Seymour and Brownstown Central defended their home turf Friday to start their 2019 football campaigns with a win.

However, both victories came in entirely different fashions, as the Braves steamrolled Corydon Central and the Owls needed an exciting, come-from-behind effort to down South Dearborn.

Now, here we are in Week 2 and both teams will head down south for their first road games of the season. The Braves will battle the Charlestown Pirates, while the Owls travel just a bit further down Interstate 65 to take on the Jeffersonville Red Devils.

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The Braves have had their way with Charlestown over the last two seasons, winning 50-13 in 2018 and 43-14 in 2017. In the last 30 years, the Braves are 27-13 against the Pirates and have not lost to them since the 2014 sectional semifinal.

Yet, when the Braves went to Charlestown in 2016, they came away with a win but needed to match the Pirates score for score in a 52-48 shootout. Brownstown Central coach Reed May says it’s possible something like could happen Friday.

Unlike last week, there shouldn’t be too many surprises for the Braves against Jason Hawkins’ Pirates.

Hawkins has been at the wheel of the Charlestown program for 12 years now and has posted six wins against the Braves. However, the biggest threat to another Braves’ win will be Pirates running back Marion Lukes.

Lukes, an Eastern Kentucky commit, will be the primary focus for the Brownstown Central defense. May praised his defense and special teams last week for their effort against Corydon Central and knows they’ll need a similar effort if they want to corral Charlestown’s best offensive weapon.

“He’s the best running back we’ll see all season,” May said. “He’s fast, but we’ll need to be able to contain him.”

Lukes ran for 172 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 13-7 loss to Silver Creek last week. In two meetings with the Braves, Lukes has rushed 35 times for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Further down South, the Owls will look to continue their winning ways against Jeffersonville. Though the two teams are in the Hoosier Hills Conference, the game will not count toward their league record.

Last year, the Owls won a tough one with Jeffersonville, eking out a 31-29 victory at home. It was the first win over the Red Devils since 2010 when the Owls dispatched them 26-21.

Jeffersonville has a new coach in Isaac Parker, who also is in his first year at the helm of any program. His group fell to Fern Creek High School out of Kentucky 25-6 to open their season.

The Red Devils were held in check by the Tigers with their only score coming via a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the third quarter.

According to The News and Tribune, Jeffersonville amassed just 35 yards of rushing and 48 yards through the air.

If Seymour has a repeat of last week’s game in which they recovered three turnovers resulting in three scores, the Owls could have a field day with the Red Devils. However, as coach Mike Kelly pointed out after their win, his group is going to need to do a better job creating explosive plays and sustaining drives to be successful.

Both the Owls and Braves kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.

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What: Seymour (1-0) at Jeffersonville (0-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Radio: 92.7 Nash Icon

Where: Blair Stadium

Last meeting: Seymour 31-29, Aug. 24, 2018

Series past 30 years: Jeffersonville 13-9

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What: Brownstown Central (1-0) at Charlestown (0-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Radio: 96.3-WJAA

Where: Reis Field

Last meeting: Brownstown 50-13, Aug. 24, 2018

Series past 30 years: Brownstown 27-13

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Passing

Brendan Smith (S) 7-16-81-1

Derek Thompson (BC) 2-3-38-1

Rushing

Chandler Drummond (S) 30-133-1

Derek Thompson (BC) 9-115

Brendan Smith (S) 14-62-1

Warren Franklin (BC) 6-35

Receiving 

Eli Brown (BC) 1-38

Ely Henderson (S) 2-31

Drew Vehslage (S) 2-23-1

Tackles

Ethan Corwin (S) 12

Josh Pennington (S) 12

Sam Huber (BC) 4

Lucas Hines (BC) 4

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