By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

Peabody starters Rocco Weerts and Jess Philpott watched from the sidelines Thursday in the Warriors’ opening round of the 8-man Division I state football playoffs at Madison.

If the going wasn’t already tough enough against the seventh-ranked, unbeaten Bulldogs, injuries kept the quarterback, Weerts, and tailback, Philpott, out of action at an inopportune time.

The Warriors never got to the second half with Madison blowing the game wide open with a 32-point onslaught in the second quarter.

Peabody’s season ended at 3-6 after a 46-0 loss to the Bulldogs at halftime.

Despite controlling the ball nearly 20 minutes longer than Madison, the Warriors got nothing going offensively, managing just two first downs and a brutal 41 yards total while giving up 198.

All six of the Bulldog touchdowns came from the duo of Colton Fife and Trace Dannels, who also supplied all Madison’s yardage.

Dannels carried 10 times for a game-high 108 yards, his first of two touchdowns stretching Madison’s lead to 14-0 heading into the second quarter.

Two giveaways and 13 percent on third down by the Warriors also made for tough sledding, spotting the Bulldogs 16 points on a pair of fumbles.