Asher Ratliff
For Columbus North, Friday night’s 48-24 victory at Terre Haute South was a “special” win in more ways than one.
The Class 6A No. 8 Bull Dogs wrapped up the outright Conference Indiana football championship with a perfect record in the conference. And they did it with a huge night from their special teams.
North got a blocked punt return for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown and two field goals from kicker Luke Friend, and that was essentially the difference in the title-clinching win.
The Bull Dogs (8-1, 5-0) had to rally from a 14-7 first-quarter deficit. After taking the opening kickoff and going 75 yards in 16 plays, capped by a 26-yard pass from Asher Ratliff to Jordan Briner, the Braves (2-6, 2-3) scored back-to-back touchdowns to take its only lead of the night.
North tied it after an 18-yard run by Gino Prescott. After a Macario Mendez interception, Ratliff hit Garrett Long for a 25-yard score and a 21-14 lead.
Friend booted a 39-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to give the Bull Dogs a 24-14 advantage.
Jackson Haston
After the Bull Dogs forced a Terre Haute South three-and-out to begin the second half, Mendez blocked a punt, and Davonte DeGraffenreid returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. The Braves answered with a touchdown, but North’s Jackson Haston returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a score and a 38-21 lead midway through the third quarter.
Terre Haute South got back to within two scores after a field goal before the Bull Dogs drove for the dagger, a 24-yard pass from Ratliff to Braylon Thoman. After a Luke Russell interception, Friend added a 32-yard field goal with 10:17 left in the game to cap the scoring.
North overcame 12 penalties for 108 yards.
Ratliff completed 16 of 26 passes for 199 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception, and carried 10 times for 82 yards. Prescott ran for 95 yards on 21 carries. Briner caught five passes for 64 yards, Long had three catches for 43 yards and Thoman caught three passes for 38 yards.
The Bull Dogs have a bye week next week before hosting Franklin Central in the first round of the sectional on Nov. 1.
