When Brownstown Central needed a big gain, the hand-off went to Lucas Hines.
He either bulled up the middle or dashed around end. As No. 17 disappeared over the horizon headed to the end zone, fans and teammates were exhilarated.
Less visible were the collisions in the middle of the field when the other guys were trying to run and Hines stood up to stop them.
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It was an old-style, two-way football season for the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Hines. Rushing for 1,080 yards and making 107 tackles made the senior running back-middle linebacker The Tribune’s Player of the Year in football for Jackson County this 2020 season.
While many viewed Hines as the Braves’ go-to guy on offense as the 6-3 season played out, he always looked at himself more as a player with a defensive mindset.
“I love defense way more than offense,” Hines said. “There nothing better than hitting. Touchdowns are great, don’t get me wrong.”
Hines collected 12 of those this season for 74 points. He averaged just about 12 yards per rushing attempt.
Hines embarked on an offseason and inseason nutritional and weightlifting program to bulk up, gain speed and emphasize offense more than he had done earlier in high school when he had mainly played linebacker.
“That has been his main position,” Brownstown coach Reed May said. “This is the first year he played slot.”
May said Hines came to him after his junior year to talk and said he could contribute on offense, saying, “’I think I can help the team better than I have in the past.’ He was excited about playing slot.”
He thinks Hines has had the goal of playing college football since he was in middle school, and coaches at some schools have made inquiries, and May has provided information. Indiana State, Marion, Franklin and Hanover seem to be possible landing spots for Hines.
“I think he’ll be a college football player,” May said.
Although Hines made his mark on offense with several 100-yard-plus games, he knows his college football opportunities will be on defense.
“I felt I was trying to do my best on both (sides of the ball),” Hines said.
He has talked to coaches in person and on the phone and is excited to have their interest.
“It’s a little stressful, too,” Hines said.
There are only two football teams at high schools in Jackson County. Seymour, 3-7, like Brownstown, lost in the first round of sectional play this fall.
Owls coach Tyson Moore felt quarterback Cody Ruble and running back Colin Greathouse were Seymour’s two most outstanding players.
“Cody was our biggest asset this season, but Colin was our most explosive player on offense and achieved a lot this season,” he said.
Ruble passed for 1,330 yards and 11 touchdowns in his only season as a full-time quarterback. Greathouse rushed for about 545 yards.
All-county
Offense
Quarterback: Cody Ruble, Seymour; Kiernan Tiemeyer, Brownstown.
Tiemeyer rushed for 505 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 841 yards and six touchdowns.
Running backs: Lucas Hines, Jayden Steinkamp, Brownstown; Colin Greathouse, Seymour.
Steinkamp scored 12 touchdowns and rushed for 761 yards on 7.5 yards per carry.
Receivers: Drew Vehslage, Bret Perry, Seymour; Brandon Reynolds, Brownstown.
Vehslage caught 29 passes and scored five touchdowns.
Offensive line: Treyton Ream, Dustyn Kocsis, Creed Gambrel, Brownstown; Cory Robinson, Preston Applegate, Seymour.
Defense
Defensive line: Sean Burton, Brownstown; Steven Wilson, Cameron Klakamp, Seymour.
Linebacker: Eli Wischmeier, Lucas Hines, Brownstown; Evan Smith, Josh Pennington, Seymour.
Defensive backfield: Nicholas Robbins, Kiernan Tiemeyer, Brownstown; Treyton McCormick, Ty Woods-Weddell, Seymour.
Robbins also gained 310 yards rushing, scored seven touchdowns and was a return man.
Punter: Caleb Elliott, Seymour.
“Caleb is one of the top punters in the state of Indiana,” said Owls coach Tyson Moore.
Kicker: Cooper Wolka, Brownstown. Wolka kicked 40 extra points.