County Football Sectional History

With the start of the high school football state tournament set to begin Friday, it only seems appropriate to take a look at some playoff history for our three Montgomery County teams.

ATHENIANS LED THE WAY

Crawfordsville was the first county team to make the playoffs as it played its first game on Nov. 2, 1982 under head coach Rick Schavietello. The Athenians entered the game ranked 13th and went toe-to-toe against sixth-ranked Franklin Central before losing a defensive struggle 9-6. Ironically, the winning field goal was kicked by Burt Austin and the 25-yard field goal was the first the Flashes had kicked in four years.

That loss ended the Athenians’ season at 7-4. For the season, the Athenians went the entire season without allowing a single point in the fourth quarter. For the year the Athenians allowed just 85 points and 55 of those came in the first three games where were losses to Lafayette Jeff (34-0), McCutcheon (14-7) and Harrison (7-6).

Crawfordsville didn’t waste any time returning to the playoffs as they posted the school’s first playoff win the following year against seventh-ranked Edgewood 21-14 at historic Hoover Field. The following week the Athenians beat second-ranked Oak Hill 16-14 before losing to Fort Wayne Luers 19-6 to finish the season 9-4.

As was the case for most Schavietello teams the defense led the Athenians by coming up with a goal line stand on a fourth-and-3 when the Mustangs receiver was shoved out-of-bounds at the Crawfordsville 2-yard line which just 32 seconds to play.

Starting for the Athenians on offense were: Brett Vanderkolk (QB), Brian Pedro and Tom Barbee (RB), Erin Corbin (FL), Andy Therber (SE), Doug Caldwell (TE), Mark Frye, Mike Peterson, Brian Jones, Jeff Quinn and Jeff Furr (Line). On defense, Eric Frye and Caldwell (DE), Gary Furr and Eddie Hoffa (DT), Don Sherry, Doug Haslam, Richard Michal and Jones (LB), Ken Lee, Rod Bryant and Scott Heinold (DB).

Overall, the Athenians have an 20-34 playoff record. That includes an 18-32 record in the sectional round and two sectional titles (1983 and 1989). The Athenians are 2-0 in regional play and 0-2 in semistate action. The Athenians have lost 10 straight sectional game with the last win coming in the first round of the 2007 sectional against West Vigo (36-0).

CHARGERS HAVE THE BEST RECORD

North Montgomery had to wait until the IHSAA began including all teams into playoffs in 1985 before making its first playoff appearance. Like Crawfordsville, the first playoff appearance wasn’t a pleasant one for the Chargers.

In its first playoff game the Chargers fell to sixth-ranked Zionsville 26-21 in a game where North Montgomery quarterback Ron Reed threw for a school record 315 yards as he completed 22 of 36 passes. Zionsville scored the winning touchdown with just 2:02 to play. The loss ended the Chargers, season at 4-5.

North Montgomery didn’t waste any times war in its first playoff win as it accomplished that feat the following year with an impressive 38-6 win over Western Boone in a rain-soaked game at Charger Field to go 9-0 on the season under head coach Charley German. Chuck Carpenter led the Chargers with a pair of touchdown receptions from quarterback Kurt Schlicher who threw for 162 yards.

Starters on for the sectional championship team on offense were: Schlicher (QB), Brandon McCord (HB), David Reath (FB), Rob Thomas (FL), Mike Hazen (SE), Carpenter (TE), Shane Hallett, Ron McCormick, Tony Fenters, Gary Martin and Aaron Morgan (Line). On defense the Charger starters were: Dwayne Howard and Bruce Odle (DE), Fenters and Jeff Peacock (DT), Jeff Flagg, Brian McCoy, Schlicher and McCord (LB), Rocky Kobel, Brent McCloskey and Thomas (DB).

Overall, the Chargers have an above .500 record as the Chargers are 41-30 in postseason action. That includes a 35-29 record in the sectional. The Chargers won sectional titles in 1995, 1996 and 2008. The Chargers are 2-1 in regional play, 2-0 in both the semi-state and state finals.

MOUNTIES SEARCHING FOR FIRST TITLE

The Mounties followed suit with the other two county schools losing its first sectional game in 1985 by losing a double overtime game to Danville 26-20. Both teams scored in the first overtime and Southmont blocked Danville’s extra but then missed its kick for go into the second OT. Senior Kelly House has an outstanding game for the Mounties as he split time at tailback and quarterback and rushed for 154 yards on 29 carries and also threw for 87 yards and two TD passes.

Just like their counterparts the Mounties tasted victory in its second playoff try.

In 1986 the Mounties beat Seeger 33-6 under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Ken Coudret. Leading the Mounties in the victory was Brad Stephens (22 carries for 106 yards) and Don Martin (73 yards). Stephens’ 100-yard game marked the first time a Mountie back hnd 100 yards in a game for the season. Sean Brown and quarterback Mike Brown each scored twice for the Mounties.

Starting for the Mounties on offense were: Norman (QB), Marc Pyle (TB), Brad Stephens (FB), D.C. Chadd (SE), Brown (WR), Jeff Foster (TE), Don Martin, Tracy Johnson, Ron Reeves, Kenny Pickett and Scott Livesay (O-line). The defensive starters were: Aaron Wendelin and Scot Brewer (DE), Jeremy Hester, Stephens and Johnson (DL), Jim Bullerdick, Brian Saunders and Martin (LB), Pyle, Chadd and Norman (DB).

The Mounties enter this year’s postseason with an 18-32 record. The Mounties have never won a sectional and have only been in the sectional championship game three times (1989, 1998, 2008)