MARYSVILLE — When you’re a running team, everything hinges on getting an early lead.

The Tomahawks are used to confusing teams with the deception in their running style and jumping on teams like they did against Cascade, Sept. 17, in a 35-21 victory.

“I’m sure we’re not a piece of cake to prepare for,” said M-P head coach Brandon Carson. “Some teams probably have a scheme against us instead of running their normal defense, and that can give us an advantage.”

That much was true against Cascade, as M-P ran the ball right at the Bruins, gaining 306 yards in the process. The Tomahawks jumped out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter thanks to a pair of touchdown runs by quarterback Tylor Klep, who also connected with Cody House for a 14-yard score.

“I thought we did a good job of getting out of the gates and jumping out to a big lead,” said Carson. “We just worked well together. Tyler Thompson had a nice game and so did Tylor Klep and Andre Pina.”

Pina had his second consecutive 100-yard game this season, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

The Bruins relied on the big play to get into the end zone, scoring on a 42-yard pass in the second quarter to make the score 21-7 at halftime, but M-P just the door in the third quarter, scoring a pair of TDs.

“We just had a couple of lapses in the secondary and that kind of accounted for their points,” Carson said. “But I was happy with the way we defended. They have a couple of quick, little backs that we were able to minimize and that will be something we see more of this season.”

Carson said Cascade was a good preview of M-P’s first Wesco North opponent, Arlington, which will be Sept. 24.

“(Both of them) will try to spread you out and run a little, but we know Arlington is very talented on offense and tries to attack you vertically,” Carson said.