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It was a big Northeast Kansas League showdown between a team of speed and a team of size on Friday night but size won in the end as it was the Chargers of Horton coming away with a big 28-0 over Maur Hill Mount Academy on homecoming.
As kickoff rapidly approached the rain finally subsided and after the opening coin toss it was Horton who would receive the opening kick. On the first drive of the game for the Chargers they used a heavy dosage of the run game but couldn't get anything going and the Raven defense was able to force a three and out.
The Ravens would then take over on their first possession of the ballgame and it was David Olberding running the show for Maur Hill Mount Academy with normal starting quarterback Josh Caudle out with a shoulder injury. On the drive Maur Hill Mount Academy tried to use their speed with rushes to the outside but the Charger defense was having none of it and quickly forced a Raven punt. This is where the first big play of the game would take place as Horton's Christian White broke through the line and blocked the punt setting up the Charger offense at the Maur Hill Mount Academy 23 yard line.
After taking over with good field position, Horton then needed just two plays to find the endzone and collect the first points of the ballgame. The touchdown came on an 8 yard run by quarterback Derrick Stone but the Ravens were able to block the extra point attempt leaving us with a 6-0 score at the end of one quarter.
The second drive for Maur Hill Mount Academy was just like the first trying to use their speed with runs to the outside but just like their first possession they weren't able to get anything going turning it over on downs and once again giving the Chargers great field position.
Once again it was just quick and easy runs by the Charger offense as they quickly moved the ball down the field and inside of the 10 yard line. On first down and goal Stone handed it off to his runningback Derek Richarson who powered his way forward into the endzone from 6 yards out to give Horton a two score lead early in the second quarter.
After each team traded possessions on good defensive play by each side the next big play would come from Maur Hill Mount Academy as Chance Montgomery fielded a punt and took it 26 yards and well into Charger territory all the way down the 20 yard line. It was the best field position the Ravens had all evening but on three straight pass plays the Horton secondary was able to defend each pass well and set a up a crucial fourth down play that would completely change the ballgame. On the fourth down play Olberding was looking for Nick Caudle over the middle in the endzone and it initally looked like Caudle came up with a fantastic catch but the referees quickly waved it off so it was a turnover on downs for Maur Hill Mount Academy. That wasn't the only moral crushing part of that play as on the play Olberding was taken down and would have to be helped off the field and it would be last we would see of the junior on the evening putting the Ravens who were already using a backup quarterback to their third string for the rest of the ballgame.
After the series of unfortunate events for the Ravens the Chargers would then take over and go to the air with just four minutes left in the half. They used a balanced run and pass to quickly move the ball down the field and inside the Maur Hill 20 yard line with just under two minutes to go in the half. On the next play from the 15 yard line Stone dropped back to pass and threw the ball over the middle and a Raven defender jumped in front but the ball sailed through his hands and right into the hands of Cameron Smith for the 15 yard score with just a minute left in the half. Richardson would punch in the two point conversion and Maur Hill Mount Academy would run off the rest of the first half time to give Horton a 22-0 lead going into the break.
Coming out of halftime the Ravens had to figure out who would now run the offense and decided to go with more of a runner in Nick Caudle but the Sophomore just wasn't able to get the offense rolling as the Charger defense proved to be too big stopping any type of run game that the Ravens had. Maur Hill Mount Academy eventually went to junior Taylor Knowles at the quarterback spot but two interceptions by Spencer DeLosSantos would end any hope that the Ravens had.
The Chargers were able to punch it into the endzone once more on the evening coming on a 22 yard pass play from Stone to Trey Dishon which proved to be more than enough as Horton rolled to a big 28-0 win.
In the win for the Chargers, junior Derek Richardson rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown while senior Derrick Stone finished the evening 5 for 11 passing and two touchdowns through the air. With the win, Horton continues their undefeated season moving to 5-0 and because of an Oskaloosa loss, the Chargers are the champions of the Northeast Kansas League in 2014. Now the Chargers will turn their focus to a district title with that journey beginning next week on the road at Hiawatha.
For Maur Hill Mount Academy going forward they will need some of the younger guys to step up until they can get one of the quarterbacks healthy again and back in the lineup. The Ravens also head into district play next week for a big rivalry game with ACCHS on the road and that ballgame can be heard on KAIR 93.7 FM.
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