MELROSE – The Melrose football team looked to deliver head coach Tim Morris his 200th victory Friday night, but it was a visiting Reading group that got back to its winning ways instead.

Seniors Jack Murphy (quarterback) and D’Von Burcy combined for 308 rushing yards with four touchdowns, pacing 35 unanswered points for the Rockets (1-0) in a 35-7 rout of the Red Raiders (0-2).

They benefitted from major gaps all night created by the offensive line, pairing with a defensive turnaround that allowed less than 100 yards from scrimmage in a shutout over the final three quarters.

After an 0-4 start and a 3-8 final record last year, it couldn’t have been a better way to kick off the new season for Reading.

“I really just can’t say how happy and proud I am of the kids,” said Rockets head coach John Fiore. “Total changeover in how we worked in the offseason, how they worked in the preseason – kind of trying to get a mentality back around here. … They needed this tonight, they deserved it. I’m glad it went the way it went for them.”

Melrose came out hot, easily working down the field on all three of its drives in the first quarter. The Red Raiders were 4-for-5 on third down, producing a 25-yard field goal attempt (missed) and a 37-yard touchdown run from Max Lanciani (75 rushing yards) on their first two drives. By the end of the frame, they were threatening for a second touchdown while amassing 122 yards from scrimmage.

The next three quarters were a different story.

Reading improved its tackling and had a nose for the ball on pass attempts, allowing just 97 yards the rest of the way without any points. The Rockets picked off Melrose quarterback Jack Feeney (8-for-13, 98 yards) twice and forced a 1-for-5 finish on third-down attempts.

“We were getting to spots but we weren’t finishing tackles (in the first quarter),” Fiore said. “Kids rallied together and they started tackling better. Things started to click from there.”

The Rockets’ running game took care of the rest.

Lanciani’s long touchdown run helped Melrose strike first, but it took three plays for Murphy to strike back with a 32-yard connection to Jake Palm (five receptions, 53 yards) and a 39-yard keeper touchdown. Burcy (164 yards, two TDs) fumbled on the ensuing drive, fresh off Zach Lindmark’s interception on defense, but Reading got the ball back quick and went 75 yards for another touchdown. Burcy’s 1-yard run gave it a 14-7 lead before the half.

Reading didn’t lose momentum from the break, using big runs from Burcy and Murphy (144 rushing yards, two TDs) to set up junior Karmani Mirville for an 8-yard touchdown run and a 21-7 lead. Melrose answered with a three-and-out, and Burcy followed with a 50-yard run on the next drive’s first play for a three-touchdown advantage.

Murphy ended the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard sneak, and Zach Labriola added an interception on defense.

Seniors James Donahue, Jeremiah Sanford, Reily Learned, Ben Diemer and Jacob Whitmer starred on the offensive line.

“We really wanted to emphasize (the run) coming into the game, and tonight we had a size advantage,” Fiore said. “Things played out pretty well. We had some nice runs late, but early on our offensive line was really clicking. … We’re pleased with that.”