Great Falls 59, North Central 0

By Irvin Goodwin

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GREAT FALLS — The real season started Friday night for the Red Devils, who overwhelmed North Central, 59-0, in the Region 3-A opener for both schools. The bumps and bruises of a rugged non-region schedule evidently paid dividends for the Red Devils, who racked up 372 total yards while limiting the Knights to only 104 and six first downs.

Quarterback Gaither Bumgardner ran for a score and threw for two more to pace a balanced Great Falls attack.

Bumgardner completed seven of 11 passes for 115 yards, including two that fell into the hands of tight end Terrell Hutchinson for 58 yards.

Talk about Great Falls' game

Great Falls exploded early, putting up 19 first-quarter points. Bumgardner ran 8 yards for the first score, and Terrance Jeter fielded a punt and raced 55 yards for the second touchdown. Bumgardner connected with Hutchinson with a 39-yard pass to the 11-yard line, and then tossed a 1-yard touchdown strike to Torrey Craig.

Leading 19-0, Great Falls continued to dominate as North Central did not pick up its initial first down until late in the second quarter.

Red Devil coach Ken Schofield reflected on the importance of winning the region opener.

“This is a win, and it puts us in position to stay in the (region) race,” Schofield said. “Last week, we lost big on the scoreboard (48-7 loss to Chester), but played well and physical. That gave us confidence and carried on over into the region.”

GREAT FALLS 59, NORTH CENTRAL 0

North Central.....0.....0.....0.....0.....—.....0

Great Falls.....19.....7.....19.....14.....—.....59

SCORING SUMMARY

GF — Gaither Bumgardner 8-yard run (kick failed)

GF — Terrance Jeter 55-yard punt return (kick blocked)

GF — Torrey Craig 1-yard pass from Bumgardner (Bumgardner kick)

GF — Keitron Johnson 43-yard pass from Shaquille Lamar (Bumgardner kick)

GF — Johnson 10-yard run (kick failed)

GF — Craig 35-yard pass from Bumgardner (Bumgardner kick)

GF — Josh Lynn 48-yard return from blocked punt (kick failed)

GF — D.J. McCullough 4-yard run (Bumgardner kick)

GF — Walter Lamar 36-yard run (Bumgardner kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....NCHS.....GFHS

First downs.....6.....14

Rushes-yards.....36-92.....28-195

Comp-Att-Int .....2-7-0.....7-11-0

Passing yards.....12.....177

Fumbles-lost.....2-2.....3-1

Penalties-yards.....5-47.....4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — North Central: George Brown 12-72, Craig McClinton 8-42, Coty Putrel 3-(-24), Tevin Alexander 9-4, Bryant McCathern 2-(-10), Allen Estrades 2-8. Great Falls: Gaither Bumgardner 3-30, A.J. Squirewell 4-25, Zack Barber 3-5, Terrance Jeter 2-20, Shaquille Lamar 2-(-10), D.J. McCullough 3-22, Walter Lamar 5-74, Keitron Johnson 2-14, Stevo Squirewell 2-10, Kwame Foster 1-5, Isaiah Lynn 1-0.

PASSING — North Central: Coty Putrel 2-7-0-12. Great Falls: Gaither Bumgardner 5-9-0-115, Shaquille Lamar 2-2-0-62.

RECEIVING — North Central: Tevin Alexander 2-12. Great Falls: Terrell Hutchinson 2-58, Torrey Craig 3-60, Keitron Johnson 1-43, A.J. Squirewell 1-16.

RECORDS — North Central 1-4, 0-1 Region 3-A; Great Falls 3-2, 1-0.