C’mon, you didn’t expect the Braves to cause a mercy rule clock in the first QUARTER, did you?
It happened. Montezuma scored with 1:51 left in the first period to take a 35-0 lead on HLV/Tri-County, and start the continuous clock.
The final was 64-6, Braves, in the Week 0 season opener for both eight-man teams on a weather-perfect Friday, Aug. 18 at Badger-Gabriel Field.
HLV’s initial first down came with 2:25 left in the first half, which ended at 49-0.
Montezuma put up 299 first half yards, and limited the Warriors to 17.
Braves sophomore quarterback Brady Boulton threw for three first half touchdowns and ran for two. He had 9 completions in 14 attempts for 120 yards.
Boulton rushed for 80 yards on six carries and Brett Plants had 75 on five. And remember, those were halftime stats.
Montezuma’s offensive line had some problems with a hard-charging HLV defense in the game’s first two series, but adjusted.
HLV is going to be a work in progress this season, after KGRN radio reported four potential starters didn’t come out for football. The Warriors did pick up several players in a sharing agreement with Tri-County, and at least one down lineman from there could end up being an impact player.
But overall, the Braves overmatched their visitors in athleticism, and it was more obvious when Montezuma was on defense.
Boulton got Montezuma scoring started just 1:13 into the game on a nifty cutback run of 45 yards. The Braves ran a double slot formation with an empty backfield, and after Boulton cut back, he was goine. Max Anderson, who didn’t miss a place kick all game, made it 7-0.
A Boulton pass to Broox Stockman in the flat turned into a 15-yard scoring play and it was 14-0 with 9:51 left in the quarter.
Braves lineman Landon Morrison got in Warrior quarterback Max Henstorf’s cage early and often to help break down HLV drives.
A short pass from Boulton to David Rose put the ball on HLV’s 5-yard line. On fourth down from there, Stockman broke a tackle on a run over the right side and scored. The Anderson kick made it 21-0, with 5:52 left, still in the first period.
Boulton ran over from a yard out, and it was 28-0, with 3:25 left in the first.
Brett Plants got loose for some nice runs as the Braves neared paydirt again. The score came with 1:51 left, one a one-yard Boulton pass to Garrett Watts.
Montezuma’s second quarter scores came on a 57-yard run by Brett Plants, and a 53-yard pass from Boulton to Watts, set up by a David Rose interception.
A low kickoff was caught in stride by Rose and returned for a 65-yard third quarter toucdown. The Braves got a final touchdown on a four-yard Luke Brennan pass to Luke Erselius.
Penalties caused the Braves to try their two-point conversion attempt from the 13-yard line. But it was good, on a Brennan to Easton Hudnut pitch and catch.
Henstorf, a converted running back for HLV, managed to complete two passes of more than 20 yards in the second half.
Reserves saw most fourth quarter action and so did penalty flags, which had pretty much stayed in-pocket in the first three periods.
We will have more coverage, including stats, Coach John Beck’s comments, and photos later in the weekend.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts Southeast Warren on Friday, Aug. 25.