By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
LIZTON – “Hang on to the ball, boys!”
You can bet that was the message delivered in both locker rooms at halftime of the Sept. 12 Sagamore Conference clash between Class 3A No. 8 North Montgomery and 2A No. 14 Tri-West Hendricks. It is also a safe bet that the message was delivered more sternly in the Bruins’ quarters.
Fumbles played a major role in a first half that saw North Montgomery take a 24-7 lead into intermission. Unfortunately, the fumble bug continued to haunt host Tri-West in the second half, allowing the Chargin’ Chargers to cruise to a 44-21 victory.
(Click here for video highlights!)
Both teams stalled on their initial drives in this game. Tri-West, after being stopped near midfield, lofted a spectacular punt that pinned the Chargers at their own 2-yard line. North Montgomery (4-0 overall, 2-0 Sagamore) could not move the ball and was forced to punt from its five.
It was one of the key plays in the game.
The punt was shanked and traveled only 19 yards, coming down to the Bruins at the North Montgomery 24. Tri-West, however, muffed the punt, and the Chargers recovered.
Instead of the Bruins having the ball and a short field in front of them, the Chargers’ high-powered offense got a second chance. As good teams do, North Montgomery quickly took advantage, driving 76 yards for the game’s first score.
The drive was capped on a one-yard plunge from quarterback Nathan Dale, and a successful two-point conversion made the score 8-0 late in the first quarter.
Tri-West (3-1, 1-1) again failed to move the ball, and the Chargers regained possession at their own 40. They manufactured a beautiful drive, mixing a powerful rushing attack with a sparse but incredibly efficient passing game.
Ethan Carpenter topped it off with a run up the middle from six yards out, and it was 16-0 in favor of the visitor early in the second period.
After another failed Tri-West drive, the fumbling problem hit the Chargers when they misplayed the Bruins’ punt and Tri-West recovered on the North Montgomery 10. On the second play, Bruin quarterback Jake Allen kept the ball around the right side to score from five yards out and cut the lead to 16-7.
North Montgomery, however, responded with another beautiful drive. This time the Chargers hit paydirt through the air when Dale found Brett Stamper on a six-yard scoring pass to make it 24-7.
That capped the scoring in the first half, when North Montgomery rushed for 143 yards and Dale completed all eight of his pass attempts.
Tri-West apparently didn’t get the memo about protecting the ball. The Bruins opened the second half by fumbling the kickoff, and North Montgomery recovered. Facing a short field, North Montgomery struck quickly.
Carpenter again found the end zone, this time from 12 yards out. The two-point conversion failed, but the Chargers still led 30-7 and seemed completely in control.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Allen broke loose for a 61-yard gallop on the ensuing Tri-West possession, and his run set up a three-yard touchdown run from running back Thomas O’Neal that cut the lead to 30-14. The Bruins then recovered an onside kick to quickly regain possession, and Allen again set them up in scoring position with an 18-yard scamper that produced 1st and goal at the North Montgomery 5.
That set up the second key play of the contest.
On second down, Tri-West again fumbled the ball away. That ended the Bruins’ first chance to cut the lead to one score, and they got a second shot after North Montgomery could not move.
Taking over at midfield, however, the Bruins quickly drove to the Charger 20 but stalled. After failing to convert on fourth down, they would not get a third chance.
North Montgomery responded by going on a sustained drive. This time fullback Isaac McGaughey finished from 12 yards away, and the score was 36-14.
A subsequent Bruin fumble led to yet another Charger score before Tri-West went on a drive late in the game to create the 44-21 final.
Next up for North Montgomery is a Sept. 19 home Sagamore date with Lebanon (1-3, 1-1), a 17-6 Week 4 winner over Frankfort. Tri-West, meanwhile, will travel to Southmont next Friday for a conference game against the Mounties (1-3, 0-2), a 37-21 victim to Danville.
How will the Sagamore Conference unfold in 2008? Share your thoughts on our Football message board.
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