Klein Collins runs all over Montgomery in 15-6A win

Montgomery started strong, taking the lead twice in a back-and-forth first half.

Then Klein Collins pounded the Bears into submission.

Running back Justin Pratt ran for 339 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 34-14 victory in District 15-6A play Saturday at Klein Memorial Stadium.

"Any time you start a game and third play of the game they score a touchdown on a long play, it's tough," Collins coach Drew Svoboda said. "The biggest thing is, we told this team - and this is every week - you've got to weather the storm at the beginning. The beginning of any football game usually doesn't tell the whole story.

"Last week, we were down 12-0 to Klein and battled back."

Opportunity knocks

Montgomery (6-2, 0-0) struck first, with quarterback Josh Bolfing finding Anthony Thomas across the middle for a 63-yard touchdown on the third play of the game.

Klein Collins answered with a field goal and Pratt's first touchdown run - a 29-yarder on which the junior stiff-armed cornerback Alex Nunn and then danced around linebacker J.J. Johnson at the right pylon.

That score put the Tigers up 10-7 with 9:34 left in the first half.

But they muffed the punt return after the Bears' ensuing possession, giving Montgomery the ball back at its 26. Four plays later, Bolfing kept for a 1-yard TD and 14-10 lead.

Klein Collins took over from there.

Pratt broke a 90-yard scoring run on the first play with 3:48 to go in the second quarter. Then, on the Tigers' next series, quarterback Nate Edmonds hit Quinton Newton in stride for a 31-yard TD and 24-14 lead.

After the Bears fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, Collin Lester tacked on a 40-yard field goal with two seconds remaining for a 27-14 halftime lead.

Pratt added a 1-yard TD run to cap a drive he powered to open the third quarter.

"Justin's a heck of a football player," Collins said. "He's a great kid, he's extremely humble, and his physical tools are incredible. And the offensive line is doing such a great job in front of him. They really complement each other very well."

Bolfing suffered a strained hip flexor in the first half. He warmed up before the third but couldn't go. He finished 6-of-12 passing for 85 yards.

"Obviously, it took a little air out, but that's the way it is," Montgomery coach John Bolfing said. "Our backup, Scott McKenzie, stepped in and did what he needed to do.

Shutting down the run

"We didn't run the football well, and they were sitting back. They weren't going to let us throw the ball down the field, and we just weren't able to sustain the run. That makes it pretty tough when they do that, and they're an excellent football team."

The Tigers finished with 507 total yards, rushing for 476 yards on 58 attempts (8.2 yards per carry).

"Montgomery's got a really good football team," Svoboda said. "We knew they were good. They were 6-1 for a reason. Their only loss was to Westfield, and that's who beat us as well."

Jason McDaniel is a freelance writer.