Indian Creek needed to play just about perfectly on Friday to have a chance at beating Bishop Chatard, arguably the top Class 3A team in the state.
Turnovers on the Braves’ first two offensive plays all but destroyed any chance the home team had of springing the upset, and the Trojans cruised to a 42-6 victory and a sectional title.
Indian Creek finishes the year with a 7-5 record.
"We didn’t get a sectional title, but this is the kids’ first time they’ve ever played in November," Braves coach Brett Cooper said. "I’m really proud of the seniors. We just didn’t get the outcome we wanted tonight."
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The Braves tried to throw deep on their first snap, and Isaiah Lacey’s pass was intercepted by Chatard’s Patrick Mastrian. The Trojans needed seven plays to cash in on a 4-yard run from Daylen Taylor.
Indian Creek then fumbled the ball away again on its next offensive play, and Taylor scored again just 48 seconds after his first one, putting the visitors up 14-0 with 7:10 left in the opening quarter.
Chatard stretched its lead to 28 by halftime, getting a Tony Harrison scoring run on the first play of the second quarter and a 27-yard touchdown toss from Mark Nondorf to Ben Schrage with 5:58 left in the period.
The Braves showed some signs of life late in the half, crossing midfield late in the second quarter and then stopping a Chatard drive when Owen Neathery intercepted Nondorf in the end zone just seconds before the break.
Despite the Braves’ surge, the Trojans finished the half with a 281-27 advantage in total offense.
Harrison tacked on his second touchdown midway through the third quarter, and after a long punt return by Mastrian, Matthew Coons ran in untouched to make it 42-0. Chatard played its reserves the rest of the way.
Indian Creek avoided a shutout when Lacey connected with Reid Crowell for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 5:51 remaining in the contest.
Despite the disappointing finish, Cooper had nothing but praise for the departing seniors who have helped the program maintain a high standard.
"They bought into what we brought here," the second-year coach said. "Those kids are grinders, man. They work. They don’t miss workouts; they don’t miss anything. And all those kids will be successful moving forward."
