Never discount the Brownstown Central football team.
They’re as hungry for a sectional title, and more, now as much as they’ve ever been.
Friday I saw the Braves in live-action form for the first time after spending Week 1 in Seymour.
Heading into the game, I expected a tough battle against Mid-Southern Conference foe Charlestown.
Last year’s pair of games against the Pirates were battles to remember for the Braves — for opposite reasons.
In their first matchup with the Pirates, the Braves won at Lucas Oil Stadium on a last-second kick by Skyller Lewis.
In Game 2, with everything on the line in a sectional bout, standing at a perfect 10-0 on the season, the Braves fell 27-16.
This season, the Braves made their statement early in the season with a 46-14 win against the Pirates.
Last year’s Braves team had extremely high expectations with a roster solidified by a veteran group of tenured seniors. I would imagine that the sectional loss still leaves a sour taste in members of the program’s mouths.
Ask any returning member of last year’s squad — they wanted this game.
The way I see it, thus far, the Braves aren’t rebuilding this year. They’re reloading.
The new shotgun wing-T offense looked crisp for a brand-new scheme.
The Pirates had no idea which way the ball was going with quarterback Kyle Kramer faking hand-offs left and right, and the running game trampling opposing defenders.
Defensively, the Braves stifled the Pirates in the second half by not allowing any points and forcing turnovers.
Part, if not most or all, of the credit for the dominating 2-0 start can be attributed to the Braves coaching staff.
These boys came into this season ready to play, and that’s a testament to how prepared the boys are for games week in and out.
It’s been that way for years with coach Reed May, so I’m told.
Coming into games, before the first snap, the Braves believe they have a 7-0 lead after all the studying they do on their opponents.
Speaking with a handful of the players, many of the Braves believe that teams around the state have discounted the 2015 group.
Somehow, coming off a 10-1 season, a handful of members for the Braves play with some kind of chip on their shoulder.
Interviewing assistant coach Jeff Settle last week, I heard how much confidence this team has in itself.
They believe they have the potential to be the best.
With much more work to be done, and improvements to be made, this Braves roster has the chance to turn heads moving forward.
Jordan Morey is sports editor of The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].