HIGDON – Fast starts to the first and third quarter helped North Sand Mountain continue its undefeated start to the 2012 season.

The Class 2A, No. 10 Bison jumped out to a 15-0 first-quarter lead and added two more quick scores moments after halftime en route to a 36-21 victory over visiting Sand Rock Friday night at Lloyd Dobbins Field.

Senior quarterback Tyler Vann led the Bison (3-0, 2-0 Region 7) effort, accounting for 276 total yards and four touchdowns. He completed 9 of 23 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 122 more yards and two scores on 13 carries.

Sand Rock junior quarterback Dylan Mackey was 5 of 16 passing for 57 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for Sand Rock (2-1, 1-1). Backup quarterback Chase Garrett was 3 of 6 for 57 yards and a score.

North Sand Mountain broke on top 8-0 with 6:43 left in the first quarter when Vann threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ean Miles. Cody McBryar scored on the 2-point conversion.

On the Bison’s next possession, McBryar hauled in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Vann. Derek Alonzo kicked the first of his five PATs to give the Bison a 15-0 lead with 3:52 left in the first quarter.

Sand Rock cut the Bison lead to 15-7 at halftime thanks Chandler Mackey’s 4-yard touchdown run at the 4:41 mark of the first half. Dylan Mackey added the extra point.

But North Sand Mountain took control in the third quarter.

Walsh returned the second-half kickoff 77 yards to the Sand Rock 12-yard line. Vann scored on a 6-yard run two plays later to give the Bison a 22-7 advantage.

After forcing a Sand Rock punt, North Sand Mountain marched 62 yards in 11 plays to take a 29-7 lead on a 10-yard Vann touchdown run. Walsh scored on a 3-yard run to up the Bison lead to 36-7 with 10:45 left to play.

The Wildcats closed the scoring gap in the fourth with a 17-yard Dylan Mackey to Zane Farrah touchdown pass and a 20-yard scoring pass from Garrett to Chandler Mackey for the final.

The victory moved North Sand Mountain to its first 3-0 start since 1998 and also kept the Bison in a three-way tie atop the region standings with Ider and No. 5 Fyffe. North Sand Mountain plays both of those teams on back-to-back weeks starting Oct. 12.

Sand Rock hosts another Region 7 foe, the Section Lions, on Friday.