ESCONDIDO – Tim Zier did his best to put aside last year's disappointing season for Escondido from the outset of this year's season opener against Calexico.

The Cougars junior opened the scoring on a 71-yard punt return the first time Escondido touched the ball and added four rushing touchdowns in the first half alone to help trigger a 70-0 victory for the hosts Friday night.

Zier thereby matched his touchdown total from last season, when the Cougars went 2-7 in an injury-plagued campaign.

“It was a great way to start the year,” Zier said. “New team, new season. It was very disappointing last year. It was an embarrassment. That just makes us strive harder.”

Zier, who finished with 115 yards on seven carries, shared the spotlight with fellow junior Ricky Seale, who ran for 182 yards and two TD's on nine carries. Both were rested after the Cougars took a 56-0 halftime lead.

“As long as one of us is scoring, we're always going to win games,” Seale said. “I might have a better game, or he might have a better game. The key is we win.”

The Cougars attempted only one pass, and that went for a 23-yard scoring strike from Zach Embrey to Jordan Sisler in the second quarter.

“We knew that our guys were ready,” Escondido coach Paul Gomes said. “There was no question. Their eyes were focused and wide open. They were excited to get back on the field.”

Zier started the onslaught when he charged up the middle of punt coverage and then veered right to break free for the score with 8:34 left in the first quarter.

On Calexico's next possession, Escondido's Joel Sisler, Jordan Sisler's twin brother, recorded the first of his two sacks for a 13-yard loss on a third-and-3 play to force another punt. The Cougars subsequently mounted a five-play, 29-yard scoring drive with Zier going the final yard.

Zier scored again with a 51-yard scamper on the first play of the next Escondido possession to increase the lead to 21-0 with 1:04 left in the first quarter.

Just getting started, the Cougars added five touchdowns in the second quarter, including runs of 11 and 36 yards by Zier and rushes of 59 and 38 yards by Seale.

Calexico's Abel Magana rushed for 55 yards on 15 carries.

The Bulldogs played their second straight game in San Diego County, following a 63-8 loss to Rancho Buena Vista in the opening round of the Division I section playoffs last year.