RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - The Ramstein Royals barreled into the 2014 DODDS-Europe Division I football fray Saturday with a dominant 45-0 shutout win over the visiting Patch Panthers.

Riding high from an impressive season-opening win at Kaiserslautern a week prior, the Panthers were humbled by a Ramstein team still stinging from its loss in last fall’s European championship game.

The Ramstein talent base was purportedly down from last season’s European runner-up, but the new faces in Royal blue stepped right into vacant shoes. Lakenheath transfer Ben Ciero gave the Royals their first score on a 60-yard run, and new quarterback Tyler Dotson found senior receiver Malik Jackson for a 65-yard bomb to push the lead to 21-0 at the break.

The Ramstein defense and special-teams units picked up the onslaught after halftime. Nile McIntosh returned the opening kick of the second half 90 yards for another Royal score, and Donta Morris blocked a punt that Devon Harris recovered for a touchdown.

Morris and Kieffer Allen ran in short-yard touchdowns and kicker Dominik Kubas added a 30-yard field goal for the Royals.

Jamie Ensley caught six passes for 63 yards for the Panthers, while Jeremy Nix made a team-high nine tackles.

Migrated