Columbus North High School

October 12, 2024 - Sometimes football games don’t live up to the hype. This one did. The Class 6A eighth-ranked Columbus North Bull Dogs and the Class 5A fifth-ranked Bloomington North Cougars each entered the game with 6-1 records and both were undefeated in Conference Indiana play. After numerous late-game heroics by both teams, the Dogs rushed the field to celebrate a 35-34 double-overtime victory and had earned at least a share of the Conference Indiana title with one game remaining. The Cougars jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half before Asher Ratliff found Jordan Briner for an 18-yard touchdown, cutting the halftime deficit to 14-6. The Dogs tied the ball game in the third quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run by Gino Prescott and a nifty two-point conversion. The Cougars answered early in the fourth quarter and took a 21-14 lead. Garrett Long caught a touchdown pass from Ratliff with just 41 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 21, capping an 81-yard drive in the final two minutes. Bloomington North had the ball first in the initial overtime and scored, but the Dogs answered right back with another Ratliff to Long touchdown. Beginning the second overtime, tied at 28, Prescott punched in his second rushing touchdown. The Cougars answered with an acrobatic touchdown reception and decided to put all the chips in the middle of the table with a two-point conversion attempt. The Bull Dogs squashed the Cougars run attempt and stormed the field with a 35-34 victory. The Dogs (7-1, 4-0) out gained the Cougars 357-279 with 133 yards coming on the ground and 224 through the air. Ratliff finished the night 21-for-35 with Long being his top receiver, grabbing six passes for 96 yards. Prescott carried the rushing load once again for the Dogs, gaining 158 yards on 22 attempts. Columbus North recognized the program’s seniors in a ceremony prior to kickoff along with cheerleaders, managers, and student athletic trainers. The Bull Dogs will travel to Terre Haute South on Friday, October 18 to try to claim the outright conference championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Photo: Garrett Long had six catches and two touchdowns in a 35-34 Bull Dog victory over Bloomington North.