The Bowdon High School football team shut down host Haralson County in the opening 24 minutes of action on Friday night, taking a 35-0 lead into the locker room in what turned out to be a 35-15 Red Devil road victory.

After forcing the Rebels (0-2) to turn the ball over on downs on their opening drive, Bowdon sophomore running back Maricio Askew busted loose for a 69-yard touchdown run for the first of many Red Devil scores on the night.

Haralson County was forced to punt on its next possession, setting up a Wesley Stephens touchdown on a scoring drive that took less than a minute.

Bowdon senior quarterback Avery Cheeks brought the score to 21-0 late in the first quarter on a 35-yard touchdown run, putting the game out of reach early at Taylor Memorial Stadium.

Early in the second quarter, Askew scored his second touchdown on the evening, this one a 22-yard run.

Haralson County had its best drive of the opening half by converting on a fourth-down situation, but the Rebels would fumble on the very next play.

That set up a 43-yard run by Bowdon’s Paul Hammonds before Cheeks punched in a short touchdown run to give the Red Devils (2-0) a 35-0 halftime lead.

With the continuous clock rolling in the second half, Bowdon punted on its first possession — its first punt of the game.

On the ensuing Haralson County drive, junior quarterback C.J. Meeks broke loose on a 59-yard run, setting up a short LaMarcus Jefferson touchdown scamper for the Rebels’ first score of the night.

Late in the game, Will Annable scored another touchdown for Haralson County set up by a 46-yard pass from Tyler Hudgins to Gabe Johnson.

Meeks led the Rebels offensively with 117 yards rushing, while also passing for 131 yards.

Askew (99 yards rushing), Wesley Stephens (61 yards rushing) and Hammonds (49 yards rushing) led Bowdon.