BY RICH HILLIARD
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD DEMOCRAT
NEVADA -- Graduation took away some of Melissa's offensive weapons.
But a cast of holdovers -- and relative newcomers to starting roles -- began making their marks on Friday.
Wes McQueen threw three touchdowns and ran for one, and Melissa cruised to a 40-7 win at Nevada Community in both teams' season opener.
McQueen passed for 243 of 429 offensive yards for Melissa (1-0), which won its third-straight season opener against Community (0-1).
Michael Ellis caught two touchdowns for Melissa, while Nathan Warren capped a 108-yard receiving effort with a 75-yard scoring reception in the third.
John Young also rushed for 93 yards and ran for a score for Melissa, which held Community to 204 total yards.
Scores on two of its first three possessions gave Melissa a 14-0 lead after one. Ellis caught a 20-yard scoring pass to cap the 71-yard first-possession drive, before Kristov George added a 5-yard run late in the first quarter.
Warren's 23-yard punt return set up the second scoring drive at Community's 27 that ended in George's score.
A minute into the second, Melissa cashed in a Jackson Bush's interception with Ellis' 26-yard scoring catch.
McQueen and John Young added scoring runs of eight and 30 yards around Community's lone score to increase the lead to 27-7 at halftime.
Community scored on a 5-yard reception by Jake Wilson from Colton Hutchinson -- and threatened to score again late in the first half.
However, Melissa responded to defensive coordinator Travis Roberson's challenge to keep Community out of the end zone. A six-yard sack on first down was followed by three straight incomplete passes for Community -- capped by Brad Bush's end-zone coverage on fourth down.
The speedy Warren then caught a McQueen pass in stride for a 75-yard score to cap Melissa's half-opening drive in the third. Juan Salas' ensuing fourth extra point completed the scoring.
Mason Hart also made an interception for Melissa, which plays next Friday at Van Alstyne.