ZIONSVILLE — Saturated field conditions played a factor the last time the Zionsville football team defeated Brownsburg 7-0 at home, essentially ending the Bulldogs chances for a share of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference title.
Fast-forward three weeks.
In almost exactly the same environment these two teams met again Friday night at Zionsville, this time to see who would advance to the sectional championship game.
Brownsburg rode a strong defensive effort – limiting the Eagles to just 99 yards of offense on the night – to a 20-14 victory.
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“It feels great,” Brownsburg coach Brett Comer said. “I’m proud of our kids and the adversity we faced in the first half with the fluke touchdown that they get with the punt.”
After the second short punt in the first quarter by Bulldog Gus Ervin, the ball landed near the line of scrimmage and Eagle Max Youngs picked it up and raced 26 yards for a 6-0 Zionsville lead after the failed extra point.
“There kid was smart enough to pick it up and go,” Comer said. “That was a great play on their part.”
On the ensuing drive Ervin carried for a 14-yard gain and while fighting for extra yards the ball popped out. Zionsville recovered the turnover, but could do nothing with it as the Bulldogs came up with a stop on fourth down.
Battling in muddy conditions, it was Brownsburg’s offense that finally got something going.
With 5:34 remaining in the second quarter Brownsburg picked up its first first down of the game as Bulldog quarterback Robby Robbins took off for an 11-yard gain.
Robbins carried seven times on the drive for 29 yards, but it was teammate Kennedy Hill that took it in from 1-yard out to put Brownsburg up 7-6 at the half.
“It was huge, absolutely huge,” Zionsville coach Larry McWhorter said. “They made some really nice adjustments from the first game that really came into play on that drive. I would say we got out coached from week seven to whatever week this is.”
Brownsburg rushed for 73 yards, 45 coming on its scoring drive, compared to the Eagles’ 26 in the first half and neither team completed a pass.
After the break, Brownsburg forced Zionsville to punt on back-to-back possessions. It paid off as Bulldog Darryl Jordan broke through the middle of the Zionsville’s defensive front and sprinted 32 yards untouched to put Brownsburg up 14-6.
“They kept pushing and that allowed me to get into the holes,” Jordan said of his offensive line. “We focused in the second half and knew what we had to do.”
Zionsville came out with urgency on its ensuing drive and Eagle quarterback Chris Roberts completed his first pass of the night to Blake Lueders, but he fumbled giving Brownsburg the ball on the Eagles’ 25-yard line.
Brownsburg took advantage of the turnover as Robbins hit receiver Charles Torwudzo for a 7-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked and Brownsburg led 20-6 with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Although Eagle Jason Pedigo picked up a Robbins fumble that left Zionsville 17 yards to score, the Eagles could not capitalize.
“We had a lot of chances,” McWhorter said. “We were in the red zone three times without a touchdown, maybe four times. Field position shifted and it was the story of the game.”
Zionsville picked up a safety on a bad punt snap by Brownsburg that Ervin ran through the back of the end zone and then Eagle Austin Stauffer went 25 yards to bring Zionsville within six, 20-14, with 2:34 remaining.
Time then ran out on Zionsville, its season, and its seniors as the Bulldogs move on to face Avon in the sectional championship Friday.
“It is big for our program,” Comer said. “If you look back at our four years and go three wins, four wins, five wins and now where we are, which I am not going to say it out loud because I don’t want to change anything. I don’t care where we play and it doesn’t matter who we play. Our kids are excited and they should be. They deserve it.”
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