By John RittenhouseA 24-point eruption in the first quarter sent Southwest United on its way to a 37-7 victory over Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth during a Southwest Ridge Conference football game played Friday in Ellsworth.During a quarter in which everything went right for the Wildcats, SWU scored touchdowns with its first two offensive plays to open an early 12-0 lead.SWU went on to score two more touchdowns before the period was complete, padding its lead to 24 points and taking the zest out of Ellsworth’s homecoming celebration in the process."We just let them jump out to too big of a lead right away, which made it impossible for us to come back," said H-BC-E coach Dan Ellingson. "We played better after the first quarter, but that’s been the story of our year. We play well for one half, but we can’t put a full game together."SWU’s ability to strike quickly proved to be the difference in the game’s first quarter.After forcing the Patriots to punt four plays into the game, SWU tailback Dustin Leopold dashed through the H-BC-E defense for a 64-yard touchdown run on his team’s first play from scrimmage.The touchdown run was the beginning of a big game for Leopold, who ran for 197 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats.After forcing H-BC-E to punt four plays later, SWU gained excellent field position by blocking the kick and recovering the ball on H-BC-E’s 24-yard line. Wildcat quarterback Jared Smith hooked up with Keith Rogers for a 24-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage, doubling SWU’s lead at 12-0.SWU picked off a pass to end H-BC-E’s next offensive possession. Two plays later, Leopold raced 45 yards for a touchdown to make it an 18-0 game.Smith threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jay Malenke late in the period to cap SWU’s 24-point outburst in the first 12 minutes of play.The scoring pace slowed for SWU after the first quarter, but the Wildcats did increase their lead to 37-0 with a one-yard touchdown run by Leopold in the second quarter and a nine-yard Leopold run in the fourth quarter.H-BC-E’s lone touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Adam Finke, who ran for 44 yards in the game, scored on a 10-yard run late in the contest. John Sandbulte added the extra point.Ellingson said SWU’s line play was the difference in the contest."SWU’s line played really well. They have good, quick linemen. They really gave us fits," he said.The 2-5 Patriots hosted Westbrook-Walnut Grove to end the regular season Wednesday night.Team statisticsH-BC-E: 70 rushing yards, 25 passing yards, 95 total yards, five first downs, five penalties for 27 yards, three turnovers.SWU: 250 rushing yards, 174 passing yards, 424 total yards, 10 first downs, five penalties for 40 yards, three turnovers.Individual statisticsRushing: Finke 14-44, Jon Klaassen 12-34, Kerry Fink 4-3, Jarid Hoogendoorn 3-1, Tom Leuthold 1-1, Cody Rozeboom 1-minus 2.Passing: Finke 4-12 for 25 yards.Receiving: Klaassen 1-0, Rozeboom 1-14, Devin DeBoer 1-10, Finke 1-1.Defense: Leuthold 10 tackles and one sack, Tanner Scholten eight tackles, Fink six tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception, Jason Hup eight tackles, Rozeboom one interception.