ST. MARYS — Nate Westlake’s two long touchdown runs in the first quarter helped spark the Bradford Owls to a 34-13 victory over St. Marys in District 9 League action Friday night during Homecoming at Dutch Country Stadium.

Westlake, the 5-foot-9-inch, 155-pound senior, scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 72-yard run. A little over four minutes later, he returned a kickoff 91 yards to give his team back the lead after a St. Marys touchdown.

Westlake finished the game with 127 yards rushing on only 13 attempts. Throw in a 25-yard return on an interception and Westlake finished with 279 all-purpose yards to spark the Owls to the win.

Bradford (3-2) was coming off its first home loss since 1999 last week against Clarion-Limestone. The Owls were playing without starting fullback and leading rusher Dave Snyder. Still, they managed to churn out 341 yards rushing and outgained St. Marys, 359-301.

St. Marys (0-4), still looking for its first win, grabbed a 7-6 advantage thanks to a Bradford turnover on Scott Schatz’s first of two fumble recoveries. One play later, Adam Geer blasted 20 yards for the score. Geer finished with 136 yards rushing on 17 carries.

Unlike the Owls, the Dutch converted their extra point and led by one with 7:35 left in the first quarter.

But Westlake’s touchdown on the ensuing kickoff put the Owls up for good. It was Westlake’s third TD return of the season. He came in with a punt and interception return for touchdowns.

Bradford made it 21-7 on an impressive 19-play, 80-yard drive late in the first half. Shawn Spindler hauled in a 23-yard TD pass from quarterback Mike Austin 45 seconds before halftime.

St. Marys threatened before intermission and took advantage of a pass interference penalty, but Steinbach’s 40-yard field goal attempt missed wide as time ran out on the first half.

The Owls scored on their first possession to make it 27-7. Morgan O’Brien scored from five yards out at the 8:48 mark of the third quarter. Westlake’s interception and return set up Bradford’s final score, an O’Brien 10-yard run with 6:52 left in the game.

Against Bradford’s backup defense, St. Marys drove 80 yards following the ensuing kickoff, needing just six plays to score on Schatz’s 27-yard TD run.

NOTES: Both teams have D-9 League games next week. St. Marys hosts DuBois while Bradford hosts Brookville. … The Dutch’s Scott Schatz nearly reached the century rushing mark, finishing with 98 yards on 12 carries. He also had two fumble recoveries. … Bradford’s Morgan O’Brien, starting in place of the injured Snyder, rushed for 80 yards on 15 carries.

B -- Nate Westlake 72 run (conversion failed), 11:42.

S -- Adam Geer 20 run (Brad Steinbach kick), 7:35.

B -- Nate Westlake 91 kickoff return (Mike Austin run), 7:21.

B -- Shawn Spindler 23 pass from Mike Austin (Kyle McFarlane kick), :45.

B -- Morgan O’Brien 5 run (kick failed), 8:48.

B -- Morgan O’Brien 10 run (Kyle McFarlane kick), 6:52.

S -- Scott Schatz 27 run (kick blocked), 4:15.

First Downs 15 17

Rushes-Yards 37-257 52-341

Passes: Comp-Att-Int 4-10-1 2-5-0

Passing Yards 44 26

Total Yards 301 367

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-3

Penalties-Yards 1-18 5-43

Punts-Avg 3-35 0-0

RUSHING — Bradford: Nate Westlake 13-127, Morgan O’Brien 15-80, Josh Holleran 11-62, Jeff Valerius 3-38, Stu Morris 3-30, Mike Austin 5-5, Nick Foster 1-3, E.J. Martin-Moore 1-(-4). St. Marys: Adam Geer 17-136, Scott Schatz 12-98, Adam Cornelio 6-30, Bryan Dempsey 2-(-7).

PASSING — Bradford: Mike Austin 2-for-5, 26 yds., 1 TD. St. Marys: Bryan Dempsey 4-for-8, 44 yds., 1 Int.; Adam Cornelio 0-for-1; Team 0-for-1.

RECEIVING — Bradford: Shawn Spindler 2-26. St. Marys: Adam Cornelio 2-25, Adam Geer 1-11, Scott Schatz 1-8.

INTERCEPTIONS — Bradford: Nate Westlake.

SACKS — Bradford: Morgan O’Brien.

KICK RETURNS — Bradford: Nate Westlake 2-91. St. Marys: Adam Cornelio 3-61, Bryan Dempsey 1-11.

PUNT RETURNS — Bradford: Nate Westlake 1-36.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES — Bradford: Kyle McFarlane. St. Marys: Scott Schatz 2, Allen Pistner.