Explosive, evasive and agile while cradling the ball, few halted Gavin Bane on his conquests to the end zone in 2016.
This past fall, the senior etched his name in history at Brownstown Central.
Bane set eight school records for the Braves (12-2), as the program advanced all the way to a Class 3A semistate championship game after claiming sectional and regional titles.
The offensive juggernaut accounted for 2,684 of the Braves’ 6,465 all purpose yards and 274 of 660 total points.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryEvery game, in any phase of the game, the opposition keyed in on where Bane lined up on the field.
He scored a record five touchdowns twice, in two of the biggest games of the season, against Seymour in the Jackson Bowl and at Lawrenceburg at the semistate.
“Your best player is going to step up in big games,” Braves coach Reed May said. “Gavin scored five touchdowns against Seymour and Lawrenceburg, and also had great games against Southridge (sectional championship) and Evansville Memorial (regional). In big games, he played. If your best player doesn’t make big plays in big game, you’re in trouble. He made the big plays.”
With all his accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Bane the 2016 Jackson County Football Player of the Year.
Boasting a number of seniors in 2014, Bane saw few reps with the Braves as a sophomore before emerging on the scene as the starting back his junior season.
In 2015, Bane totaled 1,306 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns.
After last year’s numbers, the Brownstown Central staff knew Bane could have a monster season ahead of him.
“To break eight school records is a great accomplishment — we’ve had some pretty good running backs here,” May said. “Coach Clark Smith and I were talking on Friday, and were wondering why we didn’t play him more as a sophomore. We had pretty good slots, but wondered what he could he have done if he had played that year and more than half the game half of the time this year. It’s a great accomplishment for him; he’s something special.”
Going into his senior year, Bane set high expectations on both himself and the team.
“As a team, I felt like we could go undefeated,” Bane said. “We had a lot of linemen and backs coming back. As an individual, I wanted to get all the records. I felt like I had a pretty decent year (in 2015). This year, I felt like I could build off that and get five or six records.”
While Bane said that he’s happy to hold a number of records, the most special accomplishment was the career touchdown mark: 43 total.
By the season’s end, Bane rushed for 1,694 yards and 31 TDs. He was senior quarterback Kyle Kramer’s favorite target, grabbing 25 catches for 742 yards and 10 receiving TDs. On 2-pt conversions, Bane found the endzones eight times.
He averaged an outlandish 11.7 yards per carry on 124 rushing attempts.
At defensive back, Bane amassed 43 tackles and snagged two interceptions (one for a touchdown).
He also handled kick and punt returns, and took one to the house on the game’s opening play against Charlestown.
Often times, Bane rotated with Kramer at defensive back in the first half. However, in the second half, he didn’t come off the field unless the Braves had a substantial lead.
At just 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, Bane used his quickness and vision to pick up extra yardage.
“I’m always thinking which way to cut before the play,” Bane said. “I look up as soon as I get the ball and see which way the defense is moving. I cut one way based on where everyone is lined up.”
Bane credited the offensive line for their work this past season.
“They knew their assignments and stayed on their blocks,” Bane said. “They did a really good job off contact. We used our strength and size to push the defense away. I made my move from there.”
Often times, teams shadowed Bane every time he stepped on the field.
“A lot of times they would put their best player opposite of him,” May said. “I kept going into each big game thinking that they’re going to try and stop Gavin — they didn’t. What we do offensively makes it hard to key on him. Lawrenceburg put an (all-state) outside linebacker on him, trying to key him, and it didn’t work.”
Bane said that he plans on playing college football, but hasn’t committed to any programs yet.
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Joining Gavin Bane on the 2016 All-Jackson County Football team:
Kyle Kramer, Brownstown Central, Senior, QB/P
Accomplishments/key stats: All-Mid-Southern Conference. 791 rushing yards, 31 rushing touchdowns. 1,292 passing yards, 14 passing TDs. Converted 10 2-Pt conversions. 533 punting yards on 17 attempts (long of 64).
Devin Stuckwisch, Brownstown Central, Senior, LB/FB
Accomplishments/key stats: All-MSC. 52 tackles (17 solo, 35 assist). 2 sacks, 10 tackles for losses, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. 319 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs.
Lendon Underwood, Brownstown Central, Junior, G/DL
Accomplishments/key stats: IFCA Class 3A All-State Junior on OL. All-MSC honorable mention. Played on offensive line that gained 4,581 rushing yards, 1,292 passing yards and scored 240 points. 65 tackles (17 solo, 48 assist), 2 sacks.
Cameron Eggersman, Brownstown Central, Senior, LB/OL
Accomplishments/key stats: All-MSC. Led BC with 78 tackles (25 solo, 53 assist), 11 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 INT. 1 blocked kick.
Clark Hauer, Brownstown Central, Senior, C
Accomplishments/key stats: IFCA Class 3A All-State Senior on OL. All-MSC. Played on offensive line that gained 4,581 rushing yards, 1,292 passing yards and scored 240 points.
Derek Rieckers, Brownstown Central, Senior DB/RB
Accomplishments/key stats: All-MSC. 454 rushing yards, 6 rushing TD. 159 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs. 32 tackles (18 solo, 14 assist), 1 sack, 2 INT. 2 blocked kicks.
