By KEITH BRAKE
Montezuma Magazine editor
MONTEZUMA – Legendary Iowa football Coach Hayden Fry had a saying, “scratch where it itches” which was, I think, his way of saying do what’s most important at the moment.
In the Braves’ first round playoff win over East Union on Friday, Oct. 24, that was to use their offense to get control of the score in the first half, then their defense to pressure their Class 8 playoff opponent in the second.
The Braves trailed only briefly in their 46-28 win over a team with a very strong passing offense.
The win lifted the versatile Braves to 7-2 on the season and sends them into the second round of the post-season.
Montezuma won for two big reasons: 1) The Braves matched East Union’s formidable offense in terms of yardage; and 2) Montezuma generated some turnovers and was stifling in situations during the second half.
East Union totaled 335 yards of offense. The Braves gained 356 yards.
Braves halfback Broox Stockman scored an early touchdown, then got a two-point conversion to open scoring.
East Union came right back with a sharp scoring drive, but missed an attempt for a two-point conversion. The Eagles missed their first three tries at two-point conversions and that was significant in the flow of the game.
Ironic, too, because it was the Braves who were missing their placekicker and punter, Aidan Chidester, because of an injury. Montezuma also was minus Blake Smith, the Braves’ starting center.
East Union quarterback Braxdyn Tucker was 19-for-26 passing for 195 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and had two throws intercepted. He completed passes to six receivers.
Tucker also rushed 22 times for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Braves quarterback Brady Boulton was seven-for-16 for 148 yards and one touchdown. He rushed 15 times for 98 yards and two scores. But he had help on the ground. Broox Stockman was 20-for-81 and three scores, and Dane Strong ran three times for 29 important yards.
The Braves’ second possession was sparked by two runs totaling 24 yards by fullback Dane Strong, a pass to Luke Brennan, another throw to Strong, then a 25-yard catch and run by Strong for a touchdown. A two-point conversion pass to Rett Pargeon made it 16-6, a three-score lead.
East Union started moving sharply through the air and scored 14 second quarter points to eight for the Braves.
Braves safety Brady Boulton intercepted in the end zone, then recovered a fumble with 9 seconds left in the half to preserve a 24-20 halftime lead.
After intermission, Montezuma defenders took better pursuit angles to East Union ballcarriers and receivers, and held the team to eight second half points.
The Braves spread the wealth on defense, with Pargeon, Wyllie Walters and Strong all reaching double figures in tackles, while Stockman was in with 9.5 stops.
Four Braves caught passes including Luke Brennan (3 for 88 yards), Strong 2 (2 for 39 yards including one for a TD; Stockman and Rett Pargeon.
Rett Pargeon ended one second half drive with an interception, which led to a four-yard Boulton touchdown run. The Braves registered 39 solos out of 69 total tackles.
The Braves stopped another drive on fourth down. That launched a finishing drive that included a big run by Strong, and a short TD scamper by Boulton.That one was a 66-yard drive in five plays, which ended with the Braves holding their 18-point final margin with 1:40 left to play.
Strong’s interception put an exclamation point at the end of what had to be one of Montezuma’s best all-around performances of the season.
East Union closed the books on a 6-3 season then eagerly looked forward to a 221-mile bus ride home.
The Braves move on at the end of the week at 9-0 Audubon.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
East Union 6 14 8 0 – 28
Montezuna 8 8 6 14 – 46