TERRE HAUTE — An opportunistic Columbus North defense paved the way to its first Conference Indiana win Friday night.
The Bull Dogs turned two interceptions in Terre Haute North territory into 14 points, and the Columbus North defense held the Patriots out of the end zone in a 21-3 victory.
Those factors helped the Bull Dogs overcome three fumbles themselves deep in Terre Haute North territory. After turning the ball over on downs at the Patriot 34 on its first possession, Columbus North fumbled at the Terre Haute North 40 and 11 on its next two possessions.
The Bull Dogs then got an interception from Hunter Huser at the Patriot 35 on the first play of the second quarter. Six plays later, Royce Lofton went in from the 3, and Spencer Rivera kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
After Terre Haute North went three-and-out, Columbus North took over at its own 30. They looked to be facing a fourth-and-4 from near midfield, but the Patriots were whistled for a personal foul, giving the Bull Dogs a first down. Eight plays later, Blake Huffman went in from the 1, and Columbus North led 14-0 with 2:46 left in the first half.
Terre Haute North, which did not have a first down to that point, moved running back Jace Russell to quarterback, and that gave the Patriots a spark. they drove to the Bull Dog 12 before Jackson Guptill converted a 30-yard field goal with 9 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 14-3.
On Terre Haute North’s first possession of the second half, Columbus North had the Patriots backed into a third-and-12 at their own 18. Two players sandwiched the quarterback as he was attempting to throw. The ball went up in the air, and Rashan Wells intercepted at the 11 and returned it to the 6. Following an illegal procedure penalty, the Bull Dogs needed four plays to go the 11 yards, with Lofton punching it in from the 2.
Columbus North drove deep in Terre Haute North territory twice in the fourth quarter, but missed a 31-yard field goal and fumbled at the 14.
Tight end Mitchel Collier caught six passes for 99 yards to lead the Bull Dog offense. The defense limited the Patriots to four first downs.
