East Central blows past South Dearborn
- Updated: September 28, 2019
ST. LEON, Indiana – It was hyped as the game of the year in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference but the undefeated East Central Trojans took command early and eased to a 41-6 homecoming win over South Dearborn.
Before the game an East Central trainer proposed to his girlfriend, who happened to be a trainer for the South Dearborn football team, on the field. After Sammy said yes to Kyler’s big question the crowd erupted in applause.
South Dearborn used the momentum of Sammy’s new found joy to heart with a good opening drive. Hopefully Kyler and Sammy’s story ends better than the drive that saw the Knights fumble on the East Central 5-yard line. The loose ball was recovered by East Central’s Dayton Haft but the Trojans had a lot of real estate in front of them.
East Central marched 95 yards in 15 plays scoring the games’s first touchdown. Devon Donawerth took the direct snap out of the wildcat formation and scored from the two-yard line.
The Trojans tightened up the screws on South Dearborn during the ensuing possession thanks in part to sack by Justin Ryan that forced fourth down and long. The Knights decided to go for it rather than punt on its own 38-yard line. An incomplete pass turned it over on downs and setup East Central with a short field.
On the very first play wide receiver Trevor Becker threw a touchdown pass on a trick play to tight end David Badescu to give East Central a 14-0 advantage. That was one of a game five receptions for the Trojans tight end.
East Central head coach Jake Meiners was pleased with his team’s early execution since putting pressure on South Dearborn was the game plan.
“We tried to be the aggressor tonight. We talked all week that we wanted to be aggressive,” said Meiners. “That means offensive play calling, defensive play calling because South Dearborn’s a good football team and they’ll win a lot of football games moving forward.”
At this point South Dearborn’s offense was rattled when quarterback Adam Dixon went back to throw on the first play of the next drive. Dixon’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Donawerth at the 23-yard line.
As a result of the turnover, Becker caught the first of his two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Ryan Bond to put the game out of reach early in the second quarter. Becker lead the team with 85 yards on four receptions and the two scores plus a touchdown pass.
The defense was particularly aggressive holing South Dearborn to just 179 total yards highlighted by minus-18 yards rushing.
Bond lead the offense to a total of 430 yards, going 17-for-28 and 261 yards through the air.
East Central also received a big contribution from their sophomore kicker Sophie Browndyke. Browndyke, who also plays on the Trojans girls soccer team, booted field goals of 32 and 34 yards in addition to all five extra points.
After the game Browndyke modestly gave the credit to her teammates.
“It felt really, really good. The snap was good, my holder did extremely well and the line blocked really well,” said Browndyke.
Sophie, who is now 5-for-6 in field goals this season, is following in the footsteps of older brother Caden who was the Trojans kicker the last three years. Caden beat South Dearborn in the playoffs last season with a game winning field goal.
Sophie explained how she ended earning the spot as the kicker on the varsity football team.
“When I was in eighth grade I really thought about kicking and my brother (Caden) had been the kicker the past two years,” Browndyke said. “When he was a senior and I was a freshman I wanted to try to get the opportunity to kick JV and freshman. So I did that and he graduated last year and I was the one in line.”
South Dearborn prevented the shutout by scoring a fourth quarter touchdown when Dixon threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Reese Willoughby.
Jake Fike, who ran for a game-high 110 yards, activated the running clock with score form nine yards out with 4:29 left in the contest.
Troy Teepe, who is Fike’s lead blocker out of the backfield was named the Homecoming King during halftime ceremonies. East Central swimmer Grace Crane was crowed the Trojans Homecoming Queen.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
South Dearborn 0-0-0-6 – 6
East Central 14-17-3-7 – 41
SCORING PLAYS
EC – Devon Donawerth 2-yard TD run (Sophie Browndyke kick)
EC – David Badescu 33-yard TD catch from Travis Becker (Sophie Browndyke kick)
EC – Trevor Becker 11-yard TD catch from Ryan Bond (Sophie Browndyke kick)
EC – Sophie Browndyke 32-yard field goal
EC – Trevor Becker 5-yard TD catch from Ryan Bond (Sophie Browndyke kick)
EC – Sophie Browndyke 36-yard field goal
SD – Reese Willoughby 30-yard TD catch from Adam Dixon (kick blocked)
EC – Jake Fike 8-yard TD run (Sophie Browndyke kick)
RECORDS: South Dearborn (4-2); East Central (6-0)
UP NEXT: South Dearborn vs. Franklin County; East Central @ Connersville
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