In a game where two teams combined for 99 points, over 1,000 yards of offense and seven turnovers, the outcome was decided by one play from the 3-yard line.
Indian Creek senior quarterback Arj Lothe sent the home fans into jubilation, finding junior wideout Lance Butler in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion to lift Indian Creek to a 50-49 overtime win over Sullivan in a Western Indiana Conference showdown.
Sullivan (4-4, 1-3 WIC) put seven on the board to open the overtime and take a 49-42 lead. The Braves answered with Lothe finding junior Trent Volz in the end zone on fourth and goal from the 12. Volz’s score made it 49-48, setting up the climactic final play.
The Braves tallied 554 yards of offense, with 355 coming from Lothe through the air. In addition to his two touchdown passes, Lothe also rushed for three TDs, with the final one giving the Braves their first lead of the night at 42-35 with 5:00 remaining. Sullivan responded with a 58-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 42-42 with 3:08 left. The Braves survived two turnovers and a Sullivan missed field goal from 41 yards in the final three minutes to last until overtime.
Indian Creek (6-2, 5-1) turned it over three times in the first half but managed to stay in the game behind the rushing over sophomore Levi Pappas, who ran for 98 yards and a score in the first half. The Golden Arrows scored on their first three possessions of the game and led 28-14 before the Braves scored the first half’s final touchdown, cutting Sullivan’s lead to 28-20.
In the second half, Indian Creek’s defense grabbed to huge takeaways of their own, including a third-quarter interception by junior Kohlton Scoggan at the Sullivan 1-yard-line as the Golden Arrows were driving to increase their advantage to two scores. In addition to grabbing the game-winning score in overtime, Butler also snared an interception early in the fourth quarter, accounting for the Braves’ second takeaway.
Lothe had plenty of help posting Indian Creek’s gaudy offensive numbers. Pappas was a workhorse running back, finishing with 37 carries for 175 yards, and adding a second rushing touchdown in the second half. Freshman receiver Jaxon Ramey grabbed seven receptions for 208 yards.
The Braves conclude the regular season next Friday night at Northview.
