FAIRLAND
Indian Creek’s defense pitched a shutout for the last 43 minutes of Friday’s nonconference football game at Class 2A No. 8 Triton Central.
Unfortunately for the Braves, the host Tigers’ defense was equally stout throughout the contest.
IC only managed one score, a 73-yard Sam Creek touchdown reception from Aidan Neathery. The Braves failed to take advantage of four Triton Central turnovers, and never crossed the Tigers’ 22-yard line after that score in a 14-6 loss.
Indian Creek (3-2) hauled in two interceptions and collected a pair of fumble recoveries after its touchdown, but never could take advantage. The Braves fumbled four times themselves on an unseasonably cool night but recovered them all. Those fumbles, however, played a role in multiple stalled drives.
Braves coach Steve Spinks took the blame for the offensive struggles.
“I need to do a better job calling an offense,” he said. “I’ve got to call better plays; I need to put us in better positions to score. I can’t put our defense in worse positions. My team showed all kinds of heart.”
It also didn’t help matters that Neathery had to leave the game with an injury midway through the third quarter. Up to that point, he had completed 9 of 16 passes for 125 yards. Freshman Jackson Wise took over in his absence.
“Losing (Neathery) hurts bad, but I need to have (Wise) ready to go,” Spinks said. “Jackson was gutsy. He’s 14 years old completing passes against the No. 8 team in the state.”
Triton Central (4-1) looked like it was going to run away with the game with two touchdowns in the first five minutes. The Tigers marched 66 yards in six plays, including a 46-yard run by freshman running back Ray Crawford, en route to their first touchdown. They followed that up with a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that included a 38-yard pass from Erick Hebauf to Ben Riggins.
After those two scores, Indian Creek only allowed 126 yards the rest of the game after allowing 131 yards on the two combined touchdown drives. The Braves, however, only managed 99 yards from scrimmage the entire game, and 73 of those came on their lone touchdown pass.
Jalen Sauer and James Kelley each intercepted passes for the Braves, while Brett Barger collected three sacks. Triton Central, however, sacked Neathery and Wise a combined six times, including twice on the Braves’ final drive that provided a good chance to score.
“I can’t say enough about Brett Barger,” Spinks said. “He fought his butt off, and so did (senior lineman) Zach Kaufman. (Triton Central) barely moved the ball after those first two scores.”
Indian Creek plays next Friday at Western Indiana Conference rival Edgewood.
