Braves shake off slow start

The first quarter of Friday’s Class 3A sectional tilt between Indian Creek and visiting Indianapolis Manual featured plenty of momentum swings.

By the time the second period began, the Braves had control, and they held it the rest of the way for a 44-8 victory.

The Braves (7-3) will play a semifinal game against Cardinal Ritter at Marian University next Friday.

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“They came out ready to compete,” Indian Creek coach Brett Cooper said of the Redskins. “Our kids stood strong and stayed in there, and we came back and got the result we needed.”

Manual (5-5) opened the game with a failed onside kick attempt but got away with it, stopping the Braves on downs at the 14-yard line. The visitors then followed with a 14-play, 86-yard drive, taking an 8-0 lead on a 15-yard pass from Coadie Barnett to De’Angelo Dean and a two-point throw.

They didn’t score again, and the Braves scored plenty, beginning with a 41-yard scoring run by Aaron Hart at the 4:23 mark of the first quarter. Then, after a defensive stop left the Braves with a short field, Taylor Voris scored on a 5-yard keeper and hit Vinny Greene with a two-point pass for a 14-8 lead after one period.

An interception by Tyron Sanders gave Manual an opportunity to regain the upper hand, but Indian Creek forced a three-and-out and followed with a 13-play march that covered 81 yards. Voris converted back-to-back fourth downs on throws to Isaiah Lacey, the second going for a 22-yard score to make it 22-8.

Manual turned the ball over on downs at the Braves’ 18 with less than a minute left in the half, and Indian Creek took advantage. Voris completed passes of 46 and 28 yards to Brad Trietsch and Lacey to set up first and goal, and four plays later Lacey hauled in an 11-yard TD pass as time expired.

“We’ve always practiced it, and it was just time to put it where it really counts and we did our jobs,” Voris said of the quick strike.

Michael Perkins added scoring runs from the 4 and the 1 in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 44-8.

Hart, who came on in relief when starting tailback Avery Welch was injured on the Braves’ second possession, finished with 153 yards rushing on 15 carries. Voris threw for 203 yards, with Lacey catching four balls for 91 yards.