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Bearcats' third quarter explosion burns Viking gridders

The Huntington North High School varsity football team led host Muncie Central 20-8 halfway through the third quarter of their game on Friday, Oct. 4, but an offensive surge by the Bearcats turned the tables and sent the Vikings to a 34-33 defeat.

Muncie Central closed out the quarter with four touchdowns - two on interception returns -- to just one for the Vikings and went into the final frame leading 34-27.

A 2-yard run by Timmric Barrett got Muncie Central started, and then Brent Sharp returned an interception 50 yards to knot the score at 20-all. North got the lead back right after that, however, as Drew Fawcett took the ensuing kickoff back 65 yards for a Viking score, but the Bearcats came back with two more scores to close out the quarter.

With 4:48 left, Huntington North quarterback Keenan Leichty reached the end zone on a 1-yard run. Rather than go for the extra point, the Vikings, down 34-33, decided to play for the lead, opting for the two-point conversion. The gamble failed, however, and the Bearcats held on to their one-point lead for the win.

Leichty completed 24 of 42 passes for 186 yards and two scores in addition to a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Scott McClellan was his main target with 10 receptions for 93 yards and a score. Kole Hale had seven catches for 74 yards.

Austin Rosen and Charleston Dydasco combined to rush for 164 yards, with Rosen gaining 97 of them and Dydasco running for 63, on 18 attempts apiece.

Lucas Johnson led the Viking defense with four solo tackles.

Huntington North falls to 3-4, 3-2 in the North Central Conference. Muncie Central improves to 4-3, 2-2 in conference play.