SEGUIN, Texas â€" Texas Lutheran roared to a 44-0 halftime lead over McMurry University and powered its way to a 65-7 American Southwest Conference victory over the War Hawks on Saturday.
 
At TLU's Bulldog Stadium, the Bulldogs rolled up 391 yards of total offense in the first half and limited McMurry to 63 total yards.
 
The War Hawks had 11 rushing yards for -35 yards in the first half. The War Hawks ended the night with seven net yards rushing on 21 carries. TLU out-gained McMurry 619 to 252 at the end of the night.
 
The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first four drives and relegated McMurry to seven punts and two fumbles on its nine first-half drives.
 
"If we could duplicate (that start) every week, that would make things a lot less stressful," said Carl Gustafson, TLU's second-year head coach. "That was the way we practiced. That was the focus we had all week."
 
"I'd like to say it was big surprise. It is always a surprise that you get ahead so fast. But with our guys, we kind of had a feeling that we were capable of doing that."
 
Bulldog sophomore Chris Monroe (College Station/College Station) rushed for 181 yards on 14 carries in the first half. Monroe scored on a 14-yard run and on a 66-yard run in the first quarter.
 
TLU quarterback Kyle Grona (Fredericksburg/Fredericksburg) tossed first-half TD passes to Pearce Loth (Rockdale/Rockdale), CJ Romero (Odem/Odem) and D'Andre Gallagher (Cuero/Cuero).
 
Grona was 13-for-20 for 135 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions.
 
Grona, Monroe and many other TLU starters on offense and defense did not play in the second half with the big lead.
 
"We were able to establish ourselves," said Gustafson. "Kyle Grona played really well, throwing the football and making good decisions. We dominated, I thought, the offensive line. Our running backs ran well, ran hard."
 
"Defensively we took away any rhythm they had offensively. They could never get in sync because we always had somebody chasing the quarterback."
 
Bulldog junior defensive end Manny Longoria (Geronimo/Navarro) recorded four sacks for 33 yards. He also had a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.
 
"Manny Longoria, he can make a lot of people have bad dreams," said Gustafson. "I love him. I'm so glad he is on our team. He plays so hard. He plays the game the way it is supposed to be played."
 
Adairius Norwood (Waco/Waco) also had a sack (for 19 yards) and collected six solo tackles.
 
Taveon Roberson (Bay City/Bay City) picked off a pass and returned it 58 yards.
 
TLU freshman kicker Juan Ocampo made field goals of 40, 42 and 31 yards and was a perfect 8-for-8 on extra-points.
 
The Bulldogs also received rushing touchdowns from: Matthew Tabet (San Antonio/Antonian), Jarvis Brooks (Lewisville/Lewisville), and Wade Freeman (Richmond/Bush).
 
TLU hits the road for next Saturday's 6 p.m. road game against Louisiana College. The game will be played at LC's Wildcat Stadium in Pineville, La. TLU will have a live video webcast on tlubulldogs.com and a radio broadcast on KWED 1580 AM and seguintoday.com.