Joe Kline / The Bulletin Summit's Sean Kent (4) dives for a fumble with Pendleton's Keyano Walker (21) during the first half on Friday at Summit High School. Kent recovered the ball for the Storm.

Joe Padilla dubs himself a critical coach at times. He constantly emphasizes how much more his Summit team can improve, how much more his Storm can achieve.

But even Padilla conceded that Friday night’s performance was one of the best he has seen in some time from an out-of-rhythm football team.

With the defense forcing seven turnovers — five in the first quarter alone — and with Kyle Cornett and Jason Garcia each running kickoffs back for touchdowns, Summit raced by visiting Pendleton for a 41-19 nonconference victory in both teams’ season opener.

“We put the ball on the ground a little too much, the offense got a little sluggish at times and couldn’t really get it going,” Padilla said. “I don’t think we ever really got in a rhythm offensively. I think we had some nice big plays and had some spurts, but I don’t think there was consistency developed yet.”

The Storm (1-0) allowed 331 yards of total offense while gaining only 187 yards themselves, but the Summit defense forced six fumbles and limited the Buckaroos (0-1) to just five third-down conversions in 19 attempts.

“Our defense did a heck of a job for us,” Padilla said. “They came out and made some big plays for us. That’s a fun group to watch out there.”

John Bledsoe completed 11 of 13 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns for Summit. His top target was Cornett, who had four receptions for 81 yards and a score. Garcia rushed 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown.

“This is huge,” said Bledsoe, a sophomore who made his first varsity start on Friday. “We came out really strong, and our defense played amazing.”

Summit capitalized on Pendleton’s first turnover, on the fourth offensive play of the game, as Garcia punched in an 8-yard touchdown run.

Later in the opening quarter, Nick Rasmussen scooped up a fumble and raced in for a 15-yard score to give the Storm a 14-0 advantage.

On the final play of the first period, Pendleton’s Kai Quinn connected with Wes Persinger for a 43-yard touchdown, narrowing the deficit to seven points — briefly.

Garcia received the ensuing kickoff near the right sideline and handed off to Cornett, who after the game recalled yelling at his teammate to take the ball himself. Instead, Cornett took possession and sped down the right sideline 94 yards for a touchdown.

“I just tried not to get touched and tried to run away from people,” Cornett said. “And I took it to the house.”

With just over a minute left in the half, Quinn ran in a 7-yard touchdown. Yet again, however, the Storm returned the ensuing kickoff. This time, Garcia scooped the ball up and took it himself for 85 yards and a TD to provide Summit a 28-13 halftime advantage.

Bledsoe opened up the second half with touchdown passes to Cornett and Cam McCormick as the Storm pulled away for a 41-19 victory. Summit returns to action next Friday when the Storm travel to Portland to take on Class 6A Franklin.

“I am critical sometimes of our play at different times of the game,” Padilla said. “But if you look at where we were last year … you wonder if you’re going to have to start over. Pendleton’s a darn good football program, year in and year out. To come in with the start of a season and play them and have this kind of success, that is a big deal.”

—Reporter: 541-383-0307, glucas@bendbulletin.com.