LINDEN — For the second week in a row North Montgomery’s defense played extremely well and led the Chargers to a 31-7 win over visiting Hamilton Heights. Limiting the Huskies to a mere total of 97 yards, the Huskies were never able to threaten the home team after taking a short-lived 7-6 lead in the second quarter.
“The defense is playing pretty well,” Charges coach Josh Thompson said. “Our kids are moving in the right direction.”
The Chargers received the opening kickoff and proceed down the field on a 12-play 61-yard drive that was capped off when senior Zak Searle scored from seven yards out. A missed two-point conversion gave North Montgomery (2-0) the early 6-0 lead.
In the second quarter the Huskie defense got a stop on a fourth-and-one when North quarterback Donavon Haworth gave up a sack. The momentum for Hamilton Heights continued when Huskie quarterback Guy Griffey found receiver Gavin Bramel streaking down the left side of the field for an 82-yard scoring strike. Hamilton Heights led 7-6 with 9:38 left in the second quarter.
North Montgomery was able to bounce back despite giving up the big play. North Montgomery mounted an eight play drive that covered 51 yards that accumulated with Haworth finding Jake Braun for a two-yard scoring pass. A two-point conversion put the Chargers up 14-6 and they never looked back.
Charger coach Josh Thompson liked how his team responded after being burnt on the long pass play.
“We played through some things and I am glad to see this team answered right back after we gave up the long score,” Thompson said. “Our kids are playing hard and improving all the time.”
North was up 22-7 at the half when Donovan found receiver Gabe Laws in the back of the end zone from 25 yards out with no time on the clock.
The Chargers racked up a total of 198 passing yards and 96 rushing yards for a total of 294 yards. Hamilton Heights only mustered a total of minus five yards on the ground and 102 passing yards for a net of 97 yards.
Haworth was 11-of-17 for 179 yards, all in the first half, before leaving the game with an injury with 8:37 remaining in the third quarter.
Searle was the workhorse leading the Charger ground game with 99 yards on 30 carries. He added his second touchdown in the game with a one-yard run with 6:38 remaining in the game.
North Montgomery will travel to Southmont next Friday for a big Sagamore Conference and county game.
N. Montgomery 42, Hamilton Heights 7
Hamilton Heights 0 7 0 0 – 7
N. Montgomery 6 16 2 7 – 31
Scoring by Quarters
1st quarter
NM Searle 7-yd run, conversion failed, 7:45
2nd quarter
HH Bramel 82-yd pass from Griffey, Lecher kick, 9:38
NM Braun 2-yd. pass from Haworth, Searle two-point conversion, 5:11
NM Laws 25-yd. pass from Haworth, Searle two-point conversion, 0:00
3rd quarter
NM safety, 10:56
4th quarter
NM Searle 1-yard run, Bowman kick 6:38
Team Stats HH NM
First Downs 6 25
Rushes-yds 19 (-5) 50-96
Comp-Att-Int 5-23-0 12-21-0
Passing yds 102 198
Total yds 97 294
Fumbles-lost 1-1 5-3
Individual Stats
Rushing:
HH: Ehman 14-18, Griffey 5-(-13)
NM: Haworth 12-(-8), Searle 28-99, Braun 1-4, Galloway 4-5, N. Norman 1-4, D. Norman 4-(-8)
Passing:
HH: Griffey 5-23-102
NM: Haworth 11-17-179
Receiving:
HH: Bramel 2-94, Henson 1-5, Vondrsaar 2-3.
