By Seth Tow
For the Daily Journal
Indian Creek running back Malachi Mink returned to action on Friday after a one-week absence due to an injury suffered in Week 5 — and the senior made his impact felt all night long against Arsenal Tech.
Mink dominated, racking up a school-record 320 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 34 carries as the Braves pulled away with a 44-7 win.
It was the second consecutive victory for the Braves (3-4).
“Our O-line played their butts off, and Malachi obviously, being out last week, wanted to get back to it,” Creek coach Max Goodin said.
Mink opened the scoring for Indian Creek in the first quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Braves extended their advantage late in the opening quarter on a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior defensive back Ben Wagler to make it 13-0.
Indian Creek threatened again in the middle of the second quarter, but couldn’t convert on fourth and one from the Titans’ 25-yard line. Late in the first half, Arsenal (3-3) broke the shutout with a 3-yard touchdown pass from senior Damon Hooks to junior TaMarkus King, closing the deficit to 13-7 at halftime.
The Braves swung momentum firmly back their way in the middle of the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Evan Clark capped off a 97-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Bobby Emberton, followed by a two-point conversion run by Mink. The ensuing kickoff by Indian Creek junior Aiden Long took a funky bounce at the Tech 30, and the Braves recovered. Long capped the ensuing drive with a 21-yard field goal to put Indian Creek ahead 24-7.
Clark completed 11 of 20 pass attempts on the night for 106 yards, with the one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Senior Brayden Lowhorn led Indian Creek in receiving with three receptions for 32 yards.
Indian Creek’s defense locked down the Titans, allowing just 146 yards of total offense all night. The Braves particularly dominated on defense in the second half, as Tech picked up only 44 yards after halftime.
“I like the fact that we kind of got ourselves out of a funk,” Goodin said. “Against Greencastle we were in a funk and couldn’t get out of it; this one, we were still able to play really good defense and get over the top on offense, and do some things to get out of our own way.”
Mink took his production to another level in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns to put the game away. He capped a seven-play drive — six of those Mink rushes — with a 1-yard touchdown run. He later added 9- and 53-yard scoring runs, the latter one of his four rushes of 19 yards or more in the final period.
The Braves remain home in Week 8 to take on Sullivan.
