(The story has been updated)
Indian Creek’s Evan Clark had the right touch at the right time.
The junior quarterback threw three first-half touchdown passes and helped the Braves jump out to a 14-0 lead as they went on to defeat Greenwood in the first Hoosier Legends Conference game between the two programs Friday night at Braves Field.
“This is a huge win for us,” Clark said. “It’s the first time we’ve beaten Greenwood two times in a row in school history. We just came out, hit them hard and never gave up.”
Clark finished with three touchdown passes, two to Mason Woodke and one to Drew Pingleton, completing 9 of 14 attempts for 213 yards and an interception for the Braves (3-0, 1-0 HLC). Hunter Worley and Pingleton added rushing scores in the second and fourth quarters, respectively.
The defense did its part by not allowing a point in the second half, forcing a fumble and recording two fourth-down stops.
“We handled the weather all week,” Indian Creek coach Max Goodin said. “We handled adversity all week. The biggest thing I’ll say is our kids were ready for a fight for four quarters. These guys were ready to compete. They were ready to make history and beat Greenwood for the first time in back-to-back years. I’m just so proud of this group. But it was business as usual. We’re not hoping we can get it done. We come out expecting to do it. I’m proud of them because they are confident, they’re together and they are doing what’s asked of them.”
Greenwood (0-3, 0-1 HLC) scored both of its touchdowns in the second quarter on a Trentyn Breeding rushing score and Benjamin Hommell’s 19-yard reception from Brady Smith.
The Woodmen were also hampered by a missed field goal. Defensively, Drake Riddle recorded an interception, and the unit forced a fumble into the end zone.
“We drove the length of the field a few times, but to come away without any points is just a killer,” Greenwood coach Justin Boser said. “I thought we hung in there. Obviously, we gave up some early ones to get down. We fought back to get in it but didn’t take advantage when the opportunities presented themselves. When we get down in the red zone, you got to take advantage and score points.”
Clark’s first two scoring connections both went to Mason Woodke. The first came on a 53-yard touchdown strike with 11:06 remaining in the first quarter and then a 32-yarder with 1:46 left in the period. Jaykob Gumerson’s PAT kicks gave Indian Creek the 14-0 advantage.
Greenwood answered when Breeding plowed in from three yards out with 8:11 left in the second quarter, and William Thompson’s PAT cut the deficit to 14-7.
But the Braves came right back and scored twice more.
After Riddle’s interception, the Woodmen went three-and-out and punted on their next possession. On the next play, Clark and a wide-open Pingleton connected for a 43-yard touchdown pass with 5:15 left before halftime.
A drive later, Worley scampered 34 yards for a touchdown with 1:48 to go before the break, pushing the lead to 28-7 after Gumerson’s PAT.
Greenwood got back on the board when Hommell hauled in Smith’s 19-yard touchdown pass, and Thompson’s kick made it 28-14 with 40.7 seconds left.
Pingelton ran in the game’s last touchdown from 11 yards out with 11:31 to play.
Indian Creek travels to take on Monrovia at 7 p.m. next Friday
While, Greenwood will host Speedway, also at 7 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
Indian Creek , Greenwood
Greenwood 0;14;0;0—;14
Indian Creek;14;14;0;7;—;35
IC: Mason Woodke 53 pass from Evan Clark (Jaykob Gumerson kick), 11:06, 1Q
IC: Mason Woodke 32 pass from Clark (Gumerson kick), 1:46, 1Q
GW: Trentyn Breeding 3 run (William Thompson kick) 8:11, 2Q
IC: Drew Pingelton 43 pass from Clark (Gumerson kick), 5:15, 2Q
IC: Worley 34 run (Gumerson kick), 1:48, 2Q
GW: Benjamin Hommell 19 pass from Smith (Thompson kick) 40.7, 2Q
IC: Drew Pingelton 11 run (Gumerson kick), 11:31, 4Q
Individual statistics
Rushing
Greenwood: Trentyn Breeding 16-68; Brady Smith 19-62; Jackson Davis 1-5; Indian Creek: Hunter Worley 4-69, TD; Evan Clark 10-50; Drew Pingleton 13-38, TD; Patrick Dowty 3-30; Grady Walker 1-9
Passing
Greenwood: Brady Smith 12-22-170-1-1; Indian Creek: Evan Clark 9-14-213-3-1
Receiving
Greenwood: Benjamin Hommell 7-117, TD; Jackson Davis 2-16; Parker Jarboe 1-17; Indian Creek: Mason Woodke 5-79, TD; Jr. Ferguson 1-53, TD; Drew Pennington 1-43, TD; Hunter Worley 1-17