Junior running back Jackson Haessig rushed for 143 yards in Greenwood’s win over Seymour.
Daily Journal file photo
A football series dating back to 2008 finds itself at a fascinating crossroads.
Win or lose this evening, Greenwood coach Mike Campbell bids farewell to a county rivalry the Woodmen have dominated by winning 12 of the 14 matchups, including the last seven.
Shouting instruction from the opposing sideline will be Casey Gillin, the first-year Indian Creek coach whose enthusiasm and sense of community has attached jumper cables to a program hungry to return to form after finishing last season with the fewest victories since 2000.
Campbell, the newly named Greenwood athletic director whose coaching tenure ends at the end of this season, plans to appreciate as many aspects as possible of every game this season.
Coaching against Indian Creek one last time promises to be special.
But that will also be the case when the Woodmen host Franklin and travel to Whiteland — two more county rivals — in Weeks 8 and 9, respectively.
“I’m just trying to enjoy every moment. Trying to absorb everything,” said Campbell, whose teams have outscored Indian Creek by an average of 17.2 points a game overall during the series and 26 points per outing during the aforementioned win streak.
“One of the things I learned as a young head coach is the kids will feed off your emotion. I’m more even keel at this point of my career.”
The Woodmen got their season started with last week’s 35-7 decision over visiting Seymour. The Braves downed Batesville, 37-25, in a game played at Franklin College’s Faught Stadium.
Tonight marks only the fourth time in the last 12 meetings both teams take a 1-0 record into the game.
“The biggest thing for us is we’ve only beaten them twice,” said Gillin, referring to the 2009 and 2014 contests. “For us, it’s right down the road, a Johnson County game. They’re a bigger school and Mike has a good, physical team. But I think our kids are ready.
“First things first, we’ve got to get better, and once the game starts, settle down and play our game. I keep telling the kids that any step forward, even the smallest step, is still a step.”
Both Braves triumphs over Greenwood teams were when Gillin’s father, Mike, was the Indian Creek coach.
Greenwood and Indian Creek offer contrasting offensive styles the way they did for nine years (2008-16) before the elder Gillin departed to become head coach at Mooresville.
As is custom under Campbell, the Woodmen emphasize the run, attempting to grind out clock-consuming drives while keeping the opponent’s offense on the sideline as long as possible. Junior Jackson Haessig rushed for 143 yards against the Owls, followed by classmate Alan Burnett with 111.
“I liked how our team handled every bit of adversity,” Campbell said. “The kids were positive and supportive of each other.”
Woodmen squads have scored 40 or more points in each of the last six games in the series.
Meanwhile, Indian Creek senior quarterback Arjun Lothe completed 16 of 25 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns against the Bulldogs.
“Oh, they’re good,” Campbell said of the Braves. “They are solid in what they do, and they’re going to do some nice things. Casey is not afraid to attack and let his kids go play. The players know each other, and we’re the big school on their schedule.”
THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES
Indian Creek at Greenwood, 7 p.m. tonight
Carmel at Center Grove, 7 p.m. tonight
Mt. Vernon at Franklin, 7 p.m. tonight
Lawrence North at Whiteland, 7 p.m. tonight
Cloverdale at Edinburgh, 7 p.m. tonight
Franklin Central at Roncalli, 7 p.m. tonight
Phelan Academy at Greenwood Christian, 4 p.m. Saturday
