During the past decade, one high school regular-season football game has always been circled on calendars throughout Jackson County: Brownstown Central vs. Seymour.
It’s the big one — a game that feels like the playoffs, even though the postseason is weeks away.
Records aren’t relevant in the matchup.
It’s all about who shows up under the Friday night lights.
On Friday, Seymour hopes to break a four-game series losing streak against the visiting Braves at Bulleit Stadium.
Seymour
BREAKING THROUGH
This week, the Owls haven’t changed their practice schedule leading up to the much anticipated game.
“I’m not afraid to say it’s not like any other week in terms of hype and intensity,” Owls coach Josh Shattuck said. “In terms of the way you prepare, it’s not any different. Football is a sport that is repetition and patterns for the kids and coaches. It doesn’t really do you any good to practice any longer for this game, go harder or have more contact to prepare.
“You want to keep your routine the same, there’ just a level of focus and intensity that’s there — it’s human nature I think, especially with kids. Some games are bigger than others, and we tell our kids big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. This is a big-time game, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Owls (0-5) have struggled finishing games this season, but are much improved from 2014.
In each game this season, except for a 69-12 loss to powerhouse Columbus East, the Owls have hung tough with their opponents; including a 31-24 loss to Bedford North Lawrence and 35-22 loss to Jeffersonville.
Led by sophomore quarterback Alan Perry, the Owls have developed an offense that’s tested opposing defenses through the air and on the ground.
Through five games, Perry has 902 passing yards on 83 completions and 137 attempts with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
Luke Dover is Perry’s favorite receiver with 365 receiving yards with five touchdowns.
On the ground, the Owls’ Zach Carpenter has led the way with 223 yards on 62 carries.
“It’s going to be electric,” Shattuck said. “I know people have noticed and appreciated the leaps and bounds we’ve made. We’re nowhere where we want to be at 0-5, but we are a functional football team. We haven’t been functional the past few years.
“Our numbers have been really low, and we’ve not had a lot of leadership. Our kids are at a point now where we can be competitive week in and week out. I don’t think that, outside of Columbus East, that all our games have been close. We’re just not quite there yet, and this is another opportunity to get where we want to be.”
Shattuck said that his team needs to focus play-by-play, and not worry about past results.
“The biggest thing is that we can’t look at what is on their helmets and jerseys,” Shattuck said. “Their kids look similar to ours, I think that they are athletically similar to ours. A lot of times, with teams like (Columbus) East and Brownstown, they win before kickoff because they expect to win.
“It’s a belief system. We have a very high level of respect for what it takes to win in this sport. We can’t get caught-up in the hoopla. If we play our game, draw off our defense from last week and correct our mistakes on offense from last week, it should be a good game. I think we will need to play really well come the fourth quarter.”
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL
BOUNCING BACK
While they may have lost to North Harrison last week, the first regular season loss since Aug. 24, 2012, the Braves have their eyes set on the Jackson Bowl.
“Coming off a loss, we’re a little more focused now because we got beat,” May said. “Its been a while since we’ve lost in a regular season game. It’s probably a good thing we’re playing Seymour now because we’re focused. Sometimes when you come off a loss you’re not as focused, but we talked about it on Saturday. That game (against North Harrison) is over with and they’re focused on Seymour now. We will be well prepared come Friday.”
The Braves (4-1) also have a sophomore at the helm in quarterback Kyle Kramer.
Kramer has heeded the Braves’ new shotgun offense, and taken advantage of play-action passing after his team has established their presence on the ground.
The Braves are a run-first offense, with Gavin Bane leading the way at 543 yards and six touchdowns.
Braves senior John McKinney is the other half of the two-headed rushing attack with six touchdowns and 342 yards.
Defensively, the Braves have harassed their opponents this fall with two fumble recoveries and seven interceptions.
When the Braves line up defensively, they apply a ton of pressure on the offense by winning the battles in the trenches; they have 22 sacks on the season.
While Seymour is winless this season, May said he has recognized his opponents’ strength of schedule.
“It always gives us an opportunity to play a bigger school,” he said. “I told the kids (Tuesday) morning, ‘They may be 0-5, but look at who they play.’ The kids need to understand (Seymour) has played better teams than we have. What would our record be with that schedule? I don’t know.
“You need to keep that in perspective. Records are irrelevant. They’re going to be fired-up for that game. They’re going to be prepared for us and it will be an interesting game.”
May said he expects the Owls to come prepared for the contest.
“Every year you’re going to see something different,” he said. “ I’m sure they have some wrinkles they’ve got for us. We have some ideas what we want to do against them.
“Everyone has a base offense and then they adapt off what the defense gives them. Since we changed our offense (to the shotgun), I think everyone is changing their defense on us. Something unexpected will happen and you have to be prepared for it.”
Last season, the Braves had homefield advantage with a 75-14 blowout win against the Owls.
“It’s always a great atmosphere over there,” May said. “Josh (Shattuck) does a great job and it will be an exciting game. Everyone gets fired-up for it.”
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2015 Jackson Bowl
Brownstown Central (4-1) at Seymour (0-5)
Where: Bulleit Stadium, 7 p.m.
Radio: 92.7-WXKU and 96.3-WJAA
Coaches: Reed May 222-44 record in 23rd year at BCHS, Josh Shattuck 2-23 record in third year at Seymour.
Last outing: North Harrison defeated Brownstown Central 38-30, Bedford North Lawrence defeated Seymour 31-24.
Series past 30 years: BCHS 5-3
Previous meeting: Brownstown Central won 75-14 on Sept. 26, 2014
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