GLADBROOK – Now, aren’t you glad the boys got a chance to play a football game?
For sure, the Montezuma guys and their coaches are happy about it.
The Braves won their first-it’s-off, then-it’s-on season opener, 39-38, Saturday afternoon over fill-in team Kingsley-Pierson, which proved to be more than just an opponent.
What’s more the Braves, who pledged to a man to grow on defense this season, did just that in the second half.
“We ended the game with a goal line stand to win it,” said Montezuma Coach Pat O’Brien. “There’s no greater feeling than that!”
After spotting the Panthers from northwest Iowa a 30-25 halftime lead, the Braves held them to just eight points in the second half.
And that included NO points in the final 4:51, which is when Kingsley-Pierson got the ball back, trailing by what turned out to be the final score. “Our defense really stepped up and made plays when we needed to,” O’Brien said.
This game came about after the Braves’ scheduled first opponent, Twin Cedars, had to cancel because of COVID, and Siouxland Christian, Kingsley-Pierson’s foe, canceled its season because of low numbers.
The two found each other, then found a neutral playing site after a lot of searching. Four schools decided not to host this game before Gladbrook-Reinbeck said yes. Those other schools cited COVID concerns.
So, with thanks to the host team, Montezuma and Kingsley-Pierson went to war – and that’s exactly what it was at times.
The seventh-ranked Braves started fast, jumping out to a 13-0 lead about midway through the first quarter.
But the Panthers offense clicked for about a quarter and one-half, during which they outscored Montezuma 30-6 to lead by five points at halftime.
Montezuma’s defense roared to life in the second half, led by a team game-high 18 tackles by Cole Watts, including 15 solo stops. He also had a key interception.
Meanwhile, the Braves put up 14 points, and that output was just enough to bring victory.
Braves quarterback Eddie Burgess threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 109 yards and three more touchdowns.
Trey Shearer led Montezuma receivers with 13 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Montezuma complemented its passing numbers with 139 rushing yards and a 5.8 per carry average. Coming in, Braves Coach Pat O’Brien said Kingsley-Pierson could be tough to run against, citing some defensive alignments the Braves haven’t seen in games.
Obviously, the Braves adjusted on the fly in this contest, and have a victory to show for it.
BRAVES NOTES – Montezuma needed about an hour to travel to Gladbrook, which is just 51 miles away. . .then you have the find the correct gravel road to the field. Kingsley-Pierson, meanwhile, made a day of it, getting a look at a lot of derecho-flattened corn. The trip is about three hours, one way, from the school, which is located about 30 miles east of Sioux City. . . . Saturday afternoon was sun-splashed, just hours after a cold front brought about cool change, with highs in the 70s.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts Winfield-Mt. Union for homecoming on Friday, Sept. 4. Badger-Gabriel Field kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
