CUNNINGHAM, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery Central football had won just three games over the previous three seasons heading into Friday’s season opener. In one of the biggest surprises of the weekend, the Indians shocked Sycamore, rolling over the War Eagles for a 35-7 victory.

It took some time for both teams to settle into their offense, but once Montgomery Central’s running game started clicking, it was over.

Indian running back Malosi Laban found the end zone late in the first quarter, then extended the lead to 14-0 with a 16-yard touchdown run in the second.

“I just worked hard in the offseason. I had that dog mindset ready going into tonight,” Laban told Clarksville Now. “I got more confidence every time I touched the ball, and my O-line did too.”

That confidence carried into the second half as Laban added three more touchdown runs, finishing Week 1 with five scores.

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Montgomery Central’s defense held its own as well, allowing just seven points on the night. For Indians head coach Wyatt Page, the victory may have carried some extra meaning as it came against his former school.

“Sycamore holds a special place in my heart. I spent some very formative years there, so it definitely means a little bit more, I think,” Page said. “Really, it’s just about us. We tell our kids all the time, it’s not about the opponent. It’s about us versus us.”

The Indians looked better Friday night than they have in some time. Outside of the Sycamore connection, the dominant performance makes the victory the biggest of Page’s tenure at Montgomery Central.

With Laban leading a strong rushing attack and the defense putting together an impressive performance, Central may be emerging as a true dark horse in Montgomery County.

“We’re definitely still not a finished product. Nobody is in Week 1,” Page said. “But I felt like we ran the ball, we tackled well, and we’re improving each day. I like the direction we’re headed.”

Game scoring Summary

  • M – Malosi Laban 4-yard run (3:03). Axel Whittier XP.

Second Quarter

  • M – Malosi Laban 16-yard run (6:24). Axel Whittier XP.

Third Quarter

  • M – Malosi Laban 7-yard run. Axel Whittier XP.
  • S – Brody Night 7-yard pass from Cody Scalf (3:36), 21-7.
  • M – Malosi Laban run (1:03). Axel Whittier 2-point conversion, 29-7.

Fourth Quarter

  • M – Malosi Laban run (7:17), 35-7.

Obead Issayas contributed to this report.

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