ADAMS — The Southland football team came out with full force on defense as it beat St. Charles 41-14 in its season opener in Adams Friday.

The Rebels (1-0 overall) held SC (0-1 overall) to just 131 total yards of offense in the win and Decker Bendtsen and James Landherr each picked off passes for Southland.

“We had some young kids step up when they had to,” Southland head coach Shawn Kennedy said.

Southland jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, but SC pulled to within 20-14 in the second quarter.

“We got complacent and we took it for granted,” Kennedy said. “We opened it back up in the third quarter.”

Southland rushing: Nick Schmitz, 10-for-76, 2 TD; Decker Bendtsen, 4-for-25; Coty Kirtz, 7-for-22, 2 TD; Chris Wolff, 3-for-14; Cole Erie, 2-for-5; Nick Finbraaten, 1-for-4; Adam Koenigs, 1-for-4; Trent Reinartz, 1-for-1; Bryce Larson, 1-for-1

Southland passing: Bendtsen, 7-for-10, 115, 2 TD

Southland receiving: Alex Reuchel, 1-for-34, TD; Max Klingerman, 1-for-31, TD; Kirtz, 3-for-31; Isaac Kloeckner, 1-for-10; Schmitz, 2-for-9