DIXON — For a  while, it looked like it might be a shootout at A.C. Bowers Field on Friday night.
But LaSalle-Peru kept firing while Dixon shot blanks for the last 2 1/2 quarters, resulting in a 53-14 victory for the Cavaliers.

Two touchdowns in less than 2 minutes brought Dixon back from a 13-point deficit and the Dukes led 14-13 with 8:04 left in the first half.The Cavaliers exploded for four touchdowns in the final 6 minutes, 12 seconds of the first half to build 39-14 halftime lead on the way to a Northern Illinois Big 12 West rout that spoiled Dixon's homecoming.

Trailing 13-0, the Dukes (0-6 overall, 0-2 NIB-12 West) marched 66 yards for their first touchdown. JD Gieson's 43-yard pass to Andrew Smith, who had four catches for 77 yards, set up Gieson's 16-yard TD run, accented by his leap over a defender at the goal line.