Asher Ratliff
Columbus North got back on the winning track Friday night at Terre Haute North.
The Bull Dogs scored on five of their first six possessions offensively, forced a couple of turnovers on defense and blocked a punt on special teams. That was all in the first half, and they went on to rout the Patriots in a 42-0 Conference Indiana shutout, snapping a two-game losing streak.
The win by Columbus North (4-2, 2-0) sets up next week’s showdown with Bloomington South. Terre Haute North (0-6, 0-4) still is looking for its first win of the season.
Parker Elmore
Bull Dogs quarterback Asher Ratliff tied his own school record with six touchdown passes, five of which came in the first half. Two of the first-half scores went to wide receiver Cohen Long, another two to tight end Parker Elmore and the other to tight end Jerry Likens.
On defense, Columbus North got an interception from Keaton Russell. Macario Mendez had a blocked punt on special teams.
The first Bull Dog touchdown came when Ratliff found Long for a 6-yard score to make it 7-0 following the extra point after from Cole Stevens. Elmore was the recipient of the next Ratliff pass from 4 yards out to go ahead 14-0 with 2:02 left in the first quarter.
Likens caught the next touchdown pass from 10-yards out to lead 21-0 with 10:38 left in the second quarter. Elmore had a 15-yard touchdown reception with 6:34 left in the first half. Long caught the fifth and final touchdown pass of the first half with a wide-open 33-yard reception make it 35-0 and trigger a running clock in the second half.
Columbus North added another touchdown with 6:49 left in the third quarter when Elmore caught his third touchdown pass of the night from Ratliff.
Elmore finished with six catches for 101 yards. Ezekiel Scruggs ran for 91 yards on 10 carries.
The Bull Dogs will host Bloomington South (6-0, 4-0) at 7 p.m. Friday in a huge Conference Indiana game that will decide the conference title.
