LINDEN — North Montgomery’s football team started strong and carried that start to a 50-0 win over Indianapolis Washington in the first round of the 3A Section 29 tournament.
The win moves the Chargers into a Week 2 matchup at home next Friday against Monon Conference foe Western Boone.
The Chargers scored on their first two possessions, took advantage of Continentals mistakes and cruised to the win, as they move to 4-6 on the season, but most importantly, stay alive in the postseason.
Washington finishes 3-7 overall, having lost their last five games.
North used a strong running attack to put most of their points on the board.
Dakota Glasson paced the ground game with 187 rush yards and four touchdowns. The senior eclipsed 1.000 yards for the season in the first half, giving him back-to-back seasons over 1K.
“Dakota is a good young man,” Chargers coach Josh Thompson said. “He has tremendous feet to make some of the moves he makes, and we are proud of his accomplishments, but he would also be the first to say that if it wasn’t for great blocking by his line and teammates, none of those yards are there. Our offensive line has done a great job blocking for him. That line has really come together this season, and I’m really proud of all of them.”
Glasson capped off the first and second drives of the game with TD runs, scored again in the second and on a 48-yard run on the first play of the second half after North recovered an onside kick.
Braylon Denham scored in the second quarter on a 1-yard run, and Mitchell Myers scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter.
Jackson Leslie finished the scoring with a 52-yard pick-6 in the fourth.
Overall, the Chargers had 240 rush yards and Caden Eller threw for 55. Clayton Brown had three receptions to lead the team.
The Continentals had early penalties and some bad snaps to derail their first few drives, and then just found the hill too high to climb.
They finished with 95 yards rushing and only 15 passing.
Jayden Lane was the offensive star for the visitors, as the freshman finished with 50 rushing yards, and was totally the center of North defensive attention after 40 yards in his first four carries
“We were overly aggressive early on,” Thompson said of the defense. The kids made the adjustments on the field even before the coaches could get to them. They stopped flying through plays. It was great recognition by those guys on the field. They got more focused, and it paid off on both sides of the ball.”
The Chargers head into week 2 facing a familiar foe after playing the Continentals for the first time ever. The Stars are a well-known entity.
“They are always well-coached, always strong on the line and always well-prepared,” Thompson said. “That is why you see them deep in the playoffs regularly. We know what we have to do.”
The Chargers lost in the regular season to the Stars. It was 45-32 WeBo at Dover.
