Brownstown Central constructed the shotgun Wing-T offense to beat teams like Evansville Memorial.

On Friday, the Braves’ attacking unit plans to continue steamrolling through 2016 at Blevins Memorial Stadium.

“When I went to this offense, my hope was that it would give us an advantage over a team like Memorial,” Braves coach Reed May said. “It’s an offense that teams don’t see. Nobody runs what we do. Southridge ran something similar, but it’s still not we do. When you run it at full speed, it’s like ‘holy cow.’ We give problems to people with what we do offensively.”

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Opposing defenses have faltered in their attempts to contain the Braves (11-1).

In three games this postseason, the Braves have averaged 47 points per game while allowing just 24 total points against, including a shutout against Brown County.

Against Southridge, in the Class 3A Sectional 31 Championship last week, Brownstown posted 386 rushing yards with an additional 131 through the air.

The Braves built an insurmountable 37-7 advantage by half and went to cruise control after posting 13 more points in the third quarter.

Senior QB Kyle Kramer ran 70 yards with three TDs on the ground.

The dominant year for senior Gavin Bane also continued, as he broke the school record for rushing TDs (now 25) and tied the career scoring record (418 points).

Bane ran for 151 yards on just seven carries while adding 78 receiving yards, including a 12-yard scoring pass from Kramer.

May has continually credited the guys in the trenches for helping put points on the board.

“The bottom line is our offensive line is doing a pretty good job right now,” May said. “Come Friday, we will see stiffer competition. We’re going to see two defensive ends that are really good. Their whole defensive package has good personnel.”

On the other side of the ball, the Braves’ defense has stepped up in a major way.

Southridge was averaging near 35 points per game heading into their game versus the Braves.

The Braves’ defense gave up 209 total offensive yards to the Raiders while also holding the Raiders scoreless in two quarters.

Lendon Underwood and Gus Hogan each had 10 tackles for the Braves while Devin Stuckwisch added a sack and Cameron Eggersman blocked a punt and managed six tackles.

May said that the defense came in prepared, and it showed.

“One of the benefits we have is our weight class,” May said. “The kids get to watch a lot of film. We will have the scouting report with their assignment and keys. By Friday, they need to have them down pat. Southridge is a perfect example where we played our defensively responsibility pretty well. That’s what we need to do this week.”

Looking at the season’s schedules, Memorial’s opponents have gone 76-45 while Brownstown Central’s have combined for 62-66.

Memorial’s losses have come to cross-city schools Evansville Mater Dei, Reitz and Central.

Quite possibly their biggest win of 2016 is against former Class 3A No. 1 Gibson Southern, who they knocked-out in the first-round 29-20.

Gibson Southern topped Brownstown in the 2013 and 2015 regional showdowns.

Like the Braves, Memorial hasn’t lacked an offense.

In the Sectional 32 Championship, the Tigers shellacked Sullivan 63-35.

They’re scoring 47 points per game in the tournament.

Sophomore quarterback Michael Lindauer has 2,229 passing yards with 27 passing touchdowns.

The Tigers have three receivers with over 500 yards, led by Matt Kiesel’s 746 yards with 18 touchdowns.

They’re also not afraid to run the ball.

Running back Kenyon Ervin has amassed 1,337 yards with 18 TDs on the season.

“If they think they can pound the ball on you, they’re going to run the ‘I,’” May said. “If they don’t think so, they will spread it out and throw. Their quarterback is only a sophomore, but he’s a pretty good sophomore. At regional, you are going to face teams that are balanced and can run both.

“They’re an excellent, well-coached football team. They do so many thing offensively that we need to have a solid game plan. Southridge was one type of offense: a wing-T type. Now, it’s a totally different offense.”

Memorial’s defense is giving up 26 points per game in the postseason.

With 27 takeaways and 27 sacks, the Tigers’ defense goes after ball carriers.

Brownstown Central has dropped three consecutive regional contests, and holds a 2-9 record that game after winning sectional titles. They won in 2004 and 2008.

The winner of Friday’s contest will face the victor of Danville and Lawrenceburg.

Should both BCHS and Danville win, the Braves will host semistate.

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Regional

What: Evansville Memorial (9-3) at  Brownstown Central (11-1)

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Radio: 96.3 WJAA

Where: Blevins Memorial Stadium

Last outing: Evansville Memorial def. Sullivan 63-35 (Sectional 32 Championship), Brownstown Central def. Southridge 50-14.

Previous meeting: No meetings.

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