By T.A. Golden
For the Daily Journal
Near the midway mark of the second quarter, visiting Edgewood had to feel pretty good about its chances against Indian Creek in their Class 3A sectional quarterfinal.
A 12-yard run by sophomore quarterback Braxton Carpenter put the Mustangs at the Braves’ 41-yard line. Indian Creek was up 14-0, but the Mustangs were threatening.
That threat was quickly squelched by Edgewood’s own hand. Then Indian Creek grabbed the wheel, hit the gas, and steered themselves to victory.
The Braves scored three times in the final 1:35 of the first half to put the contest firmly in their hands, going on to earn a 35-7 victory to advance to a semifinal game at North Harrison, a 30-7 winner over Corydon Central.
It was a nice recovery for Indian Creek a week after a difficult regular-season-ending 48-7 defeat at Northview that decided the Western Indiana Conference Gold Division title.
“We were beat up after Northview, physically, emotionally; it was a hard loss for us,” Indian Creek coach Max Goodin said. “We didn’t play the way we wanted to, and I felt like there was a lot of emotion that we wanted to get out this week. And when we saw that and we had the opportunity, we just buried a team.”
Indian Creek had 371 yards of total offense in a game shortened by the running clock, averaging 12.7 yards per play. Running back Malachi Mink rushed for 196 yards and two long touchdowns. Quarterback Evan Clark completed 13 of 21 passes for 144 yards and three touchdown passes, and the freshman also ran in a touchdown. Bobby Emberton had six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Jaxon Ramey caught two touchdown passes and had 60 yards.
Indian Creek’s defense held the Mustangs to 63 yards and just three first downs in the opening half. The points Edgewood scored were tallied by the Mustangs’ defense in the second half, so the Indian Creek defense was unblemished.
“I always say it is that they don’t put yards on the scoreboard,” Goodin said. “Even though they did sustain a couple drives, we got off the field when we needed to. I’m really proud of that group.”
The Braves got off to a strong start. A 27-yard run by Mink set the tone and Indian Creek’s 60-yard series was capped by a 20-yard touchdown catch by Bobby Emberton to give the Braves the upper hand.
Edgewood held firm for a bit as Clark tried to attain rhythm. On the first series of the second quarter, a couple of sideline completions got Clark into the groove he sought. He then delivered a nice pass to Ramey for a 25-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to put Indian Creek up 14-0.
Edgewood stopped itself on its promising subsequent drive. Twenty yards in penalties after that 12-yard Carpenter run sent the Mustangs back into their own territory and then Ramey intercepted a Carpenter pass, returning it deep into Edgewood territory.
“I’ve dabbled on each side of the ball. I’ve loved it. It’s been physically and mentally demanding, but I couldn’t ask for anything else,” Ramey said of making plays on both sides of the field.
A penalty on the interception return shaved some of the return yardage off. It mattered not. A methodical nine-play, 45-yard drive was finished off by a 3-yard Clark keeper. The extra point was missed, but Indian Creek led 20-0.
That blocked PAT kick would also matter not because Edgewood remained generous. After a three-and-out series, Indian Creek quickly capitalized. Mink burst through the line on the right, cut left, and bounded to daylight. His 68-yard run and a subsequent two-point conversion by Clark made it 28-0 with 35.9 seconds left in the first half.
Indian Creek wasn’t done and may have saved its best for last. Edgewood fumbled away the kickoff to the Braves, and on their third play, Clark went to the left corner. His pass sailed high, but Ramey made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch to give Indian Creek a 35-0 halftime lead.
“When he gives you an opportunity like that, you’ve got to seize it,” Ramey said.
The Braves had scored 21 points in 1:19 of game time, triggering a second-half running clock which should save wear and tear.
The only blemish against Indian Creek was a 9-yard interception by Edgewood’s Lincoln Getts in the fourth quarter as he stepped in front of a screen pass.
