Leonardo
PAULDING -- Columbus Grove, pushing for a playoff spot, rolled to 42-8 halftime lead Friday en route to a 49-30 Northwest Conference victory over Paulding.
The Bulldogs entered the game in the No. 9 spot in computer points in Division VI, Region 22. Columbus Grove improved to 5-3 overall, 4-2 in the NWC. Paulding fell to 2-6, 1-5.
Jordan Travis threw three first-quarter touchdown passes to Colby Meuleman to lead the Grove offense. The 20-, 32- and 73-yard scores, plus Zach Barreintes' 69-yard punt return for a TD, put Grove up 28-0 after one quarter.
Grove extended the lead with a 1-yard scoring pass from Travis to Barrientes and another punt return for a touchdown, this time 47 yards, by Barrientes.
Travis finished 17 of 28 passing for 206 yards and five touchdowns. Mueleman caught six passes for 133 yards.
Anthony Arellano led Paulding with 152 yards on 32 carries and a touchdown. Drey Gamble carries six times for 134 yards and a touchdown.