CHARLESTOWN — Moving the game time up an hour in anticipation of inclement weather meant one of two things on Friday.

Depending upon what side of the ball you were on, either the celebration or the agony came earlier as Charlestown rode a 38-point second quarter to a school-record 72 points in a 72-8 victory over North Harrison at Dutch Reis Field.

“The most important thing in a game like this is that you get through it without getting anyone hurt,” said Charlestown coach Jason Hawkins. “We did that. And we’ve tried to get better each week. I think we’ve done that.”

Charlestown quarterback Aaron Daniel, who is making himself a serious contender for Mr. Football, didn’t put up amazing numbers, but otherwise totally dominated play before seeing little action in the second half.

Daniel led the Pirates to a 13-0 first-quarter lead as he scored on a 39-yard run, then threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Gage Brafford.

Then came the second quarter.

Daniel got things started with a 55-yard punt return. Class 3A No. 5 Charlestown (4-0, 3-0 Mid-Southern Conference) then got on the board again quickly when North Harrison (1-3, 0-3) fumbled on an attempted double reverse in which the ball rolled out of the end zone for a safety. The Pirates’ next two possessions saw Seth McCutchen score on a 12-yard run and Daniel throw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Odle.

North Harrison had to feel is if the storm had arrived as Charlestown’s Bryant Haynes scooped up a fumble, returning it 15 yards for a score. Daniel then closed the half by throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to the Pirates’ Cody Donahue.

Charlestown got another score early in the third quarter when North Harrison couldn’t control the snap on a punt during their first series. Charlestown recovered on the three with McCutchen scoring on the next play.

With mostly reserves in the game from that point, the Pirates added two fourth-quarter scores, on runs of 37 and 5 yards by Cameron Hopson.

North Harrison finally got on the board with 7:09 left in the game on a 55-yard run by Joe Kuerzi. It was the first points for the Cougars since winning their season opener against Crawford County.

“Our defense is solid,” Hawkins said. “And they’ve been getting better every week. Desmond Wiley, Jimmy Garcia and Adam Hoff are all playing well, and we have two linebackers in Matt Myers and Jake Harper who I feel are two of the best in the state. And the great thing about all of them. They’re all juniors.”

Daniel finished 6-of-12 for 144 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also gained 64 yards on five carries. McCutchen added 46 yards on eight carries. Odle (56 yards), Donahue (46) and Brafford (42) each had two catches.

“Aaron does a great job — but so does our offensive line,” Hawkins said. “(Leighton) Brewer, (Stephen) Johnson, (Austin) Keith, (Alex) Wakefield and (Cole) Nokes not only protect Aaron, but do a great job of opening holes for our backs.”

North Harrison quarterback Jack Phelps had a rough night courtesy of the Charlestown defense as he completed 5-of-7 passes for just 6 yards. Teammate Brandon Craig gained 39 yards on 17 carries and caught two passes for five yards.

Charlestown will celebrate Homecoming next Friday when Silver Creek comes to visit.

“Each week in the back of my mind I keep thinking that we’re going to have a letdown, and it hasn’t happened yet,” Hawkins said. “There will be a lot of things going on and we’ll have to keep the kids heads on straight. But we’ll come out looking to get better.”



BOX SCORE

CHARLESTOWN 72, NORTH HARRISON 8

North Harrison      0   0 0  8— 8

Charlestown     13 38 7 14—72

First Quarter

    C — Aaron Daniel 39 run (Aaron Daniel kick), 11:09 remaining.

    C — Gage Brafford 21 pass from Daniel (kick failed), 7:41

Second Quarter

    C — Daniel 33 punt return (Daniel kick), 11:08.

    C — Safety (ball fumbled out of end zone), 10:55.

    C — Seth McCutchen 12 run (Brafford pass from Daniel), 9:21.

    C — Tyler Odle 16 pass from Daniel (Daniel kick), 5:19.

    C — Bryant Hayes 15 fumble return (Daniel kick), 5:01.

    C — Cody Donahue 28 pass from Daniel (Daniel kick), 3:54.

Third Quarter

    C — McCutchen 3 run (Daniel kick), 9:00.

Fourth Quarter

    C — Cameron Hopson 37 run (Daniel kick), 11:44.

    NH — Joe Kuerzi 55 run (Tyler Jones run), 7:09.

    C — Hopson 5 run (Daniel kick), 2:42.

Statistics

Rushing

    North Harrison: Kuerzi 1-55, Brandon Craig 17-39, Jones 7-18, Jack Phelps 1-6; Charlestown: Daniel 5-64, McCutchen 8-46, Hopson 5-29, Stewart 1-27, Odle 1-9.

Passing

    North Harrison: Phelps 5-7-6-0; Charlestown: Daniel 6-12-144-1.

Receiving

    North Harrison: Craig 2-5; Charlestown: Odle 2-56, Donahue 2-46, Brafford 2-42.