POLSON — In Friday night’s game, Polson set the tone.

A fast start got the Pirates football team out ahead early, crushing Anaconda 55-19.

“One of the things we talk about is coming out strong and setting the tempo,” Pirates head coach Scott Wilson said. “If we do that, we feel we can be successful. Regardless of whether we are home or on the road it’s the same type of philosophy to put points on the board and let them play catch up the rest of the game.”

The Pirates scored two touchdowns on their first three offensive plays to get out to a quick lead that they never relinquished. Senior running back Tim Rausch went untouched on a 73-yard touchdown run on the Pirates first offensive play of the game, giving Polson a 6-0 lead just over a minute and a half into the match up. Rausch had two touchdown runs on the day.

The offense got the ball right back and senior running back Trae Fouty took the ball 41 yards on the Pirates third offensive play, giving Polson a two-touchdown lead less than five minutes into the game.

The two teams traded touchdowns to keep the score at 21-13 before the Pirates really got going. An 11-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Joe Andrews from sophomore quarterback Vince DiGiallonardo with 59 seconds left put Polson up 28-13. On the very next play, Fouty intercepted a Copperhead’s pass, setting up a 9-yard run by DiGiallonardo to make the score 34-13 at the half.

The Pirates tacked on three touchdowns in the third quarter to make the score 55-13.

Rausch added his second touchdown run of the day in the third quarter to round out the Pirates scoring plays.

“When Tim [Rausch] is on the field, it raises the intensity of all our kids,” Wilson said. “They know the level Tim plays at all times, on both sides of the ball.”

The Pirates’ win boosts their record to 3-1 overall.

On Friday night, Polson hosts Libby in the conference opener and homecoming game.