<p>Owen Neathery’s first statistical contributions to Indian Creek football were as a freshman cornerback in a Week 4 shutout of Brown County.</p>
<p>His two tackles that night were only the start.</p>
<p>Moved to free safety for his senior season, Neathery is expected to perform a multitude of tasks for the Braves when they open the season against Evansville Mater Dei on Aug. 24 at the venerable Reitz Bowl.</p>
<p>"I’m willing to play wherever they need me," Neathery said. "Free safety is definitely a lot different than cornerback, but I believe in myself and believe I’ll figure it out and do the best that I can.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>"Even when I was younger I always played in the secondary. I think I have the smarts to do it and always stay pretty calm on the field."</p>
<p>Last season, Neathery made 35 tackles and led Indian Creek in interceptions with two. He returned kickoffs and made two catches as a receiver.</p>
<p>The 6-foot Neathery worked in the offseason to increase his strength. He now bench-presses 225 pounds and squats 315.</p>
<p>Third-year coach Brett Cooper fields a very young team this season with only 20 upperclassmen (12 seniors, eight juniors) which means a lot of Braves starting or at least seeing plenty of repetitions on both sides of the line of scrimmage.</p>
<p>"Our kids are going to be in good shape because we’re going to have to use them all over the field," Cooper said. "Owen is one of those kids who’ll play both ways for us. The free safety is the quarterback of our defense, and we need a kid who understands what’s going on back there.</p>
<p>"Owen fits that mold for us. He’s a very intelligent kid."</p>
<p>Neathery, who carries a 3.8 grade-point average and is thinking of one day majoring in meteorology in college, can’t possibly forecast what’s ahead for this Indian Creek squad.</p>
<p>He would like to go out a conference champion for the first time in his career. The Braves have lost two Western Indiana Conference championship games to Sullivan and one to Northview with Neathery in uniform.</p>
<p>"That’s always been a main goal," he said. "Every year we make it to the first-place game, but have never been able to win it."</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Four downs with senior QB Wyatt Rund" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>1. What’s the most important song on your pregame playlist?</strong></p>
<p>I don’t know of a song, but the artist I listen to most is probably Drake. He’s my go-to guy to listen to before a game.</p>
<p><strong>2. "One week at a time" clichés aside, which game on your schedule are you most looking forward to?</strong></p>
<p>I’m really looking forward to Evansville Mater Dei because it was a close game last year, and I think we can get them this year.</p>
<p><strong>3. Which relatively unknown player is bound for stardom this season?</strong></p>
<p>I think it will be Owen Sego. He’s going to be our running back this season, and he came up through JV with me and he’s grown a lot since last season.</p>
<p><strong>4. What word best describes the 2019 Braves and why?</strong></p>
<p>I would say different, because there are a lot of different personalities on the team, but we’ve all kind of bonded together and I like where we’re at right now.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Scouting the Braves" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Coach: Brett Cooper (3rd year)</p>
<p>Last season: 7-5; lost to Chatard, 42-6, in Class 3A sectional final</p>
<p>Key returnees: OL/DL Cameron Elmore, OL DL Tristen Foster, WR/DB Owen Neathery, RB/LB Owen Sego and OL/DL Avery Whitten, seniors; WR/DB Jordan Gorham, junior; OL/DL R.C. Hall and WR/DB Brandon Murray, sophomores</p>
<p>Newcomers to watch: OL/DL Logen Dickey, QB/LB Wyatt Rund and DB/RB Avery Schuab, seniors; TE/LB Brett Barger, WR/LB Trenton Davis, LB/TE Tyler Ross and TE/LB Wyatt Snyder, juniors; WR/DB Aden Johnson, sophomore</p>
<p>Outlook: The Braves look to keep their county-best streak of winning seasons intact by finishing on the plus side of .500 for a 19th straight time. It will be challenging, as graduation took away the players responsible for 86 percent of Indian Creek’s total yardage offensively. Quarterback Rund and running back Sego step into more prominent roles behind an offensive line anchored by the 6-3, 305-pound Elmore, a four-year starter.</p>
<p>“I’m excited to see our growth and how well these kids can play,” Cooper said. “Our junior class is pretty talented, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they do on Friday nights.”</p>
<p>Cooper said linebackers Ross, Barger and Snyder, who combined for 63 tackles last season as sophomores, will play much more significant roles. Gorham, who had 35 tackles as a soph, is also back to help the secondary along with senior returnee Neathery (35 tackles).</p>
<p>Notable: The Braves open the season playing on a Saturday afternoon at the Reitz Bowl, a 12,000-seat stadium which opened in 1921.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="2019 schedule" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>Date;Opponent</strong></p>
<p>Aug. 24;at Evansville Mater Dei*</p>
<p>Aug. 30;Greenwood</p>
<p>Sept. 6;Owen Valley</p>
<p>Sept. 13;at Brown County</p>
<p>Sept. 20;Triton Central</p>
<p>Sept. 27;Edgewood</p>
<p>Oct. 4;Manual</p>
<p>Oct. 11;at Cloverdale</p>
<p>Oct. 18;WIC playoff</p>
<p>* – at Reitz Bowl, 2 p.m. start</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
