In terms of the Conference Indiana football race, it definitely is not a Brave new world.
Columbus North destroyed last year’s conference co-champion, the Terre Haute South Braves, in every facet of the game Friday, posting a 59-13 Homecoming victory.
The Bull Dogs, 4-1 overall, 3-0 Conference Indiana, stamped themselves a championship contender in the overwhelming win.
North’s superiority was such that the game was decided before the first quarter was finished. Although the Bull Dogs’ lead was only 17-0 at that point, it was obvious that Terre Haute South could not move the ball with any consistency against the North defense.
Meanwhile, the Braves couldn’t handle North’s abundance of offensive threats. North tailback Mitchell Burton had 21 carries for 147 yards with 122 coming in the first half. Burton had four touchdowns and could have had much more if needed.
Wide receiver Alex Algee caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Triston Perry for North’s first touchdown of the game, and Perry added a 39-yard touchdown run.
Terre Haute South had just one positive moment when the game had yet to be decided, and that was Justin Jenkins’ 52-yard run on a fake punt after the Braves’ first series stalled. Although Terre Haute North had a first down at North’s 17-yard line, they managed just two more yards on four plays before turning it over on downs.
Columbus North then took four plays to score, Algee breaking free on a slant pass over the middle for the 66-yard strike.
The game began to get out of hand on the next series when North safety Mitchell Kelley stripped tailback Ty’Re Hutchins and defensive end Drew Schoeberl recovered at the Braves’ 48. Although North didn’t punch it in, Mark Salle-Tabor connected on a 33-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
On Terre Haute South’s next series, quarterback Evan Steppe dropped back to pass and was crushed by blitzing Cortez Bandy, the throw going wayward to North linebacker Sean Dasovich. Dasovich intercepted the ball and ran 29 yards for the touchdown. It was 17-0.
It was North sophomore J.D. Harris’ turn to snap an interception on the next series, but the Bull Dogs didn’t turn that one into points.
It didn’t matter as Terre Haute’s Alberto Piloni fumbled a handoff and Schoeberl recovered his second fumble of the game. North marched 59 yards in eight plays, with Burton scoring from a yard out to make it 24-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, Salle-Tabor pooched a kick that the Braves didn’t cover. North’s Bryce Ables covered at the 19. Burton handled that distance in one play.
Bandy added a four-yard touchdown run late in the half to give North a 38-6 lead at intermission.
Perry’s 39-yard run on the first drive of the third quarter upped the lead to 45-6. Burton added his fourth touchdown of the game on a 19-yard run following a fumble recovery by Tanner Payne.
Wesley Barkes completed the North scoring with a 42-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
