Braves rebound from loss with 80-8 stomping of Moravia

      Montezuma's Broox Stockman goes yards during the home game against Moravia on Friday, Sept. 6. Stockman finished the game with 90-yards on 7 carries. Montezuma won the game, 80-8.

by Ryan Stonebraker

       MONTEZUMA - The Montezuma Brave football team improved to 2-1 and rebounded from their first loss of the season in week 2, with an 80-8 dominating performance over Moravia on Friday, Sept. 6. The game was the first at home this season and the Braves put on quite a show for the home crowd.
        “It was good to be home.  It will be nice to be home this week,” said Montezuma football coach Jon Beck.
       “We responded to some adversity.  We had some kids out of the normal lineup. We had some guys we had to call upon to play more.  They did a nice job and that was good to see,” said Beck.
       Montezuma led 26-8 after the first quarter of the game.  The Braves took command of the game in the middle two quarters.  There, the Braves scored 46 of their points with 20 in the second quarter to take a 46-8 halftime lead, and they added 26 third-quarter points to take a 72-8 lead to the final quarter. Montezuma scored the only points in the game in the fourth quarter to get the score to its final of 80-8.
​       The Braves had 473 yards of total offense with 243 yards passing and 230 rushing yards. Brady Boulton passed for 243 yards on 11-for-16 attempts with four touchdown passes.  Boulton also rushed for 70 yards on four carries and a touchdown.  Dane Strong and Rett Pargeon each had a rushing touchdown in the game.   led Montezuma receivers with five catch in, 69-yard game.
     David Rose added four receptions for 149 yards and a pair of scores. Broox Stockman also had a touchdown reception.  
      Defensively, Montezuma was led in tackles by Lars Taylor with 8 and Broox Stockman with 7.5 tackles.  Braxton Plants had 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.  The Braves scored on a 21-yard Luke Brennan fumble recovery in the game.  The Braves also scored a touchdown on special teams on a Broox Stockman 68-yard kick-off return.
       Moravia quarterback Kale Moore passed for 97 yards on 7-of-12 attempts. He also rushed for 15 yards on 14 carries.  Jesse Myhr rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown to lead the Mohawks. Declan DeJong led Moravia in receiving with four receptions for 65 yards.  Defensively, Moravia was led in tackles by Jesse Myhr with 3.5.
       Montezuma will host Melcher-Dallas this week.  The Saints are 1-2 with their only win over Mormon Trail, 62-6.  The two Saints losses are to Belle Plaine 86-12 and to Murray 74-26.  Montezuma beat the Saints 67-20 last year and have won three straight games.  In those games, they have scored at least 59 points in each.
       The Saints have used three quarterbacks this year with the best stats coming from senior Brody Johnson.  Johnson has passed for 280 yards on 17-of-35 attempts with five touchdown passes. Junior CJ Smith is their top rusher with 209 yards on 23 carries with three touchdowns. The Saint's top receivers are senior Ryan Heaton (7-131-3 TD’s), and Smith (6-58-0TD’s).  Defensively, the Saints top tackles is No. 43 Ryan Heaton with 22.  Heaton also has two of the three Saints team interceptions, which he returned for a touchdown. Heaton also has scored on a fumble recovery.  The Braves will have to watch out for the special team return game for the Saints as C.J. Smith had eight kick-off returns for 242 yards with three return touchdowns.