Caldera quarterback Tommy Morris throws a pass during the game on Friday at Mountain View High School.

A dominant performance from Mountain View’s defense made it so Jordan Best’s touchdown return on the opening kickoff was all the points that the Cougars needed to win their 14th consecutive regular-season game.

But for good measure, Mountain View added a few more touchdowns to blow by Caldera 35-0 in Friday night’s Intermountain Conference football opener in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Mountain View’s Jack Harris Stadium.

“We felt like there were places (our defense) could attack,” said Mountain View coach Brian Crum. “I thought our staff did a good job of coming up with a plan and our kids executed. And they played relentlessly. They played physical. There was some hitting going on out there, too.”

But it was Best, the senior wide receiver, that started the game off with a bang when he went untouched for a 95-yard touchdown return.

“Right as I saw the gap, I just hit the hole and I was out of there,” Best said. “I knew I was fast and no one could get me. Right as I hit the hole I knew I was gone.”

“Jordan is explosive,” Crum said. “You cannot sleep on him. When he finds a seam, he hits it hard.”

The Caldera football program had been put through the ringer over the last week. Coach Mike Mitchell resigned in the wake of Oregon School Activities Association playing-time violations, which resulted in the Wolfpack forfeiting both of their wins this season. Interim head coach Ryan Miller made his debut Friday night leading Caldera.

And against the defending IMC champions and last year’s 5A state runner-up, there was little mercy shown.

Mountain View (5-0 overall, 1-0 IMC) did not allow the Caldera (0-5, 0-1) offense to gain a first down the entire first half. Immediately after Caldera senior defensive back Deacon Gregoriou intercepted a pass near the end zone to halt a Cougar touchdown in the first quarter, Mountain View forced a safety. And for the first time this season, the Cougars shut out their opponent.

“Our offense was slow at the beginning, we just weren’t executing like we usually do,” said Mountain View senior running back Angel Valenzula. “But our defense, getting that shutout, was huge.”

While the Cougars looked a tad out of sync early in the game, eventually they found their stride.

Senior quarterback Mason Chambers threw a pair of touchdowns in the first half to help the Cougars build a 21-0 lead. On his first touchdown, he scrambled around and ultimately found Best alone in the end zone for his second touchdown. Right before halftime, Chambers found junior running back Evan Worthington in the flat, who went diving into the end zone.

In the second half, the Mountain View rushing attack asserted itself. Valenzuela scored on a 31-yard touchdown in the third quarter before sophomore running back Ryder Carpenter triggered the running game clock with a short touchdown run to put the Cougars up 35-0.

Next up for Caldera is a home matchup against Ridgeview on Friday, while Mountain View will host Redmond.

More Friday football scores

Bend 27, Redmond 7

Summit 24, Ridgeview 17

Crook County 62, Parkrose 8

La Pine 13, Harrisburg 6

Cottage Grove 28, Sisters 19 (Thursday)

Creswell 20, Madras 6 (Thursday)

Culver 30, Lowell 13

Powers 62, Gilchrist 0