By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
INDIANAPOLIS – The northwestside of Indianapolis has been keeping a secret: Brebeuf has a pretty good Class 3A football team. That secret was revealed to traditional 2A power Speedway in impressive fashion Oct. 17 as Brebeuf shocked the 13th-ranked Sparkplugs, 34-14, in a game that was not really as close as the score would indicate.
(CHECK OUT THE VIDEO PLAYER ON OUR STATE PAGE FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS!)
The Braves (7-2) used an explosive, big-play offense to sprint to a 27-0 lead early in the third quarter and never looked back. In all honesty, however, the visiting ’Plugs needed someone to tell them at halftime to put away the gun they had been shooting themselves in the foot with before someone really got hurt.
Speedway’s largess began at the end of its second possession. Unable to move the ball out of their own end of the field, the Sparkplugs botched a punt snap and managed only to get off a weak desperation kick.
The mistake gave Brebeuf the ball at the Speedway 41-yard line to start its second drive. The Braves quickly cashed in on a 12-yard touchdown pass over the middle from junior quarterback Mitch Overley to Ryan Huguenard.
The PAT was partially blocked, leaving the score 6-0.
Speedway (6-3) countered with a drive into Brebeuf territory, but the Sparkplugs were stopped on downs at the Braves’ 30 early in the second quarter. Faster than you could say “thanks for not pinning us deep in our own end,” Brebeuf used two big plays to increase its lead.
The first was a 55-yard gallop by junior running back Evan Kroot (14 carries, 137 yards) that put the ball deep in Speedway territory. Overley (15 rushes, 133 yards) then finished the job with an 11-yard keeper for the touchdown.
Once again, the Sparkplugs responded with a sustained drive into Brebeuf ground. This time, they were stopped by an interception from the Braves’ Connor Costello at the Brebeuf 10.
Costello rapidly made himself a two-way hero by catching a 28-yard scoring strike from Overley to send the Braves into the locker room with a 20-0 halftime lead.
It took less than a minute of the third quarter for Brebeuf to eliminate any remaining doubt about the outcome of this affair. Kroot struck again on the Braves’ first possession with a 25-yard scamper into the end zone.
It was suddenly 27-0, and fans were planning their after-game social activities.
Speedway’s Kyle Linville was not ready to end things so quickly, however. The Sparkplugs’ “Mr. Everything” dashed around left end from five yards out early in the fourth quarter to finally put Speedway on the board.
The two teams traded late scores –Dan Marchetti’s two-yard run for Brebeuf, Mitchell Judkins’ 21-yard run for Speedway – to account for the final margin.
Most impressive in this contest was Brebeuf’s ability to contain the solid running attack of Speedway.
The Braves will need to muster a similar, or even better, performance next week in the opening round of tourney play. Brebeuf will travel Oct. 24 to Sagamore Conference power 3A No. 4 North Montgomery (9-0) to open postseason play.
Speedway, meanwhile, will host Tri-West Hendricks (7-2) next Friday.
Can Brebeuf continue its momentum with a road upset of 9-0 North Montgomery? Will Speedway topple three-time state champ Tri-West? Share your thoughts on our Football message board.
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