On paper, Columbus North football was the underdog heading into its crosstown rival game against Class 6A No. 8 Columbus East.
The Bull Dogs proved those doubters wrong.
North came out aggressive right off the start, and made a lot of big plays when they counted most to upset East 42-31. This is the Bull Dogs’ fourth win in a row over East.
It’s a huge confidence win for North after being routed by Avon in last week’s season opener.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
“I’m sure proud of their resiliency when you think about where we were a week ago,” North coach Tim Bless said. “A lesser character team could have easily folded, especially into a great opponent like Columbus East, this rivalry and the atmosphere on the road. We have a great group of kids led by awesome captains. Our staff did an awesome job this week getting these guys ready.”
The Olympians (1-1) made a serious comeback in the second half and cut it to 35-31 with under two minutes left, but Bull Dogs running back Blake Huffman slammed the door shut with 1:35 left to score an insurance touchdown that gave them breathing room the rest of the game.
“Hats off to those guys after a tough loss last week,” East coach Bob Gaddis said. “They came out, and they got us. Our kids played a little bit better in the second half. We have to execute, and we can’t shoot ourselves in the foot. We’ll go back to work, and we’ll get better.”
After both teams’ opening drives stalled, North made the first punch. With the ball in great field position at the 37-yard line, Blake Huffman ran 20 yards for the first down, and then later in the drive, ran it in from the left side for the 4-yard score, giving the Bull Dogs a 7-0 lead after the extra point was good.
East answered right back on its next drive. Quarterback Cole Gilley made a couple passes for first downs to Malachi Parks and Dalton Back. Gilley then threw it deep, but the pass was intercepted by Hunter Huser. However, a penalty was called on the play, and it negated the interception and kept the drive alive. The Olympians took advantage of the second chance when Gilley made a 25-yard strike to Lance Greiwe for the touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, with the Bull Dogs still leading 7-6.
On East’s next drive after a North three-and-out, Mark McDonald ran the ball on third down and was off to the races for a 69-yard touchdown run to put the Olympians ahead 13-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, Huffman returned the ball 86 yards for a touchdown, and once again, the Bull Dogs were back up in front 14-13 with 11:33 left in the first half.
North kept on charging with three more unanswered touchdowns. Huffman added a 3-yard touchdown, Hunter Huser caught a 68-yard pass from Luke Hammons and Huffman added another touchdown with a 32-yard run. The Bull Dogs led 35-13 with 1:51 left to play in the half.
On the Olympians final drive of the first half, Greiwe caught a 27-yard pass to put them on 6-yard line. Dalton Back then caught a 6-yard touchdown reception from Gilley, but the 2-point conversion failed, and North led 35-19 at the half.
The score stayed that way until the end of the third quarter when a penalty was called on the Bull Dogs that led to an untimed down for the Olympians. They converted when Gilley found Back in the end zone to cut it to 35-25.
East scored again with 6:57 left when Greiwe caught the pass from Gilley to cut it to 35-31. That led to Huffman’s insurance touchdown.
“Everyone is giving Blake props now and deservingly so. What a warrior. He played his tail off tonight,” Bless said.
Huffman ran for 251 yards on 44 carries and had four rushing touchdowns to go along with his kickoff return for a touchdown.
