“This is our conference opener and we’re ready,” Ford said. “We really want it. What happened last year really has us fired up.”

Ford has been the feature back as expected this season, but the Knights have spread the wealth a bit.

He had only eight carries last Friday in a 44-0 rout of Madison East, but still had 107 yards rushing and scored twice. As a team, the Knights ran for 311 yards and five TDs.

Last season, Beloit’s toughest games came at the end of its season. This fall, the Knights (1-1) will face perennial powers Waterford (1-1) and Badger (2-0) the first two weeks of the season. Ford said there’s actually an advantage to being challenged early.

“I love that,” he said. “Last year we had to deal with a lot of injuries. Now we’re fresh. We can play them at our best.”

That’s what Beloit head coach Brad Dement was thinking.

“Playing them at the front end has its merits because we’re healthy,” Dement said. “We’re ready to go full-go. But every game is tough in our conference.”

While Waterford will pose a much greater challenge up front, the Knights were remarkable efficient when they used thor starters against East.

“It was a good confidence-builder,” Dement said. “It was a step in the right direction.”

Both teams have relied on the run. Ford has 26 carries for 251 yards and three scores and eight other Knights have carried the ball. Vinson Reed is next highest in carries with nine for 55 yards. Erik Hanson has scored three touchdowns and has 106 yards on his five carries and Brannon Hatchett has 93 on his eight tries. Waterford junior Jax Pesch has been a workhorse with 44 carries for 234 yards.