Columbus East ran its way to coach Bob Gaddis’ 300th career win with three players rushing for more than 100 yards and racking up all eight touchdowns on the ground with just one pass against Bedford North Lawrence.
The Olympians found the end zone on all seven of their drives in the first two quarters and took a 49-point lead before finishing off the 56-14 victory with the starters on the bench for the entire second half.
East will move on to play at Floyd Central in Friday’s sectional final.
Gaddis is one of only nine Indiana coaches to reach 300 career wins.
“I’m really humbled because I’ve been able to coach a game my whole life,” Gaddis said. “I’ve been around so many good coaches and kids. My family has been understanding. It’s great. I’m happy for our football team tonight because we came out and played a great game.”
The Olympians (10-0), who had beaten the Stars (6-4) two weeks ago 48-24, picked up all 534 yards on the ground. Running back Jamon Hogan and quarterback Josh Major took turns setting each other up for scores early in the game.
A 49-yard run by Major set up Hogan to run it in from 18 yards out on East’s first drive. Hogan returned the favor on the next drive with a 63-yard run that allowed Major to score on the following play with a 20-yard run.
“Our offensive line did a really good job for me and Josh to find holes and gain all the yards that we did gain,” Hogan said. ”Me and Josh have always been like that. We’ve played with each other since seventh grade. After I get done taking a long run, I know that he is going to do more of the work and vice versa.”
A blocked punt by Cody Hunter gave the Olympians the ball on the Stars 39-yard-line, and they took advantage with a 3-yard run from Hogan to start the second quarter. East owned the second quarter with five touchdowns.
Hogan scored his third touchdown on a 52-yard run on the first play of the drive before Major scored his second touchdown with a 51-yard run on the first play of the next drive. Jaedin Miller picked up a couple touchdowns on 2- and 8-yard runs.
Hogan and Major accounted for 319 yards and five touchdowns in just two quarters. Hogan rushed for 145 yards, and Majors rushed for 174 yards on eight rushes each.
Lance Greiwe, who had missed the past few games with an injury, took over in the second half and finished with 105 yards and a touchdown. He had the Olympians’ only second-half score on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. Freshman Mark McDonald also got to see the field also with 13 rushes for 50 yards.
“Defensively, we did a great job in the first half,” Gaddis said. “Offensively, special teams, it was a total team victory. If we can stay healthy and keep playing at that level, we have a chance to win a championship next week.”
East beat Floyd Central 55-7 earlier this season.
