Jaylan Johnson weaves out of the back field during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Owl’s O line at work during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Noah Broughton recovers the East Central fumble during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Mikey Wright, left, hands off to Traysean Hawkins during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Mitchell Mellencamp gets the punt off under pressure during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Mikey Wright gets the pass off under pressure during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Mikey Wright is upended at the sideline during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Owl’s Alex Milliken makes the takle after the East Central interception during the 35-0 loss against East Central Friday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The temperatures dropped in the atmosphere but ramped up on the field during the opening sectional game of the 2024-25 football postseason on Friday night at Bulleit Stadium.
Seymour ran straight into a buzzsaw on Friday night, hosting East Central, who has won back-to-back Class 4A State Championships, moving up to Class 5A due to the IHSAA Success Factor. The Trojans absolutely dominated their way into the sectional final next Friday after defeating the Owls, 35-0
The Trojans controlled the line of scrimmage and the clock throughout the evening, ending Seymour’s season, off a huge performance from Ryan Minges, who carried his way to 235 yards and 4 touchdowns, all of it coming in the first half.
East Central lost their last game by ten points to Indianapolis Roncalli and took their frustrations out on the Owls.
The Trojans led early and never looked back, scoring on their first play of offense in a 55-yard rushing touchdown, before sparking for four more offensive scores in the first half, leading 35-0.
Seymour assistant coach Alan Perry spoke on the outcome with the Trojans on Friday night.
“I’m really proud of our guys for continuing to get back up after some tough shots and beatings late in the season,” Perry said. “There is a reason they’re back-to-back state champions, it’s good for us our kids to see that type of play. They came in and executed on both sides of the ball.”
The game kicked off with Mikey Wright, Logan Shelly, Jackson Brock, and Jaylan Johnson heading to midfield for the coin toss, taking the field for the final time in their Seymour football careers.
The Owls struggled all night moving the football as East Central cruised to an easy 35-point win. It was all Minges in the first half; as the sophomore racked up 235 yards on 12 carries and scored four touchdowns in the first 24 minutes of play. Carson Pieczonka scored the other touchdown for the Trojans in the opening half as the team led 35-0. Seymour could not do much at all and the Trojans took every advantage heading into intermission.
East Central gained over 330 yards on less than 30 plays on offense and attempted only a couple of passes, while Seymour was limited to under 100 yards of total offense. A few turnovers, fumbled snaps, and mistakes along with the talent of the Trojans did it in for the Owls, ending their season with a loss to a solid team.
Seymour ended this season with a 4-6 record, defeating Greenwood, Bedford North Lawrence, Jennings County, and New Albany during the year. The team improved throughout the season and has some things to look forward to in the future.
Coach Perry spoke about the 2024 campaign for the Owls.
“It was an awesome and a fun year,” Perry said. “I’m really proud of our seniors for this season and the legacies they were able to leave. Their hard work, determination, and their efforts, they really left an impact on this younger group.”
14 seniors played their final down for the Owls on Friday night; Wright, Johnson, Shelly, Brock, Mitchell Mellencamp, Max Klapacz, Curtis Burke, Cole Simmons, Devon Jackson, Ricky Bogard, Nick Wheeler, Mason Nugent, Noah Broughton, and Will Mahoney.
A lot of production will need to be replaced, especially on throwing the ball on offense and the entire defensive side of the ball.
Coach Perry has enjoyed being around these seniors during their careers.
“I’m really proud of their growth of the past four years has been awesome to watch,” Perry said. “For me specifically, I’ve known some of these kids since they were in sixth and seventh grade, when I was playing high school ball, so seeing them grow up into the amazing young men they are is a blessing to watch.”
He took it a step further and mentioned it was one of his purposes of why he teaches and coaches.
“That’s why I do what I do, getting into teaching and coaching is so I can see these great young men turn into great human beings,” Perry said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them, because they’re all amazing.”
East Central will host Franklin next week in the sectional final. The winner of that game will play the winner of Decatur Central-Plainfield in the regional.
After facing the Trojans and Bloomington South a few weeks back, Perry believes the team needs to get stronger going into next season.
“We have to get more physical and stronger as a team,” he said. “We played two really good teams during these last three weeks and both of them are very good up front and very strong and physical. We have to be able to match those teams and build programs like that and we have to get it done in the weight room and build off of that.”
Seymour will turn their focus to next season.
IHSAA Sectional Semifinal
Week 10 — Bulleit Stadium (Seymour)
Trojans 35, Owls 0
East Central (7-3); 14; 21; 0; 0;
Seymour (4-6); 0; 0; 0; 0;
Scoring Summary:
First Quarter
EC: Ryan Minges 55-yard rushing touchdown (Mcfee PAT Good), 7-0
EC: Carson Pieczonka 29-yard rushing touchdown (Mcfee PAT Good), 14-0
Second Quarter
EC: Ryan Minges 8-yard rushing touchdown, (Mcfee PAT Good), 21-0
EC: Ryan Minges 64-yard rushing touchdown, (Mcfee PAT Good), 28-0
EC: Ryan Minges 42-yard rushing touchdown, (Mcfee PAT Good, 35-0
Fourth Quarter
Individual Seymour Statistics
Passing: Mikey Wright
9 of 17-for 67 yards, 0 TD’s 2 INT
Rushing:
T. Hawkins: 9-37, J. Johnson, 3-39
Receiving:
J. Johnson: 4-33, L. Shelly: 3-23, T. Hawkins: 1-10, E.Jackson 1-1,