter and passed for a two-point conversion to give the Blazers a 14-0 lead after 12 minutes.

Bivens then connected with senior receiver Aiden Hull for a 27-yard pass. Junior Chase Miller connected with Cole Parriott for the two-point conversion.

The score remained 22-0 until late in the third quarter when Newcastle put its first points of the game on the scoreboard with 2:40 left in the quarter.

Floyd run for his only score of the game with 8:40 left in the game, and Bivens threw for his second touchdown of the game with 6:13 left to give the Blazers a 35-7 lead.

Torrington’s defense also got into the scoring act with back-to-back pick sixes.

Miller had the first with 4:15 left in the game, and Pierce followed up with his own with 4:07 left in the game.

“Our linebackers anchored the defense, but that was because our big guys up front – Dylan Dreiling, along with (Rhiley) Grubbs and (Gabe) Mitchell – were demanding double teams the entire game,” Stienmetz said. “Our linebackers get the defensive points, but it’s because of the interior guys.”

The WyoPreps.com Coaches and Media Poll No. 4-ranked Blazers (5-2 overall and 4-1 in the 2A East) host Wheatland (6-1 and 4-1) at 7 p.m. at Wiseman Field.

“They are a very well coached team. They have a great running game and passing game,” Stienmetz said. “Defensively, we are going to have to be ready. Offensively, we are going to have to capitalize with every opportunity. I expect a hard-fought ballgame on Friday.”