Seniors help Braves roll past Rockets

DAILY JOURNAL SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

For their final regular-season home game, Indian Creek’s 11 seniors put on quite a show Friday night.

Against an overmatched Class 2A Broad Ripple squad, the host Class 3A Braves exploded for six touchdowns on offense and four interceptions on defense in the first 24 minutes. After taking a comfortable 38-0 lead into halftime, the Braves cruised to a 57-8 win.

Indian Creek (5-3) took the opening kickoff and drove to the Rockets’ 23-yard line before fumbling the ball away.

That was about the Braves’ only negative play of the night.

After forcing a quick Broad Ripple punt, the Braves scored on their next six possessions. Senior Elijah Dunn punched it in on runs of nine and two yards. Senior Jordan Summers took a handoff from Dunn on a reverse and raced 23 yards to the end zone.

Quarterback Gynson Robley, another senior, threw for three scores. He connected with junior Parker Osborn on a 15-yard pass. And he hit junior Bryce Hogue twice, on passes of 2 and 67 yards.

In the first half alone, the Braves’ ground game racked up 142 yards on 15 carries. Dunn led the way with 98 yards on 12 attempts. Robley played through the first two possessions of the second half and ended the night 17 of 25 for 266 yards.

Hogue returned to action after missing last week’s game due to a concussion. He caught five balls for 105 yards.

The Indian Creek defense had another stellar night, as well. It limited the Rockets (1-7) to just three yards on the ground and 109 in the air in the first half. The Braves forced six turnovers, picking off Broad Ripple quarterbacks five times and recovering one fumble. Seniors accounted for three of the picks, with Austin Coy grabbing two while Ivan DeYoe snared one.

Coy’s second interception, early in the third quarter, set up one more Indian Creek senior for his moment in the spotlight. Running back Joe Baker took the ball on every snap, rushing five times for 32 yards, and finished the drive with a 3-yard plunge for the score.

Coach Mike Gillin said it was a good night.

“We got what we needed. We played three strong quarters,” Gillin said. “We had a good balanced attack on offense.”

He was also pleased that the Braves did not look past Broad Ripple, which dressed just 22 players for the game.

“These guys still have goals to meet,” Gillin said. “We were disappointed with the Eastern Hancock debacle early in the year. We’ve dedicated ourselves to be as good as we can at the end of the season.

“I think right now we’re right on track for that.”

Indian Creek returns to Mid-Indiana Football Conference play in Friday’s regular-season finale at South Decatur.