Ratliff Rewrites the Record Book as Bull Dogs Blank Southport

Columbus North 54, Southport 0 — Football

On an emotional night, senior quarterback Asher Ratliff honored his late grandmother the way a signal-caller knows best—by carving up turf and history. The Bull Dogs pitched a shutout and Ratliff tossed a school-record six touchdown passes (seven total TDs), conducting a clinic in rhythm throws and red-zone precision to open Conference Indiana with a roar.

The first quarter played like a greatest-hits album: Ratliff to Parker Elmore (twice) and Morgan Knapp built a three-score cushion in a blink. He added a 1-yard keeper, a deep strike to Knapp, and found Ezekiel Scruggs on the ground to set a running clock by halftime at 41–0. The encore? A one-play, 70-yard post to Elmore to start the third, then a Jacob Rice goal-line grab to close the scoring.

North (3–0, 1–0) scored touchdowns on all eight meaningful drives and out-gained Southport 453–102 while the defense posted its first shutout of the season. The only flea on the dog: nine penalties (70 first-half yards). If the flags settle, this offense has Top-10 bite.

Bull Dog leaders: Ratliff 16-20, 322 yds, 6 TD; rush TD. Elmore 7-185, 3 TD. Knapp 5-124, 2 TD.
Next: at Roncalli, then at Carmel in a heavyweight two-step.