Redskins turn attention to playoffs, Edison towards 2020
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RICHMOND -- When the weather gets cold and it becomes time for playoff football, having a good defense can make all the difference.
Friday night, Andrew Connor walked off Cartwright Field knowing his Indian Creek Redskins are headed into the playoffs with a pretty good one.
In dispatching rival Edison in the Route 43 Bowl, the Indian Creek defense held the Wildcats to just 134 yards of total offense, forced four turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns.
"We tackled well, we made a big play with an interception return for a touchdown, and we continued to play well," Connor said, following his team finishing the regular season 9-1. "I just think our kids understand out concepts, they play well, they tackle well and play aggressive. I think knew what they had to do and they went out and executed well.
"Overall, the kids played physical. We knew Edison was going to play hard, and they did, so the big thing was to come out and respond and our kids handled it well."
The Redskins entered the regular season finale with the second-ranked defense in the Herald-Star/Daily Times coverage area, and Friday's performance only boosts those numbers. No defense in the area has allowed fewer points this season.
"They have a great defense," Edison head coach Shane O'Brien. "They play really fast. That is probably one of the best, if not the best, football team that is on our schedule. I know they are going to do well playing in the playoffs next week."
Early in the game, while the Indian Creek offense was trying to find its footing against the Wildcats defense, the Redskins defensive unit kept Edison from getting anything going. Then, it kickstarted everything.
After an Indian Creek drive stalled at the Edison 2 and it appeared the Wildcats may have got some momentum, senior Sam Baska stepped in front of a Gage Cline pass at the 24 and returned it for the game's opening points in the final minute of the first quarter.
The Creek sideline came alive, and from that point on, it was all Redskins.
"Offensively, it was kind of a slow start, it was a little inconsistent," Connor said. "I think (the pick-six) woke us up. I thought the kids did well once they got going. Once they did, things went in our favor."
After the defense got things moving, senior tailback Trevor Fante picked up the torch and put the Redskins well in control by halftime. He scored on runs of 8 and 6 yards, set up by runs of 21 and 31 yards. He caught and threw two-point conversions after the scores, making it 23-0 at halftime.
After the Creek defense did its thing to stall the Edison opening drive in the second half, Fante's final run went for 25 yards deep into the Edison end of the field to set up a Tyler Smarrella score.
All told, Fante ended the night with 169 yards and two scores on 20 totes of the pigskin. He finishes the regular season as the second-leading rusher in the area, topping 1,300 yards and racking up 19 scores.
"He ran the ball well, he has been doing that for a long time for us," Connor said. "He finished the regular season in a big way for us. Our line played well and opened up some holes."
Senior linebacker Brandon Hiles, who had a big sack in the first half to help stall an Edison drive, recovered a Cline fumble in the endzone for a score in the third quarter. David Ferroni and Shawn McClurg also had fumble recoveries.
Edison got on the board with a a late Cline to Noah Woods touchdown pass. Cline, a freshman, finished with 69 pass yards and 26 rush yards, while Woods concluded his high school career with five catches for 36 yards.
"It was great to have him get a score," O'Brien said. "He is a guy that has done a lot for this program and has been a great leader for us."
For O'Brien, it marked the end of a tough season, which his team finishes without a win. However, he likes the foundation his young team has set up for the future.
"A lot of the younger guys were making plays," O'Brien said. "That is a bright spot for us. Seeing some of those young guys go out there and make plays, show some flashes of good things i definitely promising for the future. It gives us some momentum going into the offseason knowing they will be back.
"It's not the season that you would hope for, but I think you learn from any experience. There is no growth in the comfort zone, you have to be uncomfortable to grow and get better. It shows a lot of character and humbles you up. Although it wasn't the season we were hoping for and expecting, there is still good to take away from the lessons."
PREVIEWING THE FUTURE
With the score well at hand and next week's playoff game looming, Connor and company turned to the reserves for much of the second half. Sophomore quarterback Eli Powell rushed for 57 yards and a 22-yard score, while sophomore defensive lineman Gavin Dondzila recorded a pair of sacks in the fourth quarter.
"It's always good to get the younger kids into the game,"Connor said. "They work hard during the week and you want to reward them. They go out there and play hard. That is our future, you want to get them into varsity games as much as possible."
EXCITING WEEK
With its Week 9 win at Harrison Central, Indian Creek guranteed itself the first home playoff game in program history. That will take place Saturday night at Kettlewell Stadium, as the Redskins host in the opening round of the Division IV, Region 13 playoffs.
"It's going to be special," Connor said. "We have waited a long time as a school district. Everybody is excited. This was one of our goals, and we got it."
SENIOR FAREWELL
It was Edison's senior night, bring an end to the careers of Woods, Tristan Hughes, Logan Hanchin, Carter Montgomery, Levi Waggoner, Cody Waggoner and Lukas McCain.
"Senior night is always emotional," O'Brien said. "It's tough knowing it is the last time these guys are going to play the game. It's a very emotional time for anybody. I have been with these guys their entire career. It's tough to see them go. I know their going to be successful in the next chapter of their lives."
(Grimm can be reached by agrimm@heraldstaronline.com)
Indian Creek 43, Edison 6
Indian Creek 7-16-13-7 -- 43
Edison 0-0-0-6 -- 6
IC: Baksa 24 interception return (Hiles kick) :56
IC: Fante 8 run (Fante pass to Mazar) 9:49
IC: Fante 6 run (Mazar pass to Fante) 2:33
IC: Smarrella 2 run (Hiles kick) 7:23
IC: Hiles fumble recovery in endzone (kick failed) 5:56
IC: Powell 22 run (Herald kick) 10:12
E: Woods 8 pass from Cline (kick blocked) 2:13
RUSHING: Indian Creek 26-264-4TD (Fante 20-169-2TD, Giusto 6-24, Powell 5-57TD, Smarrella 3-23-TD, Mazar 2-(-9); Edison 26-65 (Griffith 11-30, Cline 12-26, Miller 3-9).
PASSING: Indian Creek 1-5-6 (all by Mazar); Edison 9-18-69-TD-INT (all by Cline).
RECEIVING: Indian Creek 1-6 (all by Fenske); Edison 9-69-TD (Woods 5-36-TD, Parsons 2-18, Hanchin 1-15, Griffith 1-0).
FIRST DOWNS: Indian Creek 13; Edison 8.
PENALTIES: Indian Creek 5-55; Edison 6-50.
FUMBLES-LOST: Indian Creek 2-0; Edison 4-3.