BROWNSTOWN
Indian Creekâs football team scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first half and seemed to have momentum on its side as the second half started.
Unfortunately for the Braves (2-5), a third-quarter outburst by Class 3A No. 7 Brownstown Central spoiled any upset hopes and sent IC home with a 54-20 loss.
Down 20-0, Indian Creek quarterback Aidan Neathery broke through the Brownstown line for a 40-yard touchdown run with 4:53 left in the second quarter.
Brandon Murray scored on a 3-yard run with just 13 seconds left on the first-half clock, cutting Brownstown’s advantage to 27-14.
Given the two quick scores and Neatheryâs ability to bully his way through the Brownstown defense â the 210-pound senior ran for 135 yards in the first half alone â the Braves appeared ready to make a run at their hosts in the second half.
Instead, Brownstown kept finding ways to score.
Brownstownâs Kiernan Tiemeyer returned the third quarterâs opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown, the fleet-footed seniorâs second return TD of the season.
BCâs defense then stopped Indian Creek at midfield on the following series, setting up a 13-play, 83-yard touchdown drive by Brownstownâs offense that drained six minutes from the clock.
Moments later, Indian Creek fumbled the ball away to Brownstown (7-0), which responded immediately with an 18-yard Jake Pauley run. Suddenly, a 27-14 deficit had ballooned to 47-14.
Indian Creek scored a final TD in the fourth quarter when Jackson Wise found Denton Steenbergen on a 9-yard pass.
In addition to Neatheryâs tough running, Murray added 57 yards on 11 carries. Neathery ended with 89 yards in the air on 7-for-12 passing. Wise added 15 yards and his TD on 2-for-2 passing.
Friday’s game was the first between Brownstown Central and Indian Creek since 2008 and was the first ever between the schools during the r
