Gavin Fuqua ran for three touchdowns as Austin routed cross-town rival Decatur 35-3 in the 61st edition of the River City Rivalry at Ogle Stadium on Friday.

Fuqua scored from 2 and 7 yards out to put Austin (2-0) up 14-0 at halftime. Kenneth Joshua added two touchdown runs for the visiting Black Bears, a 16-yarder in the third quarter and a 1-yarder in the fourth.

The host Red Raiders (1-1) averted the shutout with Roberto Toto’s 32-yard field goal with 4:46 left.

“I thought we played well on both offensive and defensive lines,” Austin coach Jeremy Perkins said. “We controlled the front on both sides of the ball.”

— Play of the game: Austin took the second half kickoff and went 70 yards in six plays, all runs by Fuqua. He scored from the 4 and the Black Bears led 21-0 at 10:07 in the third.

— Stat sheet: Austin – Fuqua had 20 carries for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Joshua had seven carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns plus one catch for 32 yards. Jaxon Potter had five catches for 56 yards. Maurice Jones intercepted a pass. Quarterbacks J.L. Davis and Judd Bailey combined to complete 11-of-17 passes for 136 yards with no interceptions. Decatur – Devin Haley had 11 carries for 46 yards. Bradin Dupper completed 8-of-17 passes for 58 yards with one interception.

— By the numbers: 367 – Austin total yards with 231 rushing and 136 passing. 179 – Decatur total yards with 121 rushing and 58 passing. 24 – Austin wins against its crosstown rival Decatur which leads the all-time series 37-24.

— Game ball: Fuqua, a junior in his second year, had three touchdowns in a game for the first time. He ran for two TDs against Decatur last year.

— Coachspeak: “It means we’re 2-0 and we got region play starting next week.” – Perkins.

“The line of scrimmage. Football’s all about winning the line of scrimmage. They ran the ball.” – Decatur first-year coach Aairon Savage.

They said it: “Really, it’s just been our preparation. We’ve been doing good in practice, and just been working hard. Running fast and running hard.” – Fuqua.

“It was a great team effort. We’ve been working hard at practice. And our team came together and we finished the second half.” – Joshua.

“We just played great. Coach (Kinte) Welch has been getting us in shape. Playing fast, physical. All 11 to the ball. Great coverage on the outside, and then just finishing it in the second half.” – Jones.

“We came out playing hard, playing physical. Flying to the ball, stopping them on third downs and making big plays. We had more people make big plays than last week.” – outside linebacker/defensive end Solomon Lyle, who made 10 tackles.

— Next week: Austin visits Sparkman in Class 7A, Region 4. Decatur goes to Athens in 6A, Region 7.