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Bellmont looked to find momentum in the final regular season game ahead of what they perceived to be a decent draw in the IHSAA sectional against Garrett next week, but the East Noble Knights had no mercy on their conference mates and rumbled to a 70-7 win to finish the 2023 regular season at 7-2.
The highlight of the night came when Bellmont’s Cristian Hatch stepped in front of a pass by EN’s Zander Brazel and outran everyone for a 69-yard pick six to put the Braves on the board at 42-6.
Bellmont won the toss and elected to receive the ball to start the game, but the East Noble defense was simply too strong for the Braves to find any momentum.
The visitors’ first drive ended in a fumble and East Noble immediately went to work, with Brazel connecting with Reese Rouch down the middle for a diving catch. Tyson Reinbold put the Knights up 7-0 with a one-yard run to the left side.
Brazel picked out tight end Alex Brennan in the middle of the secondary for a score on the next home drive and they quickly got the ball back again when Bellmont botched the snap on a punt, giving EN the ball in the red zone to start the next drive. Michael Mosley scored from 15 yards out on the next play.
East Noble made it 28-0 with a two-yard pass from Brazel to Connor Leins and a minute later it was 35-0 after a shovel pass from Brazel to Brennan on a 12-yard score.
The Braves fumbled the ensuing kickoff but recovered the ball at the last moment. They made little progress as quarterback Will Franze attempted to open up the offense by involving the passing game but the team was forced to punt.
Brazel once again had little trouble finding an open man deep down the middle of the field, hitting Keegan Corbin for a wide-open 35-yard score.
East Noble responded immediately after Hatch’s score with an apparent touchdown from Brazel, but the play was called back on a penalty. On the very next play, the QB found Mason Treesh in plenty of space for a 45-yard touchdown.
The half ended with an interception by Gavin Krull on a deep pass by Brazel.
In the second half, Dallas Plattner rattled off a 73-yard run on the very first play of the third quarter.
The East Noble defense capitalized on the next fourth down play for Bellmont when the Braves botched the snap on a punt. On the very next play for the Knights, Alex Phillips took it in for the score down the left side.
Sophomore Andrew Oakes scored East Noble’s final touchdown on a seven-yard run.
Bellmont will play at Garrett in the opening round of next week’s 3A sectional.
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