Tigers use a punishing ground game to wear down Forest Grove in a 49-13 conference win

Forest Grove knows all about turnover at the running back position.

The Vikings have played no fewer than four players at tailback this year due to a rash of injuries, and the offense has been sluggish in early-season losses to David Douglas, Sunset and McMinnville.

Tigard had no such problems on Friday, however, turning to third-string tailback Kaz Greene after injuries to starters Zach Floyd and Benny Wick, and Greene responded with a monster game, rushing for 286 yards and four touchdowns as the third-ranked Tigers mauled Forest Grove, 49-13.

'Going into the game, I thought I was going to split time with Benny. I thought I'd get some carries here and there,' Greene said. 'When he went out, I knew I was going to get the ball.'

Greene set the tone early, breaking off a 74-yard touchdown run less than six minutes into the game. Tigard (5-0, 3-0) added two more touchdowns in the second quarter before Forest Grove pulled within 21-7 on Jake Bennett's 3-yard scoring run just before halftime.

Manu Rasmussen capped a 12-play, 80-yard Tigard scoring drive with a 17-yard touchdown run in the early stages of the second half, then Greene sparked three lightning-quick drives that put Forest Grove (1-4, 1-2) away for good.

Greene scored on a 46-yard run late in the third quarter to cap a two-play drive, and he went into the end zone from 16 yards out later in the frame to end a three-play drive. Greene's 13-yard touchdown run in the opening moments of the fourth quarter capped another three-play scoring drive and gave Tigard a 49-7 lead.

Forest Grove got one more touchdown late in the game on a 6-yard pass from Jesse Zamora to Bennett.

The Vikings will look to bounce back this Friday night with a road trip to Newberg. The game is scheduled for a

7 p.m. kickoff.