Asher Ratliff
Talk about making a statement.
The Columbus North football team took control of the game offensively and defensively in the first half to absolutely stun Class 5A No. 1 and host Decatur Central 41-15 in the season opener Friday night.
The Bull Dogs went on the ground and through the air on their opening possession. Gino Prescott made a big run to get into Hawks territory. That run would later set up a 26-yard touchdown catch by Braylon Thoman from quarterback Asher Ratliff to make it 7-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, Decatur Central responded right back when Kasmir Hicks ran the kickoff down the sideline and into the end zone to tie up the game at 7-7 with 6:27 left in the first quarter.
Gino Prescott
It was all North from there. A huge pass to Prescott put the Bull Dogs at the 35-yard line. Several plays later, Prescott ran it in for the 12-yard score to make it 13-7 after the point after try was blocked.
Braylon Thoman
On the next possession for North, Thoman caught his second touchdown pass of the night from 42 yards out to increase the lead to 20-7.
On the ensuing possession, the Bull Dogs forced a fumble on the first play of the Hawks’ drive, and it was recovered by North at the 40. Ratliff passed to Jordan Briner for 37 yards, then Prescott capped it off with his second touchdown of the game with a 3-yard run to make it 27-7 with 9:15 left in the first half.
The Bull Dogs defense stood their ground and forced another punt by Decatur Central. On the punt, Koleton Sinnock made the block and North recovered the ball at the 6. All it took was one play when Ratliff found Sam Mormino for the 6-yard strike for a 34-7 lead with 6:33 left in the first half.
In the second half, the scoring got quieter. However, the Hawks added another touchdown late in the third quarter when Braylon Morris made the pass to Hicks for the touchdown. The 2-point coversion was successful to make it 34-15.
North added another touchdown in the fourth quarter with Prescott running it in for his third of the night with 5:23 left in the game.
The Bull Dogs will host Columbus East in the crosstown rivalry game at 7 p.m. Friday. The Olympians fell to Bloomington South 27-6 in their opener on Friday.
