On paper at least, Edinburgh can stand with teams with a rich football pedigree like Center Grove and Roncalli, teams that traditionally start out fast and furious.
That’s because for the first time in more than 20 years, the Lancers have started the season 3-0.
Former conference rival South Decatur became the latest victim, falling to the hosts, 18-7, thanks in huge part to the passing of sophomore Caleb Murphy, the receiving of senior Jarrett Turner, a stellar goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter and a homecoming crowd-pleasing 45-field goal by senior Enrique Callejas.
In short, big plays paid big dividends.
“With the way South Decatur plays, we knew this was going to be a low-scoring game, but we came up with some plays,” Edinburgh coach Tyler DeSpain said. “Technically, our defense had a shutout. They played great and they played the way we expected them to.”
With more freshmen than seniors, it didn’t take a genius to know that South Decatur was lacking in experience, and that was something the Lancers were hoping to exploit early. Unfortunately, quarterback Caleb Murphy’s slant pass was picked off by the Cougars’ Layden Ponsler, who raced untouched 40 yards for the score and a shocking 7-0 lead.
Edinburgh made amends when Murphy shoveled a pass to Turner, who dashed 34 yards for the score to tie the game.
Four minutes later, Murphy hit Turner again, this time for 47 yards. A botched snap on the conversion saw Turner improvise, and his threw to an open Connor Ramey made it a 15-7 Lancer lead.
Just before the half, Callejas hit his career-best field goal to really put the pressure on the Cougars with a two-score lead.
“Enrique is a heck of a kicker,” DeSpain said. “We were in the spot and that’s something we’ve practiced, so we gave him a shot and he came through.”
South Decatur tried controlling the ball on the ground and they were successful at times, driving into Lancer territory and keeping the defense out on the field, but ultimately came up with nothing to show for it.
Edinburgh, for its part, also stalled in the second half after mounting a couple of drives.
“Credit to South Decatur,” DeSpain said. “They knew what we liked to do. They played well.”
Unlike the Lancers’ past two games, where penalties stifled several drives, Edinburgh showed some discipline — until the fourth quarter with four offsides penalties that kept a Cougar drive alive.
But with first and goal on the Lancers’ 2, South Decatur couldn’t pop the ball into the end zone in four tries. Edinburgh’s defense withstood its biggest test of the night and passed it.
“The defense just did their job,” DeSpain said.
Turner rushed for 183 yards. Murphy passed for more than 150 yards, two touchdowns and his first two interceptions of the year.
The only thing that mattered, though, was the scoreboard.
Edinburgh travels to southeastern Indiana to take on Switzerland County next Friday evening. A win there would mark the school’s first 4-0 start since 1961.
