FB: 3A #13 Indian Creek wins 10-0 mud bog over Triton Central

By E. Shawn Aylsworth

Managing Editor

TRAFALGAR – On a chilly night featuring a rain-soaked playing field akin to pig slop, with several ranked schools either falling or getting scared out of their wits by decided underdogs, Class 3A No. 13 host Indian Creek took care of business with a 10-0 victory that probably earned the school’s fifth Mid-Indiana Football Conference title in the last eight seasons.

It was the fourth shutout of the year for Indian Creek (8-0 overall, 4-0 in league play), which has outscored its eight opponents 288-39. The Braves will finish their regular season Oct. 16 with a conference game at South Decatur (4-4, 2-2), a team it has beaten five straight years and seven of the last eight.

The Cougars – coming off a 40-0 Week 8 road beatdown of North Decatur – lost at home to Triton Central, 45-14, two weeks ago.

The writing was on the wall early in this one as heavy rain, thick mud, and a healthy dose of defense on both sides of the ball wrought turnovers on two of the game’s first five plays. Those items were especially in force against Indian Creek junior quarterback Trey Reese, who came into the contest eighth in the state at 213.3 passing yards per game and sixth with 19 touchdowns – against ZERO interceptions.

Reese would toil through a difficult 2-of-13 performance for just 35 yards, though he did balance that a bit by rushing 12 times for 64 yards. But his mates on defense would get him the ball back early five times on four interceptions of sophomore counterpart Luke Stephenson (5 of 13 for 57 yards) and one fumble recovery.

The fumble turned out to be huge for Triton Central (6-2, 3-1), which converted a rain-soaked 4th and 19 pass into 1st and goal at the Indian Creek 4 just before the half. But Stephenson fumbled the snap on the next play, and junior defensive lineman Scott Burks recovered to allow the Braves to run out the clock.

A touchdown at that juncture could have tied the game after Indian Creek struck first on the second play of the second quarter when senior running back Brandon Cochran (25 carries for a game-high 120 yards) scored on a four-yard run. Reese completed both of his evening’s passes on the drive to junior wide receiver Jordan Jackson (72.6 yards per game coming in), including an 11-yard strike on 3rd and 9 the play before Cochran roared up the middle to paydirt – er, mud.

Indian Creek, which finished with significant advantages in first downs (15-6) and rushing yards (51 carries for 188 yards compared with 33 carries for 66 yards), virtually clinched the game on a 24-yard field goal by Fabian Ritz with just under eight minutes to go that followed the first of three fourth-quarter interceptions for Stephenson.

Triton Central will return home next Friday to face Milan (6-2, 3-1), a 66-0 Week 8 home winner against Edinburgh. The winner will finish second outright in the conference unless Indian Creek stumbles in Greensburg.

The box score:

Triton Central 0 0 0 0 – 0

Indian Creek 0 7 0 3 – 10

IC – Brandon Cochran 4 run (Fabian Ritz kick)

IC – Ritz 24 FG

TC IC

First Downs 6 15

Rushes-Yards 33-66 51-188

Passing Yards 57 35

Comp-Att-Int 5-13-4 2-13-0

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 7-70 8-55