Cooper Horn
INDIANAPOLIS — The debut for new Columbus North football head coach Logan Haston wasn’t the ending that he quite wanted.
After the Bull Dogs trailed by double digits at the half, their second half comeback was almost complete but came up short late in the fourth quarter to fall to Class 5A No. 2 Decatur Central 26-12.
The Hawks went heavy on the run on their opening possession, but the drive stalled. On the second drive of the game, they added more balanced attack. They completed a big pass for 22 yards to get across midfield and then a 27-yard completion to get it around the 5-yard line. Aycen Stevens ran it in for the 1-yard score to go ahead 7-0 with 3:43 left in the opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Decatur Central kept running the ball, and eventually took it all the way down to the 1-yard line where Stevens punched it in for his second score of the game to make it 14-0 with 7:11 left in the half.
The Bull Dogs didn’t get any offensive rhythm going until late in the second quarter. They picked up a first down, its first of the game with around 2:30 left. The biggest play of the drive came from a 39-yard pass from Zac Horn to Damon Edwards to put the ball at the 5-yard line. The Hawks then made a goal line stand in the final minute of the half. The Bull Dogs settled for a Osian Guest 21-yard field goal to make it 14-3 at the half.
On North’s opening drive of the second half, the passing game got going. Edwards made a 25-yard catch to put the ball in Hawks’ territory. The drive stalled to bring up a fourth down following an intentional grounding penalty. Zac Horn then make a great pass to Cooper Horn on the right side for a 39-yard touchdown reception. The kick from Guest was good, but a penalty on Decatur Central gave North coach Logan Haston to go for the two-point conversion. The play was broken up from the snap and the try failed, but the Bull Dogs trailed only 14-9 midway through the third quarter.
After a three-and-out by the Hawks, North got the running game going when Tyler Blythe ran for 49 yards all the way to the 14-yard line. The drive then stalled, and the Bull Dogs had to settle for a Guest field goal to cut it to 14-12.
North had a chance to take the lead for the first time, but got stuffed at the goal line on fourth down by the Decatur Central defense with 6:55 left in the game. On the ensuing possession, a big passing play from the Hawks for an 85-yard touchdown touchdown eventually sealed the game with 5:19 left.
Decatur Central added a pick six with 1:25 left as the Bull Dogs were driving to drive down the field for a potential game-tying drive.
