WARREN — Meadville’s Region 5 road game with Warren Friday began with a military flyover and ended with an infiltration.

And after a 49-6 thumping of the Dragons (0-2, 0-1 Region 5), the Bulldogs (2-0, 1-0 Region 5) set the bar high for the 2008 season.

The Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs and two fumbles early in the contest. Warren kicker Colter Johnson put the home team on top 6-0 with a 35-yard kick and a 17-yarder.

But much like last week against Oil City, Meadville was only getting warmed up.

In the end, the ‘Dogs outgained the Dragons 376-93 and started the season 2-0 for the first time since 1995 when they went 3-0.

The 49 points was the most since a 46-0 win over Erie East in 2004.

“We got down early and then the kids showed a lot of heart and character, again,” Meadville coach Mike Pendolino said. “We just played some power football and took it in there.”

Fullback Mike Kalustian made two cuts and rumbled 80 yards untouched to put Meadville on top for good on the first play of its fifth drive.

“I noticed they were slanting a lot,” Kalustian said. “T.J. (Toney Phillips) made a nice block on corner, and I saw the opening, saw the green and turned on the jets and just ran to the touchdown.”

The 6-foot, 210-pound senior then added another one-yard dive to cap a four-minute, 64-yard drive.

Kalustian paced the offense with 99 yards on just 10 totes.

“Our linemen are making their blocks,” he said. “We fight for every single inch. Running backs block; receivers have great down blocks. Most of the credit goes to the line. No doubt, they’re opening holes.”

“We knew how they would line up, and we knew how we would block,” Pendolino said. “It was just a matter of getting the job done. Those kids up front worked hard all winter, spring and summer. And this is their payoff time.”

Meadville notched 295 yards on the ground with 10 different backs.

Warren, meanwhile, was held to just 23 rush yards.