INDIANAPOLIS — In Friday’s sectional semifinal match, Columbus North was the better team on the football field against Franklin Central, but it was the scoreboard that had the final say.
The Bull Dogs had a couple of bad breaks that proved costly, and their season ended with a 14-11 loss.
“It was a great battle. Hats off to Franklin Central,” North coach Tim Bless said. “It’s always a coach’s least favorite moment in the season when you have to say goodbye to those seniors, and those kids did so much and work so hard for this program. They represented themselves, their families, and Bull Dog football in a great way this season and for four years.”
On North’s opening drive, Giovani Alejandro caught a pass on third down that just ended up just short of a first down. On fourth down, the Bull Dogs (5-5) elected to go for it. Blake Huffman was able to pick up the first down. Later in the drive, the Bull Dogs were faced with another fourth down, but this time, Huffman was unable to convert, and North turned it over on downs.
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On the Flashes’ opening possession, they were faced with a fourth-down situation and were able to convert on an Aataeveon Jordan run to pick up the first down. Eventually, the Bull Dogs were able to force a punt and get the possession back.
North moved the chains effectively on the ensuing possession. Huffman had a big run for a first down. Eventually faced with fourth down, Mitchel Collier made the grab for a first down to extend the drive. Once the drive stalled, the Bull Dogs attempted to get points on the board, but a field goal attempt by Carter Ward was blocked. and Franklin Central (5-5) took over to keep the game scoreless.
On North’s next possession following a punt, the Bull Dogs were faced with a third down. Luke Hammons pass to Huffman was incomplete, but a pass interference was called to put North in Flashes territory. On third down, Luca Hodge read Hammons all the way and intercepted the pass and ran it back for a touchdown to make it 7-0.
On the ensuing possession, the Bull Dogs were faced with a fourth down near midfield. Landon Robbins took the snap off a fake punt and picked up the first down to extend the drive. But North turned the ball over when Ben Massey incercepted a pass to put the Flashes near midfield.
Right before the end of the third quarter, Ward kicked a field goal to make it 7-3.
Early in the fourth quarter on the ensuing possession, Franklin Central faced a fourth down play and converted a 25-yard pass for a touchdown and went ahead 14-3.
The Bull Dogs charged on the next possession, Hammons threw several key passes to Collier for first downs. With first-and-goal at the 3, Hammons ran it in for the score. On the 2-point-conversion, Hammons ran it on the right side to cut the lead to 14-11.
After the North forced the Flashes to punt, Huffman was back to return the ball, but the ball bounced off of him and Franklin Central was able to recover with just over five minutes remaining. The Bull Dogs defense were able to force another punt.
The last gasp for North on the final drive came up just short.
“Love runs deep on this football family, and these kids are in pain right now because they have given so much to each other, and ultimately, we came up short here tonight,” Bless said.
Senior linebacker Landon Robbins reflected on his time with the Bull Dog program.
“Most of these kids I’ve been playing with my whole life,” Robbins said. “The brotherhood that we have together, keeping each other up for the next play and finishing and giving it all out.”
