The Braves are unbeaten district football champions!
That’s simple and direct, but even amidst a crazy 2020 for all of us, no one can take that away from them.
Montezuma cranked harder as the game wore on and wound up with a 62-24 win over Lone Tree to close out the regular season on Friday, Oct. 9, on warm and breezy night at Badger-Gabriel Field.
Lone Tree, blessed with some good athletic talent at the skilled positions, had other ideas, especially early. The Lions went on a 65-yard, five-minute scoring trek to start the game.
“We came out flat,” said Braves Coach Pat O’Brien. “I thought we just didn’t tackle well in the first quarter.”
But fast-forward to the third quarter, when Montezuma hung 33 points on the Lions, including three touchdowns in the first 2:12 of play.
Yeah . . .Vrooom! Very much Vroom!
The win made the Braves 7-0 and excited to learn who they would be taking on in the playoffs this coming Friday, Oct. 16.
The answer is: No one. Montezuma was one of three schools in the 61-team Class 8 field to draw a first round bye.
It’s almost like getting all fired up to play, only to find someone outside locked the dressing room door!
The other two teams in their “pod,” Lone Tree (3-3) and Winfield-Mt. Union (4-3) will play on Oct. 16. The winner takes on Montezuma on Oct. 23.
Montezuma’s offense had another “night.” Quarterback Eddie Burgess passed for five touchdowns and ran for three. His totals: 22-for-27 through the air for 326 yards; 17 rushes for 211 yards and three more touchdowns.
Burgess passed to six receivers. Trey Shearer caught 10 passes for 119 yards and two scores. Cole Watts had seven catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Connor Van Zee had a touchdown catch.
“Offensively, Coach John Beck again did a great job calling the game,” O’Brien said. “He saw what they were doing and worked it toward our strength.”
Burgess threw boundary bubble passes and the deep ball. He ran with the football, or faked the run then fell back and fired.
Lone Tree got some mileage early on rollouts by quarterback Cade Shield. He finished with 12 completions for 158 yards and a score.
But it didn’t take long for the Braves to adjust and start applying pressure.
“We got it turned around toward the end of the first quarter and the start of the second,” O’Brien said.
Montezuma led 12-8 after one quarter and 26-16 at halftime. Then came the 33-point third.
Burgess made a nice cutback run for a score from about 30 yards out, and hooked up with Watts and Shearer for touchdowns.
Watts intercepted a Lone Tree pass – one of four picks by the Braves in the game – then made a great leaping catch for about a 30-yard gain to set up his own short scoring reception from Burgess.
Another interception by the Braves and a lost fumble by Lone Tree kept the visitors from mounting any kind of a charge in the third quarter.
Burgess had a big game defensively, too, leading the Braves with 12.5 tackles, including 4.5 for lost yardage. He also intercepted a pass.
“After we got it turned around, we did a good job of pursuing to the football and playing downhill,” O’Brien said.
“Overall, it was a good win, against a good team.”
And possibly, over one that the Braves could see again on Oct. 23.
OUR THANKS – To Al Rabenold, for texting some details to me while I was watching a live streamed showing of the game.
THANKS SENIORS, TOO – The game was the last regular season football game for Braves seniors Kodie Strong, Cole Watts, Trey Shearer, Joey Kercheval and Brian Diaz.
UP NEXT – The Braves will play Oct. 23 against the winner between Lone Tree and Winfield-Mt. Union.
Stats vs. Lone Tree
Passing – Eddie Burgess 22-27 for 326 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Owen Cook 1-1 for 11 yards.
Rushing – Burgess 17-211 and three touchdowns. Cole Watts 1-16. Connor Van Zee 2-16. Trey Shearer 1-12. Brady Ogaen 2-3, Kodie Strong 1-0.
Receiving – Trey Shearer 10-119 and two touchdowns; Cole Watts 7-146 and two touchdowns. Kodie Strong 2-29. Joey Kercheval 2-22. Masin Shearer 1-11. Connor Van Zee 1-10, one touchdown.
Tackles – Eddie Burgess 12.5 with 4.5 for loss; Connor Van Zee 5.5, Brian Diaz 4.5, Masin Shearer 2.5, Cole Watts 2.5, Brady Ogan 2.5, Trey Shearer 2.0, Owen Cook 1.5, Joey Kercheval 1.5 with 1.0 for loss; Camden Michalek 1.5 with 1.0 for loss; Matt Karadios 1.5 with 1.0 for loss; Tyler Vanderford 1.0.
Interceptions – Cole Watts 1, Owen Cook 1, Trey Shearer 1, Eddie Burgess 1.
Kickoff returns – Cole Watts 1-9, Eddie Burgess 1-0.
Punt returns – Trey Sheaer 1-9.
Kicking – Owen Cook 11 kickoffs for 528 yards and six touchbacks; 1-1 field goals (34 yards); 5-7 on PATs.
