While it may have taken North Montgomery football a quarter to find their footing last Friday, once they did it was all Chargers as they rolled over North Putnam 36-7 for a season-opening win. North Montgomery’s defense shined forcing seven Cougar turnovers and now the Chargers will prepare to take on Hamilton Heights in their home opener.
“We made some mistakes last week that we’re trying to correct in practice this week,” Chargers coach Josh Thompson said. “Always with a new opponent there’s going to have be some new adjustments that you’re going to have to make so our kids have been working real hard and are putting the time and effort in. Now it’s about making about everything sured up for Friday night.”
Offensively the Chargers tallied 318 total yards against the Cougars a week ago and it was a very balanced attack as North Montgomery ran for 166 yards and threw for 152. Austin Sulc provided a bulk of the yardage on the ground with 100 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Senior wide out Lucas Lighty only had two receptions but they went for 90 total yards including a 59 yard touchdown.
Hamilton Heights is also coming off a pretty convincing 34-7 over Lapel a week ago. Junior signal caller Bodie Derrer completed six of his 10 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns while Owen Vanhaaren rushed for 88 yards on 20 carries. Sophomore receiver Tyler Champion, like Lighty for the Chargers only caught a couple of passes but they went for a lot of yards as the sophomore hauled in three catches for 127 yards and two scores.
“Hamilton Heights has some really good size on their lines,” Thompson said of the upcoming opponent. “We’re going to have to be physical and aggressive up front. Defensively they’re going to load the box inside. We’re going to have to take what they give us. I think the game for us will come down to simply just execution. If we do that we’ll be fine and I think we’ll be able to move the ball.”
It’ll be the home opener for the Chargers as they play in front of their home fans for the first time in 2022. It will also be their senior night. Thompson is hoping for a large crowd and hopes his team will send them home happy.
“I’m excited and most of all our kids our excited to play at home,” Thompson said. “We’re going to recognize our seniors before the game. Hopefully we’ll have a lot of people out here to cheer these guys on and the goal is come out and play well for them.”
The Chargers and Huskies will kick it off at North Montgomery this evening at 7 p.m.
