DaytonDailyNews.com

CLAYTON — One play helped lift Northmont to a benchmark 17-7 victory over Wayne on Friday night, Sept. 27, in front of 8,500 at Good Samaritan Stadium.

The Warriors hope one play didn't snuff its playoff hopes and the sophomore season of quarterback Braxton Miller.

A 65-yard punt return touchdown by C.J. Barnett was the catalyst in Northmont's dominating second half. The Thunderbolts added a Joe Inkrott field goal and Kevin Ringer touchdown run to debut in the GWOC Central Division with a win.

"It's really big," Barnett said.

"There was a lot of talk about we didn't have no respect. It was the Big 2, not the Big 3 (along with Centerville). They were downing us and dogging us. But we came out and showed that Northmont is here to stay. And we're pretty good."

Barnett's TD came moments after Miller was hurt on a 7-yard run with 9:37 left in the third quarter. Wayne's players held hands in a huddle before Miller was placed on a golf cart and taken off the field with an apparent right leg injury. No further information was available on the injury.

"When you're (up) 7-0 and then that happens and then the punt return, the momentum switches and it's tough to get it back," Wayne coach Jay Minton said of his team's attitude regarding Miller.

"That's devastating to them. But I don't want to take anything away from Northmont."

Wayne (5-1) dropped two touchdown passes and missed two field goals. The Warriors couldn't add to their 7-0 halftime lead gained by Erique Geiger's 1-yard run that capped a 17-play, 63-yard drive.

After Miller went down, Tre Moore stepped in at quarterback. But Northmont (5-1) shook off two fumbles and had an answer for Moore and Geiger (87 yards rushing).

Northmont quarterback Chase Belton rushed for 87 yards and threw for 62. Ringer's 31-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter effectively put Wayne away.

"People are probably going to say, 'Well, you beat them because Braxton got hurt' and stuff like that," Northmont coach Lance Schneider said.

"It's just a big stepping stone for us. It's one of those things that everybody said we were going to come into the Central Division and get it handed to us. We proved we're just as good as all these teams."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.