BRAZIL
Indian Creek played tough, but host Northview was able to capture the 2018 Western Indiana Conference title Friday night, 32-22.
Northview was able to draw first blood after an interception by Dominick Eaglin set the Knights up with a short field. Dylan Boor split the uprights from 26 yards out to give the Knights a 3-0 lead over the Braves with 6:40 left in the first quarter.
Indian Creek answered strongly with a 15-play drive that ended with an Isaiah Lacey 2-yard touchdown run with 11:33 to go in the second quarter.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
With left 8:43 until halftime, Northview’s M.J. Shelton powered his way through defenders for a 5-yard touchdown run. Northview took the 10-6 lead to halftime.
Coming into the second half, Northview found itself without starting quarterback Trey Shaw, who left the game with a shoulder injury.
It didn’t slow down Shelton, who opened the second-half scoring with a 48-yard scamper up the middle of the field, extending the lead to 17-6.
Avery Welch helped the Braves answer, as he took a handoff 71 yards for a score with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Indian Creek kept on fighting back. Junior quarterback Wyatt Rund, replacing an injured Lacey after a shot to the head, found wide receiver Reid Crowell to convert a third-and-22 and put the Braves in scoring position.
Lacey re-entered the game to punch in a 2-yard touchdown with 10:02 left in the fourth, taking the lead back for Indian Creek at 22-17.
Lacey finished the game 89 yards rushing and two scores. Avery Welch added 124 yards and score for the Braves.
The Knights were determined to keep their undefeated streak alive, though, and Shelton was the reason they succeeded. He scored again on a 3-yard touchdown with 5:02 left in the fourth to give Northview the 25-22 lead, then added a 1-yard score to put the game away with 1:44 to go.
Shelton finished with a game-high 132 yards rushing and four touchdowns. He added a pass breakup on Indian Creek’s last drive of the game to get the ball back for the Knights.
Indian Creek (5-4) will head into sectional play to face Crispus Attucks (5-3) at Arsenal Tech next Friday.
