North Montgomery football has been right around the .500 mark the four seasons. A season ago the Chargers went 5-5 and held their opponents to just 18.9 points per game as their defense once again proved to be their calling card. Offensively they averaged 22.6 points a year ago and coming into the 2023 season the Chargers have high hopes and high expectations of being more than just a .500 team.
This season the Chargers will rely heavily on a talented senior class that features returning quarterback Ross Dyson, running backs Austin Sulc, Noah Hopkins, and wide receivers Roman Utterback and Jarrod KirschThrow in junior Kelby Harwood also at wide-out and the Chargers look like a formiddable bunch.
“Our core group of guys I’d say had a very good summer and spent a lot time and effort and just getting better,” North Montgomery coach Josh Thompson said. “I’ve noticed a difference the first few weeks of practice here and now it comes down to us just preparing for each of our opponents. Like we always tell the kids the goal is to keep getting better each and every week throughout the season.”
A season ago Dyson showed his dual threat ability by throwing for 889 yards and eight touchdowns while also rushing for 491 yards on the ground with two more scores. Sulc rushed for 505 yards and seven touchdowns. Sulc was also the Chargers leading tackler a year ago with 83 total tackles and five sacks.
Last year the Chargers were able to move the ball effectively for the most part, it was just a consistency of finishing in the end-zone that plagued them in their losses.
“I expect us to be much better on that side of the ball with the experience that we have out there,” Thompson said of his offense. “It comes down to our guys being able to understand our gameplan and what we’re trying to accomplish against each opponent. Having that senior leadership usually makes things a lot easier and that’s what we’re blessed with.”
Some key games on the Chargers schedule include Sep. 1 in what is always a fun county matchup against Southmont when the Chargers welcome the Mounties. Sep. 22 North Montgomery will make the trip to Crawfordsville. Other home games of note include Sep. 15 against Western Boone, Sep. 29 vs Tri-West and the final game of the regular season on Oct. 13 against Danville.
The Chargers will open up the 2023 season on Friday when they host the North Putnam Cougars.
