Season-opening kickoffs hardly have been classics for South Kitsap in recent years.

But the Wolves’ first meeting against Stadium in a dozen years was all they needed to end that.

Behind three touchdowns from running back Sean Allison, South raced to a 44-6 win Friday night at Joe Knowles Field against the Tigers in Narrows League play.

It was the Wolves’ first win in an opener since they defeated Snohomish 33-20 in 2002.

Getting to that point wasn’t easy, though. The Wolves struggled in the first quarter despite starting drives at their own 30-yard line and then at Stadium’s 33. South only managed three points on its first possession on a 20-yard field goal by Drew Klopfstein and later was forced to punt.

The second drive ended when junior quarterback Gordy Anderson’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down.

Anderson, who completed 5-of-9 passes for 41 yards, was elevated to the starting position when senior Bryan Dorsey tore meniscus in his right knee.

The adjustment might have been a factor in a couple of dropped passes by the wide receivers.

But Anderson found running back T.J. Rhodes on the third possession for a 7-yard gain down to the Stadium 17. Two plays later, Allison scored his first touchdown on a 10-yard run to give the Wolves a 10-0 lead.

Stadium, which lost its last meeting between the teams, 61-0, ended the Wolves’ hopes of their first shutout opener — also against Stadium — since 1993 when quarterback Cameron Robak found Tyler Tryon on third-and-seven for a 47-yard touchdown pass.

That’s as close as the Tigers would get. South sophomore Isaiah Davis returned the kickoff 81 yards to the Stadium 12, and Allison scored two plays later on a 4-yard run to give the Wolves a 17-6 lead.

Defensive end Corey Galligan then recovered a Tigers’ fumble on the next series at the Stadium 17. Robert Issa scored two plays later on a 16-yard run.

South took advantage of great field position again on its next series at the Tigers’ 34.

The Wolves needed just four plays before Allison, who had 68 yards on 13 carries, scored on a 5-yard run to give South a 31-6 halftime advantage.

Coach D.J. Sigurdson, who guided the Wolves despite having his appendix removed a week ago, pulled many of his starters after halftime.

Despite that, South didn’t allow any points and added to its lead with a 8-yard touchdown run by senior Ryan Williams in the third quarter and junior Jordan Anderson rushed for a 5-yard score in the final period.

South, which hasn’t started 2-0 since its nine-game winning streak in 2002, travels to play rival Central Kitsap at 5 p.m. Friday at Silverdale Stadium.