With just three returning starters on a team hoping to contend in District 15-8A, Varela made a statement in its delayed district opener with a 47-7 win over host Ferguson on Monday at Tropical Park.

After the game was postponed because of inclement weather on Saturday, the Vipers jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead thanks to four touchdown runs, including three of 20 yards or more. Tray Fance caught Storm Smith’s only pass of the game and broke several tackles for a 50-yard touchdown.

The Varela offense worked with a short field, striking quickly and often. Three times the Vipers scored on one-play drives, twice on two and once on three.

Ferguson (0-4) recorded just two first downs through the first two quarters, which came on option runs by junior quarterback Joseph Rubio

The Falcons tallied 39 total yards by halftime – all on the ground – and failed to complete a pass until senior Dominick Diaz found Hugo Tenaud for 23 yards with a running clock late in the second half.

Hugo Tenaud’s 72-yard kickoff return on Ferguson’s first possession of the third quarter was the lone score for the Falcons.

Varela (2-1) faces a quick turnaround as it plays non-district opponent Homestead (3-1) this Friday at Harris Field.

“It’s a tough situation, but it’s a district game so obviously we had to get it in,” Varela head coach Carlos Mollinedo said. “Every day is just another opportunity for them to learn. As well as we played today there’s still things we’re trying to clean up [with] that lack of experience. The kids are doing a great job under the circumstances. We’ve just got to buckle down. We need to step up.”

•  Archbishop Curley 24, Ransom Everglades 10: After a rough 0-3 start to the season, Archbishop Curley saw things get a little better Monday afternoon.

Hosting Ransom Everglades (1-3, 1-3) in a game postponed by bad weather on Saturday, Curley overcame a 10-6 third quarter deficit to score three unanswered touchdowns.

The Knights (1-3, 1-1) took the lead for good in the final minute of the third quarter when quarterback Samuel Echavaria fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to Delmonte Lumpkin on third-and-goal.

They extended it to 18-10 on a 3-yard touchdown by Echavaria with 9:10 to go and then wrapped things up when Jeffrey Joseph rambled 24 yards for a score with 3:01 left.

Curley improved to 1-3 and 1-1 in the south division of the Southeastern Football Conference while the Raiders fell to 1-3, 1-3.

BILL DALEY

CROSS-COUNTRY

Belen continued its streak of winning major meets this past Saturday by capturing the Fleet Feet Invitational at Stuart South Fork High.

The Wolverines scored 20 points to finish ahead of runner-up Stuart Martin County’s 97. Avery Lopez won the individual title with a time of 16:45.80. Lopez finished ahead of teammate Fabian Tomas, who ran a time of 17:00.50. Also for Belen, Andres Fernandez (17:13.40) and Ryan Rodriguez (17:14.30) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

• Sunset’s victory in the Class 4A race highlighted a good day for Miami-Dade County at the Spanish River Invitational Monday in Boca Raton.

Boys’ team scores — Class 4A: 1. Sunset 46; 2. Coral Reef 77; Class 2A: 1. St. Andrews 43; 2. Pace 52; 3. Gulliver 77; 1. Class 1A: 1. Westminster Academy 38; 2. Dade Christian 61.