COMMERCE -- The supporting cast for last year's state champion Commerce Tigers took center stage Friday night as the defending Class 3A Division II champions romped to a 44-0 season-opening win over Dallas Pinkston at Memorial Stadium.

Senior tailback Eddie Hines, one of only 11 returning lettermen from last season, rushed for 131 yards and four touchdowns to lead the No. 5 state-ranked Tigers to their third win over Pinkston in the past year. The two teams met twice last season, with Commerce slipping by the Vikings in the season opener and winning handily in the second round of the playoffs.

Hines opened the scoring on a two-yard run in the opening period and tacked on touchdown runs of three and 31 yards in the second stanza to help stake Commerce to a 24-0 halftime advantage. Junior Bart Bryant, who converted on five-of-six extra point attempts, kicked a 23-yard field goal early in the second quarter.