Trevor Colby, Brownstown Central, Senior, LB/G
Accomplishments/key stats: 70 tackles (22 solo, 48 assist), 7 sacks (team high), 9 TFL. Played on offensive line that gained 4,581 rushing yards, 1,292 passing yards and scored 240 points.
Lance Goecker, Brownstown Central, Senior LB/FB
Accomplishments/key stats: All-MSC honorable mention. 44 tackles (16 solo, 28 assist), 5 TFL, 3 FR. 227 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD.
Andrew Murphy, Brownstown Central, Senior, DB/RB
Accomplishments/key stats: All-MSC honorable mention. 56 tackles (22 solo, 34 assist), 3 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FR.
Carson Lambring, Brownstown Central, Senior, DB/WR
Accomplishments: 34 tackles (24 solo, 10 assists). 2 TFL, 3 INT. 140 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD.
Gus Hogan, Brownstown Central, Senior, RB/DB
Accomplishments/key stats: 457 rushing yards, 6 rushing TD. 47 tackles (11 solo, 36 assists), 5 TFL.
Tyler Neal, Brownstown Central, Senior, TE/LB
Accomplishments/key stats: Played on offensive line that gained 4,581 rushing yards, 1,292 passing yards and scored 240 points.
Alan Perry, Seymour, Junior, QB
Accomplishments/key stats: 1st Team All-Hoosier Hills Conference Quarterback. Team captain. 23 rushing touchdowns (school record) and 35 total touchdowns. 1,572 yards passing, 1,173 yards rushing for 2,745 yards total offense. 7 2-pt conversions. 152 total points scored. Holds SHS career records for passing (4,526) and total offense (6,649). Tied for third all-time with touchdowns in a game with 5, and is third in career rushing touchdowns with 35.
Jackson Morris, Seymour, Senior, WR
Accomplishments/key stats: Honorable Mention All-HHC Wide Receiver. All-time career receptions leader (141 receptions). 51 receptions, 680 yards, 6 receiving TDs. 51 carries, 352 yards rushing, 4 rushing TDs. 5 2-pt conversions.
Cailen Shepherd, Seymour, Senior, OL
Accomplishments/key stats: Part of an offensive line that helped the team average 249 yards rushing per game and 31 points per game. Offensive line gained 2,992 rushing yards, 1,608 passing and scored 52 total TD.
Nick Richert, Seymour, Senior, OL/DL
Accomplishments/key stats: Honorable Mention All-HHC on both Offense and Defense. Part of an offensive line that helped the team average 249 yards rushing per game and 31 points per game. 65 tackles (53 solo, 12 assist), 3 sacks, 5 TFL. Offensive line gained 2,992 rushing yards, 1,608 passing and scored 52 total TD. Team captain.
Dalton Miller, Seymour, Senior, DL/C
Accomplishments/key stats: 51 tackles (43 solo, 8 assist), 6 TFL, 1 sack.
Todd Kiewitt, Seymour, Senior, LB
Accomplishments/key stats: 1st team All-HHC linebacker. Played in 6 1/2 games and was lost to injury in week 7, but still finished with 67 tackles (56 solo, 11 assist), 8 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 blocked punt.
Evens Cribs, Seymour, Senior, DB
Accomplishments/key stats: Honorable Mention All-HHC Defensive Back. 1 INT, 2 FR, team-high 78 tackles (56 solo, 22 assist). Team Captain.
Zach Carpenter, Seymour, Senior, RB
Accomplishments/key stats: 814 yards rushing, 8 rushing TD. 147 yards receiving and 2 receiving TDs. 5 2-pt conversions.
Haden Mettert, Seymour, Sophomore, G
Accomplishments/key stats: Helped the team average 249 yards rushing and over 31 points per game on the OL.
Nathan O’Mara, Seymour, Sophomore, RB/WR
Accomplishments/key stats: 557 yards rushing, 4 rushing TD. 252 yards receiving on 26 receptions. 5 2-pt conversions.
Alex Franklin, Seymour, Senior, LB
Accomplishments/key stats: 75 tackles (57 solo, 18 assist), 2 TFL, 1 INT.
Nick James, Seymour, Senior, DB
Accomplishments/key stats: 68 tackles (47 solo, 21 assist), 1 INT.
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2016 Jackson County Player of the Year
Gavin Bane, Brownstown Central, Senior, RB/LB
Rushing: 1,694 yards, 31 TD.
Receiving: 25 catches, 742 yards, 10 TD.
Defense: 43 total tackles (21 solo, 22 assist), 2 INT (1 for TD).
Honors: IFCA Class 3A All-State Senior at RB. All-Mid-Southern Conference.
Other: 2,436 yards of offense and scored 258 total points. Converted 8 2-pt conversions. 1 kickoff return TD. 1 blocked kick.
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Brownstown Central senior Gavin Bane broke eight school records during the 2016 football season.
- Most points in a game (32 versus Lawrenceburg)
- Most points in a season (274)
- Most points in a career (452)
- Most touchdowns in a game (five versus Seymour, Lawrenceburg)
- Most touchdowns in a season (43)
- Most touchdowns in a career (71)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a game (five versus Lawrenceburg)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a season (31)
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