Columbus North quarterback Asher Ratliff scrambles to find an open receiver against Terre Haute South Friday at Columbus North.
Nicholas Shaw | For the Republic
It was an offensive shootout on senior night, and unfortunately for Columbus North, Terre Haute South came up with a couple more stops than the Bull Dogs Friday.
The Class 5 A No. 12 Braves used a punishing running game to overcome a huge night from North senior Asher Ratliff and post a 49-40 Conference Indiana victory to close the regualr season.
“It was a tough night for us defensively,” North coach Logan Haston said. “We knew their offense was explosive and could make a lot of plays, and they did that. They ran the ball well, they made some plays in the passing game when they needed to and their quarterback scrambled well.”
Ratliff accounted for 455 yards of total offense and five touchdowns for the Bull Dogs (4-5, 2-3). He c0mpleted 30 of 42 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns and carried 16 times for 108 yards and two scores to keep North close.
“I feel like we put it all out there,” Ratliff said. “I know all the seniors put everything out there. Before the game, I told coach Haston, put the the ball in my hands, and I’m going to put my head down and get first downs and run hard, put everything on the line, and I think our offense really fed off that energy. He said it’s going to be a senior night to remember, and I think a lot of us are going to remember it. Even though I wish we could have gone out with a win, we showed a lot of heart today.”
“Asher played really well tonight,” Haston said. “He was going to leave it all on the line tonight on senior night, and he did exactly that and guys rallied around him on that side of the ball. I’m proud of our offense, proud of the way we were able to sustain drives and score. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”
Ratliff, who already had North’s single-season passing yards and career touchdown passes records, broke Mike Hladik’s career passing yards and Zac Horn’s single-season touchdown passes records Friday.
“It means a lot,” Ratliff said. “You want to be the best of all time. Growing up watching Columbus North football, watching great Columbus North quarterbacks, it’s awesome to be in a high class like that and to be on top of that. It’s something I can tell my kids one day.”
Trailing 42-27 late in the third quarter, Ratliff scored on a 12-yard keeper, and the Bull Dogs got to within 42-34. Cohen Long then came up with an interception, and the Bull Dogs drove for a score, culminating in a 6-yard run from Sam Perry to cut the lead to two with 7:40 remaining. Ratliff, however, misfired on the two-point conversion pass.
Terre Haute South (7-2, 4-1) then drove for the game-clinching score and extra point, making it a two-score game.
The Braves’ Tyissac Corbin carried 27 times for 176 yards and four touchdowns, and Maddox Woodcock added 11 carries for 118 yards and a score and completed 8 of 10 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.
North played without leading rusher Ezekiel Scruggs and leading receiver Parker Elmore, both of whom sustained knee injuries late in last week’s loss at Bloomington North. Morgan Knapp assumed the leading receiving role and caught 13 passes for 183 yards, but he, too, was injured late in Friday’s game.
“This time of year, everybody is banged up, and we’re hoping that the bye week allows us to get some guys healthy, some much-needed recovery so that we can make a run here in the tournament,” Haston said. “But we’re definitely banged up right now, for sure.”
The Bull Dogs will visit Franklin Central in the sectional semifinals Oct. 31.
Terre Haute South 49, Columbus North 40
TH South;7;21;14;7;—;49
Columbus North;0;20;14;6;—;40
THS—Tyissac Corbin 25 run (Meredith Toomey kick), 6:41.
CN— Asher Ratliff 1 run (Charlie Parsons kick), 11:56.
THS—Corbin 1 run (Toomey kick), 9:26.
CN—Morgan Knapp 8 run (run failed), 7:00.
THS—Corbin 2 run (Toomey kick), 4:27.
THS—Josiah Bennett 3 run (Toomey kick), 1:02.
CN—Knapp 11 pass from Ratliff (kick blocked), :07.
THS—Corbin 28 run (Toomey kick), 10:13.
CN—Knapp 5 pass from Ratliff (Knapp pass from Ratliff), 6:58.
THS—Mayson Lewis 23 pass from Maddox Woodcock (Toomey kick), 3:55.
CN—Ratliff 12 run (Parsons kick), 1:14.
CN—Sam Perry 6 run (pass failed), 7:40.
THS—Woodcock 6 run (Toomey kick), 2:57.
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Terre Haute South: Corbin 27-176, Woodcock 11-118, Lewis 3-20, Chase Maxwell 1-8, Bennett 1-4. Columbus North: Ratliff 16-108, Perry 11-53, Parsons 1-1.
PASSING — Terre Haute South: Woodcock, 8 for 10, 126 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception. Columbus North: Ratliff 30-42-347-3-2.
RECEIVING — Terre Haute South: Lewis 2-50, Samuel Weihert 2-45, Corbin 2-19, Rylan Hoole 1-9, Harrison Wetzel 1-3. Columbus North: Knapp 13-183, Cohen Long 6-60, Jacob Rice 4-37, Parsons 3-32, Perry 1-29, Jerry Likens 1-6.
