MELCHER-DALLAS – Friday was a heavy day for many members of the Montezuma football team – at least until the sun was going down in the west.
The Braves attended the funeral of senior classmate Chloe Hutchcraft earlier in the day, then had to take a long bus ride to Melcher-Dallas and prepare mentally to play football.
And play they did, getting the expected result, a 67-20 victory over a young and outmanned Melcher-Dallas team.
The Braves led 19-0 after one quarter and 48-0 at halftime. Melcher-Dallas didn’t make a first half first down.
Montezuma reserves played almost all of the continuous clock second half, but they had some highlights on offense, especially, putting 19 points on the board.
In the first half, quarterback Brady Boulton scored on a punt return and threw three touchdown passes.
Garrett Watts was the receiver of two touchdown throws and Cruz De Jong got the other.
Running back Brett Plants returned to the Montezuma lineup and ran for two Braves touchdowns.
Running back Broox Stockman ran for one score.
In the second half, Luke Brennan came in at quarterback and hooked up with Kenny Criswell on a long touchdown pass. He also teamed with Dane Strong for a nice throw-and-run score.
Strong also had a scoring run.
To all of this, the Braves added a safety.
The win lifted Montezuma to 3-1 on the season and evened the Braves’ district record at 1-1.
Melcher-Dallas is 0-3.
NEXT WEEK – Montezuma locks horns with a non-district foe, Winfield-Mt. Union. It will be a clash of two teams likely to be rated in the top 10 of the Class 8 poll.
Next week’s game is a 3 p.m. Saturday matinee at Badger-Gabriel Field.
COME BACK here later for Coach John Beck’s comments.
Score by quarters
Montezuma 19 29 6 13 – 67
Melcher-Dallas 0 0 6 14 – 20
Montezuma passing – Brady Boulton 7-10 for 112 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Luke Brennan 5-6, 103 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Brennan’s pass efficiency rating: 227.5.
Braves rushing – Brett Plants 3-49, 2 touchdowns; Dane Strong 1-42, (1); Broox Stockman 4-23, (1); Brady Boulton 1-1, Luke Erselius 1- (-5).
Braves receivimg – Kenny Criswell 1-54 (1); Garrett Watts 3-51 (2); Cruz De Jong 3-38 (1); Dane Strong 2-31 (1); Brett Plants 1-23, Luke Erselius 2-18.
Tackles – Plants 6.0 with 3 solo; Luke Brennan 4.5 (3); Rett Pargeon 4.5 (3); Lars Taylor 4.0 (1); Broox Stockman 3.5 (2); Dane Strong 3.0 (1); Tod Geiger 3.0 (2); Breck Simpson 1.5; Alex Black 2.0 (1); Briar Simpson 1.5; David Rose 1.5 (1); Carter Michalek 1.0 (1); Landon Morrison 1.0; Luke Erselius 1.0; Kenny Criswell 1.0 (1); Cade Stone 1.0 (1); Easton Hudnut 0.5; Braxton Plants 0.5.
Fumble recoveries – Landon Morrison, 1 with no return; Briar Simpson, one with no return.
Interception – David Rose, 1-13.
Kickoff returns – none.
Punt returns – Brady Boulton 1-45, one touchdown; Kenny Criswell 1-17; David Rose 1-7.
Kickoffs – Luke Erselius – 11-442.
Points after touchdown kicks – Max Anderson 4-5; Luke Erselius 1-3.
Punts – Luke Erselius 1-38.
Two-point conversions – Tod Geiger, one.