North Vermilion gets needed blowout win

LEROY - To say the North Vermilion Patriots needed a victory like the one they got Friday night may be an understatement.
The Patriots (2-3) blew out the Class 4A LaGrange Gators 42-6 in front of a packed homecoming crowd.
After playing three straight games that went back and forth until the final tick on the clock, first-year North Vermilion head coach Joe Heintz was happy to get a win like Friday night’s game.
“First thing I tell my kid is congratulations,” said Heintz. “These kids deserved one of these games. We have been in so many close games this year. We have three losses by a combined point total of 15 points. Four games have been super competitive. We are four plays from being 4-0.”
Friday's game was over six minutes into the first period.
On the opening kickoff, NV’s Brody Lambeck recovered a fumble on the LaGrange 29-yard line. Six plays later, running back Devin Galley ran six yards for a touchdown. Three minutes into the game, NV led 7-0 and never looked back.
On LaGrange’s next possession, they snapped the ball over the punter’s head, and NV’s defensive back Hunter Johnson, was in hot pursuit of the ball and the punter. The punter managed to get the ball off, but it went less than five yards, and Johnson had much to do with the short punt.
On the Patriots’ first play after the weak punt, running back Grant Wise ran up the middle for a touchdown.
Kicker Jacob Lattier nailed his second straight extra point to make it 14-0 with still six minutes to play in the first period.
At halftime, NV led 35-0. The Patriots’ defense held the Gators to 90 first-half yards.
“We preached all week, perfect effort,” the coach said. “There is no such thing as a perfect game, but there is a perfect effort. I think the kids did that tonight.”
North Vermilion opened up the third period with another scoring drive. Tucker Denais ran 25 yards for a touchdown at 9:40 in the third quarter. In the game, he rushed only five times for 67 yards.
The Patriots rushed 11 players and not one had more than four carries.
Norris Benoit had only two carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run. He finished with 67 yards on the night.
Heath Aubrey had four totes for 24 yards.
NV quarterback Logan Thompson completed two out of three passes for 49 yards. His longest reception was a 34-yard touchdown pass to Owen LeBlanc.
Denais had the other catch for 15 yards.
The Patriots are on the road next week. They will play St. Thomas More on Thursday night.