The 2018 Brownstown Central football team met one last time Thursday to celebrate its season.
This past fall, the Braves finished 11-2 overall, including 9-0 record in Mid-Southern Conference play.
The Braves won the Class 3A Sectional 31 Sectional title by beating Batesville 35-28 in the finals.
In the regional, the Braves fell to Evansville Memorial. The Tigers went on to play in the state finals.
Coach Reed May hit 250 coaching wins in the game against Charlestown. Since May took over in 1993, the Braves have won 13 sectional titles in 26 seasons.
May said the team achieved three goals this past season: Posting a winning recorded for a 26th consecutive seasonand winning MSC and sectional crowns.
This year’s group of seniors finished with a four-year record of 41-9, two MSC titles, three sectional titles and one regional title.
In 2018, the Braves also played on turf for the first time at Blevins Memorial Stadium.
Junior Derek Thompson was named the Braves’ Most Valuable Player on the evening.
In the slot, Thompson finished with 1,045 rushing yards on 89 carries, 19 receptions for 432 receiving yards, 17 rushing touchdowns and seven receiving TDs. He was named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Junior team as a defensive back. On defense, Thompson had 51 tackles (26 solo).
Senior linebacker Luke Shelton was the defensive point leader with 178 points and the defensive line/inside linebacker MVP. Shelton was also the recipient of the Mason Watson Memorial Award.
The defensive back/outside linebacker MVP and Mental Attitude Award-winner was senior Braden Neal.
Senior Caleb Bollinger was the offensive back MVP and senior Brian Murphy received the offensive lineman MVP honors.
Braves linebacker Matthew Bell was presented the Black Jersey Award.
The Scout Team Player of the Year was freshman Joe Wayt and Special Teams MVP was junior kicker Ethan Sevakis.
Robbie Branaman, Jalen Tiemeyer, Seth Borden, Bollinger, Neal and Shelton all garnered All-MSC status while Dane Darlage, Murphy and Bell were named to the honorable mention list.
Tiemeyer was also named to the IFCA’s Class 3A All-State Junior team as an offensive lineman.
For their efforts in the classroom, Branaman and Shelton were named IFCA Academic All-State.
Managers Maci Bell and Hayley Thomas received senior awards.
Fifteen players received “pride” awards and senior awards went to 11 players.
The Braves’ C-team, coached by Clay Brown and Matt Mowery, went 2-3 this past fall.
The Junior Varsity team posted a record of 6-2, and were coached by Cam Cockerham, Drew Shoemaker and Barry Hall.
Freshman Dustyn Kocsis was the JV most improved lineman and sophomore Jayden Steinkamp received the award for most improved back.
May said that the motto for next season is “W.I.N. The Day.”