BITBURG, Germany - Two years ago on this field, the Hohenfels Tigers launched their program to new heights at the expense of the once-dominant Bitburg Barons. On Saturday, the Barons took a step towards rectifying that.

Bitburg pounded the visiting Tigers 44-6 in the season opener for both DODDS-Europe Division II hopefuls, deploying an unstoppable running game and stout defense to regain the upper hand in the teams' recently-developed rivalry.

Curtiss Wilson rushed for 58 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown run that opened the day’s scoring. John Blake ran for 41 yards and two touchdowns, Ernie Carrasco and Eli Canaan ran for a touchdown apiece and Matt Holmes returned a 40-yard interception for touchdown, capping the play by kicking his own extra point.

Blake and Daniel Davies had eight tackles apiece for the Barons.

The loss was a humbling early setback for a Hohenfels team anxious to prove its recent rise to prominence was based on more than the presence of phenom running back David Vidovic. The Tigers shockingly ended Bitburg’s four-year title reign in the 2013 playoffs en route to a title of their own, and returned to the championship game in 2014, Vidovic’s senior season.

Trey Briscoe ran for 59 yards and Hohenfels’ lone touchdown. Tony Saintmelus ran for 49 yards and made 11 tackles to pace the Tiger defense.

Migrated