BROWNSTOWN

It wasn’t just the seniors that got to play on senior night.

Class 3A No. 7 Brownstown Central was able to empty its bench in the second half by posting a 53-7 Mid-Southern Conference win against Clarksville on Friday at Blevins Memorial Stadium.

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At the night’s end, 15 different players had finished with carries on offense for Brownstown (6-1, 6-0 MSC), which didn’t give up a score until the junior varsity/freshman unit went into the contest in the fourth quarter.

“We knew that they were struggling coming into the game,” Brownstown coach Reed May said of Clarksville. “We took care of business early, and everyone got in the game. Everything went pretty well.”

While the Generals (0-7, 0-6 MSC) dominated the time of possession in the first quarter, the Braves constructed a 14-0 lead while using just three offensive plays.

The Braves stopped the Generals on their opening drive after three plays, but a 15-yard penalty on Brownstown negated a punt and gave the visitors a first down.

Generals QB Chasten O’Neal then connected on his next three passes, including a 46-yard pass out of the backfield to running back Austin Grant, to get to the Braves’ 13.

The Braves’ defense then held firm, forcing the Generals to a turnover on downs on two negative running plays and a pair of missed passes. Clarksville ran 12 plays on the game’s first drive.

Brownstown had its first offensive possession of the contest with 6:06 left in the first quarter, and the Braves made the most of it.

After gaining 21 yards on a pair of runs, QB Hayden Kinsler found a wide-open Caleb Bollinger down the middle of the field for a 58-yard TD. After a kick from Ethan Sevakis, the Braves led 7-0 with 5:25 on the clock.

On the ensuing possession, after a pair of running plays by the Generals, Braves linebacker Luke Shelton picked up a loose ball and returned the fumble for a 20-yard TD.

Sevakis was money again on the next PAT, and the Braves led 14-0 after 12 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Braves didn’t allow a first down while posting 21 more points on three drives.

The Generals punted on their first play of the second quarter before the Braves drove 62 yards on seven plays. A 3-yard TD push by Bollinger put the Braves up 21-0 with 9:18 left in the half.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Braves went 44 yards on seven plays. The Braves again scored on a 3-yard run, but Derek Thompson was the one to put it in the end zone this time with 5:08 on the clock.

Another Generals punt set up a 79-yard, seven-play scoring drive for the Braves.

Kinsler hit Seth Borden on passes of 12 and 24 yards to set up a 20-yard direct-snap TD run by Sam Huber with 2:21 on the scoreboard.

At intermission, the Braves led 35-0.

On the opening possession of the second half, the Braves traveled 66 yards on nine straight running plays. On the goal line, Thompson registered his second TD of the night to put the Braves up 41-0.

O’Neal was picked off by Bollinger on the Generals’ first play of the second half, and the Braves made the most of it.

Runs by Jayden Steinkamp and Cody Griffith set up a 9-yard TD run from Brandon Wilson with 4:43 left in the third quarter.

The Generals’ luck didn’t turn on the next drive, as a fumble recovery on fourth down by Lucas Hines gave the Braves the ball back going into the fourth quarter.

Brownstown’s first play of the final 12 minutes was a 4-yard score from Griffith, which put the Braves up 53-0.

Sevakis missed his final three PAT attempts for the Braves.

Both teams recovered fumbles on the next two drives before the Generals put points on the board.

After moving the ball on a 39-yard pass, on a fourth-and-9, O’Neal connected with Daevon Fuqua for a 30-yard touchdown. Rodrigo Marban’s kick was good, cutting it to 53-7 with 4:47 remaining.

On Brownstown’s final drive, they ran the clock out on seven plays.

May said blowout games are good for his underclassmen to get a feel for what’s to come.

“They get to experience the Friday night lights,” May said. “Any time they get the chance to do that, I think it is good for the program and the kids. I think they will enjoy this experience and take it into next year.”

Bollinger had 57 yards on eight carries, and Huber finished with 61 yards on five attempts.

Kinsler finished 4-for-7 through the air with 42 yards and a passing TD. He didn’t attempt a pass in the second half.

Clarksville had 25 rushing yards on 16 attempts, and O’Neal went 12-for-23 for 159 yards with a TD and an interception.

The Generals still haven’t won a game since the 2014 season.

Prior to the game, Brownstown’s 11 seniors were recognized.

“They have put a lot of time into the program,” May said. “They played in 56ers and in middle school. They are a great bunch of kids. They are good kids that are fun to be around. The main thing I told them is that they have three games guaranteed. We need to correct some things to get better.”

The Braves travel to Silver Creek on Friday.