NyShaun Mark's 32-yard field goal soared through the uprights for Willow Run as time expired in the first half. They were the first three points Ecorse had given up all season.

And they were the only three points Willow Run would get, as Ecorse (3-0) defeated the Flyers 39-3 at Willow Run High School Friday night.

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The Flyers (2-1) kept the game close throughout the first half. Marks' field goal made the score 12-3 going into halftime. But Ecorse came out in the second half with a higher level of intensity. Red Raiders head coach Mansfield Dinkins said his team didn't like giving up that field goal to end the half.

"They thought no one was supposed to score on them," Dinkins said. "So they got fired up."

Had it not been for a couple big plays that swung against Willow Run, the game could have been even tighter in the first half.

On Ecorse's first drive of the game, which lasted 14 plays and covered 79 yards, Ecorse converted three fourth downs, the last of them a fourth-and-22 conversion that gave the Red Raiders a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Ecorse quarterback Kyle Isaacs-Dinkins ran the ball into the end zone on the next play to put the Red Raiders ahead.

The Flyers themselves were not without chances at the end zone in the first half. Trailing 12-0 late in the second quarter, Marks had a 25-yard scamper that gave Willow Run a first-and-goal at the 5-yard-line. But on the very next play, Marks threw an interception in the end zone that resulted in a touchback for Ecorse, and ended Willow Run's best shot at the end zone all game.

There's a reason why Red Raiders have outscored opponents 113-3 so far this season: their defense hits hard, as evidenced by the numerous Willow Run players who sustained injuries during the game, including quarterback Jalen Griffin.

Griffin had a noticeable limp as he led his team out of the locker room for the second half and he played just five snaps in the second half before handing off the quarterbacking duties to Marks. Marks was able to make plays with his legs, but the Flyers downfield passing game struggled without Griffin.

"He's our leader," Willow Run head coach Rufus Pipkins said of Griffin. "We had to change our whole gameplan knowing we might not have him at full strength."

Besides being without its starting quarterback for much of the game, Willow Run had a rude awakening playing against an opponent as fast and physical as Ecorse. Pipkins said his team was used to being the team with superior speed, which had allowed them to get away with poor tackling fundamentals.

"We didn't contain well tonight," Pipkins said. "Instead of taking the proper angle, (we) ran right at them. And our guys are used to running right at guys and catching them and making tackles."

And as for the Red Raiders' physicality?

"The first two teams (Detroit PEC and Adrian Madison) didn't hit us like this," Pipkins said.

In addition to Isaacs-Dinkins -- who threw three touchdowns for Ecorse and ran for another -- Denell Carithers had a big game for the Red Raider with 12 carries for 113 yards and score, and another touchdown on an 18-yard interception return.

Griffin completed 3-of-4 passes for Willow Run for 62 yards, and Marks led the team in rushing with 39 yards on 14 carries. The Flyers also got a lift from Deshawn Gohl, who on two occasions returned a kickoff past midfield, and also had a 50-yard interception return.

Pipkins kept the loss in perspective.

"Half the teams that play football on Friday nights lose," he said. "And we're on the other side of the column this week. We'll regroup. I've got a good group of guys. They'll come out and play better next week."

-- Bison Collins Messink