Greenwood football runs past Indian Creek

<p>Through rain, sleet or snow, up or down, Greenwood is going to run the ball and dare you to stop them.</p><p>So far, nobody has.</p><p>The Woodmen fell into an early double-digit deficit against visiting Indian Creek on Friday night, but just as he had in last week’s comeback win over Bloomington North, coach Mike Campbell stuck with his trusted power run game.</p><p>Once again, it worked.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Ethan Haessig rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns, Noah Apgar tacked on 116 more yards and the Woodmen bullied their way to a 41-20 victory over the Braves.</p><p>&quot;They had us on our heels,&quot; Campbell said of the Braves, &quot;but credit to our seniors. We’ve been down before, we were down last week, and they don’t rattle very easily, because they’ve been in games like this.&quot;</p><p>Trailing by 13 before even taking an offensive snap, the Woodmen made their first one count as Ethan Haessig went outside and streaked up the right sideline for a 63-yard scoring run.</p><p>That was the first of many open lanes that Haessig and his backfield mates enjoyed on the way to 385 total rushing yards.</p><p>&quot;That was very nice,&quot; Haessig said. &quot;With the help of my line blocking, it was fantastic. I could see perfectly where they were; it was awesome.&quot;</p><p>Indian Creek forced a fourth-and-goal situation on the next Greenwood series, but Gavin Ruppert lofted a jump toss over the defense to Carter Campbell from the 3. Olivia Brawley’s extra point gave the Woodmen the lead for good, 14-13, with 7:55 to go in the half.</p><p>That was the only Greenwood pass in the first 24 minutes. The home team’s next drive covered 76 yards on nine runs, with Jacob Rollett carrying on the last four and diving in from a yard out at the 3:58 mark of the second period.</p><p>Rollett finished with 65 yards on 10 carries.</p><p>Another long Haessig TD run, this one from 65 yards out, gave the Woodmen a 27-13 edge early in the third, and the Braves never recovered. Senior tailback Connor Fruits suffered an apparent ankle injury midway through the first half and did not return; Indian Creek struggled to move the ball consistently in his absence.</p><p>&quot;We thought we had a really good shot there at the beginning to jump on them like we did,&quot; Braves coach Steve Spinks said. &quot;The biggest thing was sustaining.</p><p>&quot;We just got a dose of our own medicine.&quot;</p><p>Haessig scored his third touchdown on an 8-yard run late in the third, and Matt Jobe tacked on a 2-yard rush with 4:27 remaining in the game. Indian Creek got a late 28-yard scoring run from freshman Jalen Sauer.</p><p>The Braves threw their best punch early, opening with a methodical 11-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a nifty bit of sorcery from quarterback Aidean Neathery, who weathered a heavy rush and got off a 6-yard scoring toss to fullback Tyler Ross.</p><p>Greenwood fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, and Neathery took advantage by connecting with Jordan Gorham for a 25-yard scoring toss with 2:55 in the first quarter.</p><p>The Woodmen open Mid-State Conference play next week at home against Martinsville, while Indian Creek travels to Owen Valley for its first WIC contest.</p>