Braves, Rams to clash in sectional finals

BROWNSTOWN — Friday’s Class 2A Sectional 31 football championship matchup is a rematch from last year.

Last year saw Brownstown Central defeat Paoli 28-21 at Blevins Stadium, and this year the action shifts to Paoli’s Cook Field.

The Braves are playing in the sectional championship game for the 11th straight year, and it’s the 14th time playing in the game in coach Reed May’s 17 years.

“We’re very proud of that,” May said. “Eleven years in a row, that’s quite an achievement for our program. Obviously, we don’t want to stop there. We’d like to win the game Friday.”

The Braves enter the game with an 8-3 record, while Paoli is perfect through 11 games. After last year’s game, May expected Paoli to be the favorite this year because of the Rams practically having the same team returning.

“There are just so many similarities between last year and this year,” May said. “Last year, we had the tough draw, and I think this year they had the tough draw. Last year we were an experienced team. This year they are the experienced team. Last year we played at home. This year they’re playing at home.”

May said his team will have to bring its A-game.

“(The Rams) are averaging 41 points a game and averaging giving up 5,” May said. “They’ve done well on both sides of the ball, plus special teams. Anytime you have a big game, it’s going to come down to special teams, come down to who doesn’t turn the ball over and come down to four or five big plays.

“I tell our kids that all the time, you don’t know when the four or five big plays are going to happen, so you need to be 100 percent all the game.”

The Braves are zeroed in on Paoli quarterback Logan Laswell, who last year rushed for more than 200 yards against the Braves.

“Their quarterback is a heck of an athlete,” May said. “He’s going to carry the ball 15, 20 times a game on their option plays, and he hurt us last year. We’ve got to have a better scheme to try and slow him down a little bit anyway.”

The Braves have had to overcome several obstacles this year, including suspensions, injuries, illness, a death close to the team and three losses.

“It’s kind of unusual for our team to lose three football games, and I think everything compounded, it’s been a long year,” May said. “If you win the sectional championship, the three losses really don’t matter a whole heck of a lot. I think just getting here is a great achievement, but obviously winning it is a better achievement.

“To get to the sectional championship, there are a lot of schools that have never been to the sectional championship game. I told the kids to enjoy it. This is a week that you need to enjoy the whole experience.”

Last week

After Lawrenceburg’s early score last Friday, the Braves were able to shut them down the rest of the way for a 14-7 win.

Once the Braves regrouped from giving up the 57-yard kickoff return and 19-yard score, May said, “I thought we played outstanding defense. Offensively, we were able to move the ball quite a bit and were able to control the ball.”

The Braves ran 63 offensive plays to the Tigers’ 29. Overall, May said it was a good team win.

“Coach (Dan) Schwartz did a great job calling the defense,” May said. “Offensively, by controlling the ball, they were not able to get anything started, so it was a team effort. I thought our special teams played better finally, except for the opening kickoff return.”

Seniors’ thoughts on semifinals, finals

Senior quarterback Ryan Shoemaker threw the ball well in Friday’s sectional semifinal game, despite the steady rain.

“I felt pretty comfortable, and the big play to (Michael) Leitzman really helped out and really opened things up,” Shoemaker said. “We’ve got a nice balance running the ball and throwing the ball here in the tournament.”

That, he said, will have to carry into the finals game.

“I think once you get so far in the tournament, you’re going to play better teams every week and you have to be able to throw the ball and have good balance running the ball,” Shoemaker said. “(The Rams) are a really good football team. They score a lot of points. They play really good defense. I think we’re going to have to be able to move the ball and slow them down and give ourselves a chance to win at the end of the game.”

Leitzman, who scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Shoemaker, thought Lawrenceburg had a good game plan last week, but he said the Braves executed.

“The weather kind of slowed both teams down offensively, but it was good to win the game,” Leitzman said. “I just think we did a good job of reading our keys on defense and we flew around a lot.”

He expects the sectional finals game to be different.

“It’s going to be a big atmosphere down there,” Leitzman said. “They’ll be pumped up with it being a rematch of last year’s game. They’ve shown that they can pass the ball, too, so they might pass a lot more and they’ve got really good athletes. We’ve got to not turn the ball over, we’ve got to really make our reads on defense and take care of the ball.”

Andrew Allman made two big stops in the fourth quarter of last week’s game, including one on the Tigers’ last possession.

“I think it was really important stopping them right there at the end, not letting any big plays happen,” Allman said. “I thought our defense stepped up really good in that game, and we would just like that to carry over to this week.

“We’re definitely going to have to move the ball really good, and our defensive backs are going to have to do a better job of covering their receivers and knocking down passes. (The Rams) think they are going to state, so it would be nice to get an upset on them. We’re all going to have to play the best that we can, and we’re going to have to have the best game we can play.”

Running back Kaeler Persinger felt once the Braves overcame the kickoff return, they were in control, and this week, he said, “Defensively, we will have to play good and do all of our assignments and not mess up, and stop their running game.”

Guard and tackle Logan Mills said the Tigers had size, while the Rams have quickness.

“I don’t think Paoli is as big, but they are faster and we’re going to have to slow them down,” Mills said, “just shutting down the dive option with the fullback and quarterback and really reading our keys on defense and moving the ball offensively and scoring points.”

All of the seniors are excited about being in the sectional finals, but they realize this is a new year.

“We were there last year, but that was last year and this is this year,” Mills said. “If you’re going to win, you’ve got to prove to yourself that you’re the better team.”

Special awards

Coaches’ special awards from Lawrenceburg game: Kelley Wagner, offensive back most valuable player; Scott Baker, offensive line MVP; Caleb Silvers, defensive line/inside linebacker MVP; Kaeler Persinger, defensive back/dime MVP; Spencer Allman, special teams MVP; Skyler Sitterding, scout team MVP; Persinger, Wagner, Silvers, Justin Lane, black jersey winners.

Probable starters

Brownstown Central offense

QB-Ryan Shoemaker (170)

RB-Caleb Silvers (190)

RB-Kaeler Persinger (155)

FB-Kelley Wagner (215)

WR-Spencer Allman (200)

WR-Michael Leitzman (165)

T-Justin Lane (210)

T-Casey Bowling (210)

C-Scott Baker (185)

G-David Baker (235)

G-Logan Mills (225)

Brownstown Central defense

LB-Kelley Wagner (215)

LB-Spencer Allman (200)

LB-Caleb Silvers (190)

LB-Andrew Allman (175)

S-Braden Scarlett (155)

S-Kaeler Persinger (155)

T-David Baker (235)

T-Logan Mills (225)

N-Casey Bowling (210)

CB-Michael Leitzman (165)

CB-Wade Toppe (145)

Brownstown Central at Paoli

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

Radio: WJAA 96.3 FM

Records: Brownstown Central 8-3, Paoli 11-0

Previous meeting: Brownstown Central won 28-21 in sectional finals Nov. 7, 2008

Coaches: Reed May, 166-35 in 17th year at Brownstown Central; Brian Balsmeyer, 27-17 in fourth year at Paoli