Stockton, MO (For OzarksSportsZone.com)  -- When it comes to football rivalries in the O-Zone, perhaps none is more unique than the one between El Dorado Springs and Stockton.  That’s because those are the only two schools in Cedar County.  Everyone who lives there is either a Bulldog or a Tiger, and when they go head-to-head, sparks are usually sure to fly.

Adding spice to the mix is the traveling trophy—the Cedar Bowl trophy—that has been in play since 2003.  In the tenth renewal of the series, the Bulldogs (1-0) held on to the hardware with a 28-6 victory over the Tigers (0-1).

Senior running back Tanner Hixson led El Do with 26 carries for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Sophomore quarterback Kason Schwalm added two more scores on sneaks.

About his offensive line, El Do coach Bob Ramsay said, “We had to lean on them.  That’s was where our experience was, was that offensive line and we thought that did a nice job… When we started getting outside, we moved some kids out to take away that perimeter game and let Tanner go inside.”

Stockton’s lone score came late in the first quarter as a pair of sophomores—Jake Brown to Nathan Kerr—linked up for a 65-yard TD.  Brown was 6-11 passing for 96 yards, the touchdown, and an interception.

After that, the Bulldogs’ size and experience advantages wore down the Tigers as they cruised to victory.  But Ramsay had another ace up his sleeve.

“Well, we had the advantage that in that our coaching staff has been together three years,” Ramsay said. “So we’re not putting a new offense or defense in.  We had that advantage in that the kids we did have returning, although they were young kids, they’ve been in that system.”

Stockton first-year coach Shad Edwards said, “Going into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  El Do has some big guys.  I was kind of concerned about their size and I think that got to us a time or two.”

The Tigers open Mid-Lakes Conference play next week at Ash Grove, while independent El Dorado Springs has its first home game against Knob Noster.

Ramsay on his team’s next opponent said, “They’ve had some success in that program. They’ve got a good coach in John Cox from Concordia who had been very successful.  It’s gonna be interesting because they run the same exact offense that we do.”

El Dorado Springs 7 14 0 7—28
Stockton                6   0 0 0—  6
 
First quarter
El Do—Kason Schwalm 1 run (Kyle Collins kick), 3:48
Stock—Nathan Kerr 65 pass from Jake Brown (kick blocked), 2:23
Second quarter
El Do—Tanner Hixson 11 run (kick failed), 10:09
El Do—Schwalm 4 run (Robert Keith pass from Schwalm), 8:28
Fourth quarter
El Do—Hixson 3 run (Collins kick), 0:18