INDIANAPOLIS — For the second week in a row, Columbus North dug itself a big hole early and had to make a comeback.
This time, the Bull Dogs finished the job.
North rallied from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to pull out a 35-28 overtime win at Southport in the Conference Indiana opener for both teams.
After the Cardinals (0-1, 0-1) scored a touchdown and 2-pound conversion in the final minute of regulation to tie the game, the Bull Dogs (2-1, 1-0) scored on the first play of overtime on a 10-yard pass from Luke Hammons to Jaxson Scruggs.
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North’s defense then held Southport on four downs to preserve the victory.
The Bull Dogs were victimized by their special teams in the first half. After holding the Cardinals on their second series, North tried to field a punt at its 5-yard line. But the Bull Dogs muffed the punt, and Southport’s Marcus Jones recovered in the end zone.
Later in the first quarter, North drove to the Cardinals 32. But a sack on third down backed the Bull Dogs up to the 38, and Southport’s Turk Faitele blocked a punt, scooped it up at the North 40 and ran untouched to the end zone.
The Bull Dogs finally got on the board late in the first half. A 51-yard flanker pass from Jaxson Scruggs to Keegan Castetter put them at the 7, but the drive stalled, and Carter Ward drilled a 31-yard field goal to make it 14-3.
North outgained the Cardinals 175-57 and allowed only three first downs in the first half.
The Bull Dogs offense began finishing drives in the third quarter. Blake Huffman twice ran 1 yard for a score, the second set up by a 42-yard scramble by Hammons.
Southport answered with a 2-yard from from Faitele. The 2-point conversion failed, and the Cardinals led 20-15.
North regained the lead on a 22-yard keeper by Hammons, but missed the 2-point conversion and led 21-20 with 7:07 remaining. The Bull Dogs defense held, and Huffman ran 28 yards for another score. Ward kicked the extra point for a 28-20 lead with 2:42 left.
But Southport wasn’t done. The Cardinals drove 65 yards and scored on a 15-yard pass from Zach Shepherd to Antonio Fisher with 25 seconds remaining to pull within two. After penalties nullified the first two 2-point conversion attempts, Shepherd hit Zach Riddle in the back of the end zone to tie the game.
Huffman finished with 28 carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Hammons ran 21 times for 130 yards and a score and completed 19 of 30 passes for 139 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
