North Montgomery QB Clayton Dale had a night that kids dream about. Photos by Ryan Maners | Rusted Roof Photography
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By Ryan Maners
Rusted Roof Photography

THORNTOWN – Any thoughts of the Sagamore Conference becoming the sole domain of Class 3A seventh-ranked Western Boone were put to rest early Sept. 25 as defending league champion North Montgomery rolled up a 41-14 victory.

Quarterback Clayton Dale completed 10 of his 11 passes for 246 yards and five first-half touchdowns for the visiting 3A No. 10 Chargers (5-1 overall, 3-1 in league play), who went 7-0 in the league last year but were coming off a 37-29 upset last week at Lebanon. North Montgomery benefited heavily from turnovers as the Chargers turned four first-half WeBo boo-boos into three TDs.

Faced with a shocking 41-0 deficit at the half, Western Boone (5-1, 3-1) scored the only two touchdowns of the second half to avoid the shutout. The Chargers and Stars are now half of a four-way tie along with Lebanon and Southmont for first place in the Sagamore. 

Next up for North Montgomery is an Oct. 2 home game against Sagamore foe Danville (5-1, 1-3), a 35-7 Week 6 loser against Frankfort. Western Boone will stay home next Friday to face league foe Tri-West Hendricks (2-4, 1-3), a 21-14 Week 6 winner vs. Crawfordsville.

North Montgomery 13 28 0 0 – 41
Western Boone 0 0 7 7 – 14

North Montgomery – Austin Krutzsch 1 run (Blaine McClain kick)
North Montgomery – Clay Birdsong 44 pass from Clayton Dale (kick failed)

North Montgomery – Colin Maltsberger 14 pass from Dale (McClain kick)
North Montgomery – Ricky Langford 28 pass from Dale (McClain kick)
North Montgomery – Elijah Webster 20 pass from Dale (McClain kick)
North Montgomery – Ricky Langford 52 pass from Dale (McClain kick)

WeBo – Josh DeBard 4 run (Thomas Garrity kick)

WeBo – Levi Remley 45 pass from Tyler Aguirre (Garrity kick)

NM WB
First Downs 18 18
Rushes-Yards 39-139 40-143
Passing Yards 246 118
Comp-Att-Int 10-11-0 9-21-2
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 2-33 4-30

Rushing
North Montgomery: Krutzsch 9-64, Birdsong 15-56, Dale 6-9, Nathan O'Neil 2-5, Ethan Myers 1-1, Issac Myers 2-0, Bryce McCoy 2-[-3], Ricky Langford 1-[-4], Colton Bane 3-[-5]
Western Boone: Jared Knox 23-82, DeBard 11-39, Aguirre 2-16, Austin Hildbrandt 3-6

Passing
North Montgomery: Dale 10-11-0 246
Western Boone: Garrity 9-21-2 118

Receiving
North Montgomery: Langford 2-80, Webster 3-65, Birdsong 2-37, Krutzsch 1-35, Maltsberger 1-16, Dominic Wiltermood 1-13
Western Boone: Levi Remley 3-54, Joe Burns 3-43, DeBard 1-18, Jared Knox 1-6, Ryan Knox 1-[-3]