SPRINGVILLE – Frustration. Perserverance. .
And finally. . . victory!
The Montezuma Braves experienced those feelings and more, in pulling out a 28-27 victory over new district opponent Springville on Friday evening, Aug. 29, in their season-opening Class 8 football game.
Quarterback Brady Boulton’s 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Luke Brennan with 1:22 left to play provided the winning points.
Shortly after the play began, an Oriole player grabbed Boulton’s facemask, but Boulton broke free as a number of other players froze as they anticipated the foul call. But that didn’t include Brennan, who backed away from his defender and stepped into the end zone to grab Boulton’s lob for the score.
That touchdown pass was about the only thing that was easy for either team.
This game was delayed about 90 minutes about half way through the first quarter by a torrential rainstorm.
Springville, a physcical, run-oriented team, had barged down the field to take a 6-0 lead with 6:34 left in the first period.
The Braves, who lean more toward passing behind all-state quarterback Boulton, had trouble defending the Orioles, who have a
pair of big linemen to run behind.
And, Boulton had some problems with interceptions and some balls that sailed off his hand toward open receivers.
Boulton ran two yards for a touchdown to tie the scored at 6-6 with 3:11 left in the first period. Boulton then thew for two points, and Braxton Plants made a diving catch in the back of the end zone.
Boulton slipped two tackles on a rollout, then threw 24 yards to Stockman, who then ran a two-point conversion, and it was 16-6 for the Braves just over a minute into the second quarter.
Luke Lansing ran 40 yards for an Oriole score with 8:43 left in the first half, and Springville’s PAT kick cut Montezuma’s lead to 16-13.
With the wet field getting chopped up now, both teams tore it up even more by pounding it with running plays. Ten straight inside runs by Springville moved the ball from its own 20 down to the Braves’ eight.
Then, Springville scored from the 8 on a well-thrown fade. The PAT kick made it 20-16 Orioles, which held the final 22 seconds unil halftime.
Boulton threw an interception, then Springville rushed it 7 straight times, until throwing left into soft coverage for an easy score. The PAT put the Orioles up 27-22 with 1:57 left in the third.
The teams traded rushing drives, Springville intercepted another pass, then, moments after he was intercepted again, Boulton threw his game-winner.
Meanwhile, Stockman, a linebacker on defense, showed his considerable defensive range by gumming up the Springville ground game by putting himself in the middle of it with hustle and physicality. He had 11.5 tackles, 6 of them solo, and 0.5 tackles for loss. Lineman Braxton Plants had 10.5 tackles, 6 of his were solo, and 0.5 tackles for loss.
Stockman also carried for 90 of the toughest yards he has ever run for, on 17 carries.
UP NEXT – The Braves travel down to Wayne of Corydon on Friday at 7 p.m..