The game was pushed back due to the extreme heat, but North Greene junior quarterback Jared Swatzell was even hotter on Thursday night, tossing six touchdown passes in a 55-0 shoutout win against the Indians of Hancock Country.
Swatzell’s six touchdown performance is also a new North Greene record.
North Greene head coach Eric Tilson said after the game, “We typically run the ball the ball quite a bit, typically when you have a quarterback that throws six, you don’t usually think about it during the game, but he did a great job managing what we ask him to do. Then when he got a chance to rip it, and he ripped it in there a few times.”
Swatzell’s first touchdown pass came just 44 seconds into the game from 58yards out. On the second play of the game Swatzell hit a wide-open Matthew Boyd. Boyd hauled in the pass around the 25-yard line and waltzed into the end zone. Juan Soto added the point after try and the Huskies were up 7-0.
After the Husky defense forced a punt, the offense was rolling again, this time on the ground. Leon Johnson had three good runs of eight, 11 and seven yards respectively to set up a 35 yard pass play form Swatzell to Levi Gray to the Indian 15-yard line.
Kelson Eastep was on the receiving end of Swatzell’s second touchdown toss of the game. Soto’s kick was true and the Huskies held a 14-0 lead at the 11:31 mark of the second quarter.
The Husky defense once again forced a three-and-out and the Huskies set up shop at their own 34-yard line. North Greene scored on a one play drive, a 66-yard scamper from Johnson.
The Huskies followed by putting together a seven-play drive that ate up nearly six minutes and ended with another Swatzell to Boyd touchdown. This one came from 22 yards out. Soto once again tacked on the extra point for a 28-0 lead with 1:44 to play in the first half.
15 seconds later the Huskies added another score after Charles Price recovered the fumbled kickoff. Johnson hauled in a screen pass from Swatzell and raced 35 yards to pay-dirt. Someone got a hand on Soto’s kick, and it fell just short leaving the score at 34-0.
Boyd spoiled any chance the Indians had to score before the half when he came down with a miraculous interception and the half ended with the Huskies on top 34-0.
Swatzell also plays on defense and started the second half with an interception to kill the Indian’s first drive of the second half. A few plays later the junior quarterback hooked up with Eastep for a second for an 11-yard touchdown that made it 41-0.
Archer Tippins came up with a fumble recovery as the third quarter ended. Swatzell and Boyd connected for a third time on a 33-yard score and Soto’s kick made the new score 48-0.
At this point Tilson sent in the JV guys and later gave them praise in saying, “There toward the end I was really proud of our JV group for aiding and helping in the shutout. A lot of guys stepped up there towards the end.”
Price had a 74-yard touchdown run late in the game to make the final score 55-0.
Swatzell finished the night with 279 yards passing going 12 for 15 and the school record six touchdowns. Boyd had six catches for 150 yards and three scores, while Johnson carried the ball 11 times for 123 yards and one rushing touchdown.
North Greene is now 2-1 on the year and 1-0 in Region 1-1A play.
Before the game Blakey Moorman was crowned Homecoming Queen.
