Montezuma’s football team was the apex predator in a battle against Southeast Warren on a torrid, muggy taste of global warming on Friday evening, Aug. 25.
The Braves built a 33-6 halftime lead, then survived a third quarter rally by the Warhawks, and scored a 47-28 win in a non-district game.
Southeast Warren had been rated as high as fifth in one pre-season poll of Class 8 teams.
The Warhawks had a weapon, for sure, in Trey Fisher, a 6-1, 180 pound running back who blended speed with patience and power.
Fisher scored three touchdowns, including two in the first half. Southeast Warren also developed a quarterback during the game who will help them become formidable as the season rolls along.
But Montezuma had more weapons.
Sophomore quarterback Brady Boulton was in on six touchdowns – three by throwing and three by rushing.
His touchdown passes carried 45 yards to senior wide receiver Garrett Watts, 23 yards to senior tight end/slot receiver Cruz De Jong, and 18 yards to senior tight end Alex Black.
Boulton’s first rushing touchdown, a 67-yard piece of work where he cut back at just the right moment, may have been the game-breaker. It resulted in a 27-6 Montezuma led with 8:46 left in the first half.
Boulton ran for two more scores after intermission, and running back Broox Stockman had a running touchdown in the first half.
Boulton and Stockman ran a little more often than they might have, because fullback/linebacker Brett Plants was not available for this game.
Other Braves stepped up in big way in this one, with Rett Pargeon and Breck Simpson getting some additional reps at linebacker.
Southeast Warren scored a touchdown in the third quarter, recovered an onside kick immediately after, and scored again. But, the Warhawks were able to cut just eight points off the Braves’ 27-point halftime lead during the third quarter.
The fourth quarter settled into a slow-moving war of attrition, with athletes on both side slogging through the heat and humidity and suffering painful cramping.
The game was just six minutes shy of requiring three hours to complete.
Montezuma is 2-0, and opens district play next week at Moravia.
The game was the opener for Southeast Warren, which scrimmaged against Waterloo Christian last week.
COME BACK later in the weekend, as we’ll be adding photos, more detail and quotes to our coverage.
UP NEXT – The 2-0 Braves open district play at Moravia (1-1) on Friday. The Mohawks were mowed down, 63-20. by a strong Bedford team on Friday.