(Josue Perez/Montrose Daily Press)
MONTROSE — A top-10 clash served as a major launching point for Class 4A No. 7 Montrose as it cruised to a 43-12 win over No. 10 Chatfield on Friday.
Although the final score was tilted in favor of Montrose (1-0 overall), it was the Chargers who found themselves with the early lead. They moved right down the field and Jake Marshall got them on the board, scoring from two yards out.
The extra point was blocked by Trent Blundell, giving Chatfield just a 6-0 lead.
Montrose wasted no time in responding as Keegan Goodwin scored from 43 yards out, but a missed extra point kept the game tied at the end of the first quarter.
Tayne Ila added a Montrose touchdown and Jake Green’s kick was good, putting the home team ahead 13-6. Montrose held that lead at halftime.
(Josue Perez/Montrose Daily Press)
It took just 32 seconds for Montrose to score at the start of the second half as Ila found the end zone from 28 yards out, increasing the lead to 20-6.
Blundell made his presence known defensively, breaking through the offensive line and wrapping the Chargers up in their own end zone for a safety to make it 22-6.
On the ensuing drive, Blundell scored from nine yards out to make it 29-6.
Defino got a little momentum back in the Chargers favor, scoring from six yards out. Blundell blocked his second extra point of the game to make it 36-12.
Eli Evans added a Montrose touchdown from 12 yards and Green’s kick made it 43-12, which held on to be the the final score.
“First and foremost, it was awesome to be out there and I am so happy for our kids to be able to play the game they love,” Montrose coach Brett Mertens said. “I thought we played very well for the first game of the year. Defensively,I thought we were very physical and offensively I thought we executed very well and wore them out in the second half.”
“We were out coached and out physicated,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin said. “We played a very solid team tonight.”
(Josue Perez/Montrose Daily Press)