Brownstown Central’s offense keeps rolling for league title

CORYDON

A relentless offensive attack carried Brownstown Central’s football team to a comfortable 59-29 victory against Corydon Central on Friday night.

The Braves (8-1) scored on eight of their 10 possessions, with one of the non-scoring possessions marred by an 85-yard touchdown play that was nullified by an illegal procedure penalty. Brownstown finished with 478 total yards and averaged 10 yards per offensive play.

“It’s tough to prepare for our offense right now,” Brownstown head coach Reed May said. “(Gavin) Bane is doing a great job. (Derek) Rieckers is coming into his own. I’m hoping our offense is playing well, but as we get farther into the tournament and start seeing better defenses, we’ll learn more.”

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Friday’s win was highlighted by personal and team accomplishments. Bane scored four more touchdowns, giving him 28 for the season and tying Brownstown’s single-season touchdown record (set by Levi Nehrt in 2001).

Bane’s 24 points boosted his season total to 178, just one point shy of the school single-season mark, set in 2001 by Clayton Beard.

As for team achievements, with Friday’s victory, the Braves claimed the Mid-Southern Conference title outright, their 16th MSC crown in the last 24 years and fifth in the last seven years. Their perfect 7-0 conference record marked the 14th time that the Braves have emerged from the MSC undefeated.

“Sixteen titles in 24 years is impressive. I’m proud of our program,” May said. “It’s a great achievement for our kids and something they can look back on.”

Brownstown’s offense got to work immediately against Corydon, scoring twice inside the game’s first four minutes.

Bane started the onslaught with a three-yard run at the 9:17 mark of the first quarter. Corydon fumbled the ensuing kickoff, recovered by Gus Hogan, setting up a nifty 35-yard run by Lance Goecker that gave Brownstown a quick 16-0 lead.

To stop Corydon’s talented running attack led by Austin Kopp and quarterback Alec Saulman, Brownstown pressed its safeties forward to crowd the line. Saulman took advantage, completing touchdown passes of 21 yards and 45 yards to pull the Panthers to within 10 points late in the first quarter.

But after Brownstown adjusted, pulling its safeties back, Corydon never seriously threatened the rest of the game as the Braves’ offense kept churning.

A four-yard TD run by Devin Stuckwisch, followed by three consecutive TDs by Bane extended the lead to 45-14. Rieckers and Hogan added touchdowns in the second half.

Bane led Brownstown runners with 100 yards on 10 carries, followed by Rieckers with 94 yards on eight attempts. Brownstown quarterback Kyle Kramer finished with 68 yards on 3-for-6 passing.

Besides Hogan’s recovery, the Braves got takeaways from Joe Barnes and Braden Neal. Noah Reynolds contributed a sack for an 11-yard loss. Bane augmented his offensive performance with a tackle for loss.

Brownstown now turns its attention to the postseason, opening Sectional 31 play at home next Friday against Brown County (1-8). A victory against the Eagles would set up a semifinal matchup with the winner of the Salem-Corydon game.

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