Paying dividends: Tough early schedule beneficial for Braves

A few months back, when Indian Creek revealed its football schedule for this season, the fact it was heavily front-loaded was hardly a secret.

First came a test of extreme proportions, a Class 5A opponent (Terre Haute South) from the state’s premier conference that happens to be led by an NCAA Division I quarterback in Purdue-bound Danny Etling.

Next was a road date at Johnson County rival Greenwood, a state-ranked Class 4A sectional finalist returning most of its key personnel from a year ago.

Deep down, though, 12th-year Braves coach Mike Gillin understood that, win or lose, blowout or nail-biter, what transpired in the heat of August would pay dividends in October and, with any luck, November.

He was spot on.

After losing 34-24 at home to Terre Haute South and absorbing a 37-7 defeat at the hands of the Woodmen, Class 3A Indian Creek rattled off seven consecutive victories. The Braves have done it by an average spread of 23.3 points.

In the past two weeks, they have outscored Broad Ripple and South Decatur by a combined 83-6. As a result, they ride a wave of momentum into Friday’s sectional-opener against visiting Rushville (1-8).

The Braves also enter as Mid-Indiana Football Conference champions.

“Your goal is to always go undefeated, but when you see those two big schools you know that could go down the drain,” said Matthew Wray, Indian Creek’s senior quarterback, who is averaging 278 yards a game passing entering Friday’s Class 3A Sectional 22 first-round game.

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