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Polk County’s defense more than did its job Friday.

Option-based offenses often cause headaches for opposing defenses, especially in this era when teams don’t see the option that often. But the Wolverines found the answer to stopping R-S Central, holding the Hilltoppers to 96 total yards in a 43-12 victory on Homecoming Night in G.M. Tennant Stadium.

The effort gave Polk County (4-3, 3-0) a three-game winning streak heading into next week’s open date, kept the Wolverines tied for first in the Mountain Foothills 7 Conference and sent a large Homecoming crowd home very happy.

“Four and three, three and oh in conference, I think when we were walking out after the Landrum game if you would have said, hey, this is what you got, I would have paid for it,” said Polk County head coach Dustin Fry. “It’s definitely good shape to be in.”

Polk County scored on all four of its first-half possessions, including time-chewing drives of 10 and 13 plays against an R-S Central defense that often dropped eight into coverage in an effort to slow the Wolverine passing game. Quarterback Lawson Carter ran for three of those scores, often finding room to scramble with defenders spread all over the field.

The Hilltoppers (1-5, 0-3), meanwhile, struggled to generate anything offensively as Polk County checked its attack at every turn. R-S Central managed just two first downs in the first half and barely dented the Wolverines’ side of the field.

“A very good defensive effort,” Fry said. “The big thing was stopping the run. Obviously, after last week (when Hendersonville’s Hezzie Rudisill rushed for 315 yards), we just spent a lot of time working on that veer blocking and staying sound and playing pitch and quarterback, and they did a really good job.

“We know what kind of running back Karlen (McEntyre) is, and to be able to hold those guys down a little bit, that was really nice to see. Very happy with the defense.”