
Editor
Lutheran’s football team did not win Friday but remains undefeated.
Huh!
That’s right. Coach Dave Pasch’s 1A No. 1-ranked Saints wound up not playing at Shortridge because there were not enough referees for the game.
Only one referee showed up of a minimum of four that are required to officiate in football. The refs are assigned by the IHSAA. There was no explanation for their absence.
As a result, the Saints still stand 3-0 after another week of practice and preparation. Next up, new Indiana Crossroads Conference member Cascade comes calling at the Saints field.
Elsewhere, Center Grove broke into the win column, Franklin Central won a Hoosier Crossroads Conference thriller and Southport enjoyed a successful Saturday afternoon homecoming against potent 3A Gibson Southern.
Previously winless but ranked among the 6A top 10, Center Grove utilized its traditional ground game as four different backs (Daniel Weems, Connor Fruits, Mitchell Evans, and Connor Delp) combined for 328 yards rushing and four TDs on the ground against Ben Davis. Quarterback Trevor Jackson connected with Delp for an aerial TD. Injured running back Carson Steele missed his third straight game.
At Franklin Central, Flashes kicker Gabe Crutchfield kicked a game-winning 20-yard field goal with less than a minute left in their league tilt against visiting Zionsville.
Franklin Central led 14-0 at halftime on Josh Ruley’s one-yard TD and a 100-yard “pick six” by Vaughn Taylor that turned around the Eagles. A third-quarter interception ended an Eagles’ drive on the 2. Zionsville scored on two TDs on the ground in the third period.
Southport’s football team took part in the homecoming parade Friday and then engaged visiting Gibson Southern in a scoring shootout between two undefeated teams Saturday afternoon.
Southport countered the visitor’s 400 yards total offense and five rushing TDs.
Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lezon threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score. Colbi Cocherell kicked two field goals.
Hoping to climb into the ICC title chase, underdog Beech Grove battled host Scecina at Manual to a 21-21 tie late in the second quarter. However, a 21-yard scoring pass put the Crusaders ahead at halftime.
Then the opportunistic Crusaders recovered two BG fumbles early in the third quarter that resulted in two TDs as Scecina went 4-0.