Braves slay Bears, 82-46

NORTH ENGLISH — They say a football game can’t be won or lost by a single play. But if you were in attendance last Friday for Montezuma versus English Valleys, you might be able to fathom that a series of plays can definitely change the outlook of a game.

With just under four minutes left in the first quarter, Montezuma held a 14-8 lead over the home team, and EV was driving to even the score. A pass off the hand of Cole Stephenson was tipped at the line of scrimmage and picked off by the Braves. Soon after, Montezuma quarterback Eddie Burgess connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Trey Shearer, putting the Braves up 20-8. The following sequence ensued: A fumbled kickoff return by EV, recovered by Montezuma, which led to a 30-yard touchdown pass on the next play; an onside kick that was recovered by Montezuma just along the sideline. An 11-yard TD pass followed two plays after; a two-play drive for EV that was capped by a 48-yard Beau Flander touchdown run, drawing the score to 35-14; and then a 45-yard touchdown pass for Montezuma to once again extend the Braves’ lead to 42-14. All of this happened in just two minutes and 31 seconds of game time. The Braves were largely unfazed by whatever the EV defense threw at them, amassing 551 total yards on the evening.

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