ABERDEEN – The Aberdeen Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in the Daily Journal’s poll of Class 3A teams, put some Love on Ray Brooks in a big way.

Tailback Jamerson Love carried 15 times for 227 yards and four touchdowns and also scored on an 80-yard screen pass as the Bulldogs won 52-14 Friday night.

Love scored on runs of 3, 34, 10 and 10 yards.

The win helped ease the pain of a 27-26 double overtime loss at Class 5A Columbus last week to open the season.

“Good teams that are used to winning can do that ... can come back after a tough loss and get ready. We expected to play well,” Aberdeen coach Chris Duncan said.

A veteran Aberdeen (1-1) offensive line paved the way for Love, and that combination helped take some heat off Desmond Jones, the former cornerback who was thrust into the quarterback spot on the second series last week against Columbus.

Jones had been taking only about a fourth of the reps in practice before he “won” the job in the opener.

“Last week we were just trying to figure out how to get the ball to Love,” Duncan said. “We have talented receivers, but we couldn’t get the ball there.”

Against Ray Brooks Jones passed for 110 yards and helped the Bulldogs with several long runs.

Aberdeen also scored on a 75-yard kick return by Brandon Smith and rolled up 406 total yards on the night.

The Bulldogs got strong play from their defense too, limiting the visitors to 34 rushing yards in the first half.

“I’m proud of the way we moved the football on the ground. We haven’t done that the last several years. Love’s a special back, and he had a big night tonight.”