By JACOB MOORE | For The Democrat
Brown County High School faced off against rival Indian Creek High School at the Sept. 10 football home game where the winner was determined at the last minute.
Ultimately, the Eagles fell to the Braves 13-12.
Early on, each team scored on its first offensive possession. The Eagles struck first when senior quarterback Seth Oliphant scored on a designed run from 12 yards out.
The Eagles attempted a two-point conversion, but Oliphant was stopped mere inches short of the goal line. Still, the Eagles led 6-0 at the 8:02 mark of the first quarter.
The visiting Braves countered with their own scoring drive, capped with a 24 yard scramble by sophomore quarterback Jackson Wise. Junior Indian Creek kicker Guillermo Martinez-Fernandez tacked on an extra point. With 4:21 left in the first quarter, the Braves led 7-6.
The teams had put two touchdowns on the board in under eight minutes of game time. But the 7-6 Indian Creek lead would stubbornly remain until less than four minutes remained on the clock.
The fourth quarter was a see-saw of momentum with each team seeing opportunities to clinch the game slip away.
A fake punt with 9:30 to play seemed to give Indian Creek a boost. The Braves faced fourth and nine from their own 40 yard line. Punter Brandon Murray, who is also a running back, took the snap, but then ran down the right sideline for a gain of 15 yards.
Luckily for the Eagles, a personal foul penalty against the Braves moved the ball almost exactly back to the line of scrimmage and forced an actual punt.
On the ensuing possession, the Eagles faced fourth and one on their own 49 yard line, but were stopped short by blitzing Indian Creek defenders.
In turn, Indian Creek would face a fourth and two at the Brown County 39 yard line. The Braves attempted a trick play in which a receiver in motion prior to the snap would stop suddenly behind the center, take the snap and perform what would normally be thought of as a “quarterback” sneak. The snap was bobbled though, and that delay allowed the Eagles to slam into the runner and stop him short.
Brown County took possession at its own 38 yard line, but with less than five minutes to play time was running short.
Senior wide receiver Malachi Nickels made a needed play with a 30 yard reception, which could easily turn out to be the catch of the year. At Indian Creek’s 32 yard line, Nickels hauled in the pass on the sideline while dragging a foot inbounds and falling backward.
Three plays later, with 3:22 left in the game, senior running back Wanblee Roux broke the scoring drought with a six yard touchdown run. Oliphant was sacked on the two-point conversion attempt leaving the Eagles with a 12-7 lead.
For the first time in more than three quarters, Brown County had the lead and the defense stepped up. Senior defensive tackle Jack Redding sacked Indian Creek’s Wise to force a third and 20 from the Braves’ 31 yard line. On the next play, junior linebacker Ethan Spiece sacked Wise from behind and forced a fumble, which the Eagles recovered with two minutes to play.
Brown County moved the ball conservatively and burned the clock, forcing Indian Creek to use all its time outs. With 25 seconds to play, the Eagles faced fourth and one from the 16 yard line. A penalty would make it fourth and six.
A first down would effectively end the game, while a turnover on downs would stop the clock and give Indian Creek the ball back with an opportunity for a trick play or heave to the end zone.
Unfortunately for Brown County, the next play would see a remarkable stroke of luck for the Braves. The snap was taken, but the would-be handoff was bobbled.
Indian Creek senior linebacker James Kelly was there at the right moment to wrench the ball away. Kelly took the ball almost without breaking stride. Then with no one between him and the end zone, he sprinted 79 yards for a touchdown.
The extra point was blocked leaving the Braves with a 13-12 lead with 12 seconds to play.
Brown County would attempt a lateral on the ensuing kickoff, which would ultimately result in a fumble and Indian Creek recovering to secure the win.
“It was a great play by their guy. It was unbelievable timing. He was in the right place at the right time,” assistant coach Kevin Greve said about the last minute touchdown.
The loss evens the Eagles’ season record at 2-2 following wins against Jennings County and Cloverdale then a season opening loss to Owen Valley.
Brown County will next play on Sept. 17 at West Vigo.
