VICTOR – Montezuma hit HLV/Tri-County with a 50-point first half explosion on the way to a 64-0 win over the Warriors in the eight-man football season opener for both teams on Friday evening, Aug. 23.
The Braves’ defense came through in a big way, turning over the Warriors’ offense and using good sideline-to-sideline speed to limit the home team’s production.
Junior quarterback Brady Boulton rushed 6 times for 133 yards and 3 touchdowns, and completed 6-of-10 passes for 92 yards and another score.
Eight different Braves receivers caught passes, including 6-5 tight end Kohen Holland for a 22-yard touchdown.
Montezuma’s rushing game was a highlight, with seven different players rushing 37 times for 342 yards and 8 touchdowns.
The Braves offensive line showed good leverage and power, driving HLV defenders off the ball, giving Montezuma runners time to execute cutbacks.
Broox Stockman rushed 7 times for 73 yards and 2 scores. Backup quarterback Rett Pargeon had 9 rushes for 62 yards and one score, and fullback Brett Plants barged inside 8 times for 47 yards and one score.
On defense, a bunch of Braves were involved, with Stockman leading Montezuma’s tacklers with 5.5 total stops.
HLV, with a number of freshmen playing key roles last year, appeared much stronger than the team the Braves beat 64-6 last season.
Both teams went three-and-out on their first possessions, then hit a long pass to have first-and-goal on Montezuma’s 7 yard line. A dive play gained two yards, then the Braves intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the threat.
Boulton ran an option, cut at the right moment and took it 65 yards for a touchdown. Rose ran under his pass for two points, and it was 8-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter.
A bit later, Boulton ran 20 yards for a first down, then called his own number again on a cutback over the middle, scoring from 20 yards out to make it 14-0.
HLV’s Cael Weiskopf returned the ensuing kickoff all the way for an apparent score, but a holding call on HLV wiped it out. And, it was pretty much a downhill plunge for the Warriors the rest of the half.
Turnovers plagued HLV during a 36-0 Montezuma second quarter which put the score at 50-0 at halftime, and set up a continuous clock in the second half.
Braves highlights included a blocked punt, which led to the 22-yard Boulton-to-Holland touchdown; a 10-yard Stockman run for a score; Lars Taylor’s touchdown-saving tackle on a kickoff, and Stockman’s stop-and-go moves on a 25-yard touchdown.
Lars Taylor ran under a 35-yard pass for a nice gain during the contest, and Rett Pargeon at quarterback highlighted Montezuma’s second half with a 45-yard scoring run in which the Braves induced the defense to flow one way, while Pargeon cut back the other.
UP NEXT – The Braves are at Southeast Warren on Friday, Aug. 30.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 14 36 6 8 – 64
HLV/Tri-County 0 0 0 0 – 0
Braves passing – Brady Boulton, 6-10 for 92 yards, one touchdown, one interception. Rett Pargeon, 3-3, 37 yards.
Braves receiving – Lars Taylor 1-35, Broox Stockman 1-29, David Rose 1-25, Kohen Holland 1-23, one touchdown; Brett Plants 1-2, Carter Michalek 2-7, Luke Brennan 1-2, Dane Strong 1-0.
Braves rushing – Brady Boulton 6-133, 3 touchdowns; Brook Stockman 7-73, 2 touchdowns; Rett Pargeon 9-62, one touchdown; Brett Plants 8-47, one touchdown; Luke Brennan 1-4; Dane Strong 4-19, one touchdown; Carter Michalek 2-4. Team total – 37-342, 8 touchdowns.
Tackles – Carter Michalek 3.0 with (2) solo; 1.5 tackles for loss (TFL); Brook Stockman 5.5 (3); Dane Strong 4.5 (4); Lars Taylor 4.5 (30; Brett Plants 3.5 (3), 1.0 TFL; Beau Young 2.5 (1); 0.5 TFL; Briar Simpson 2.5 (2), 1.0 sacks, 2.0 TFL; Isaac Wedgewood 2.0 (1), 0.5 sacks, 0.5 TFL; David Rose 2.0, (1); Luke Brennan 2.0 (2); Rett Pargeon 2.0 (2), 2.0 TFL; Braxton Plants 3.0 (2), 0.5 sacks, 0.5 TFL; Easton Hudnut 1.0 (1); Ethan DesRochers 1.0 (1); Blake Smith 1.5 (1); Houston Van Roekel 0.5; Luke Erselius 2.0 (2).
Fumble recoveries – Luke Brennan 1-0, Lars Taylor 1-0.
Interceptions – David Rose 1-7, Luke Erselius 1-3.
Punt returns – Luke Brennan 1-14, Brady Boulton 1-11.