By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
MARTINSVILLE – Martinsville, defending a championship Bedford North Lawrence so desperately craved, would not get fooled again. The world looks just the same.
Buffeted by the strong headwinds of history, BNL’s quest for a program-changing sectional crown was denied, the new boss was the same as the old boss as the Artesians asserted their dominance once more, celebrating a title while the dreams of the Stars were shattered into pieces and tears.
Powered by a brutal running game, almost unstoppable in its juggernaut style, Martinsville blasted to a 49-35 shootout victory over BNL in the Sectional 23 finale on Friday night. Who did the damage? That would be Lucas Dewey, who moved the decimal point a few spaces while churning out 235 yards and four touchdowns. The Artesians (6-6) advanced to meet Heritage Hills (11-1) in the regional, while BNL’s bid for only the second sectional title in program history was trampled into the turf.
After losing to BNL in the season opener, the Artesians were ready for the rematch. They exploded to a two-touchdown lead in the first six minutes, and the Stars (8-4) were forced into chase mode the rest of the way. They almost caught up, valiantly battling within 28-27 late in the third quarter, but Martinsville scored on three straight possessions in the fourth quarter to end the threat and BNL’s turnaround campaign.
With only two road wins in the series history, asking BNL to win twice at Martinsville in one season proved to be too much. The Artesians made sure of that.
“Our kids were more dialed in this week,” Martinsville coach Brian Dugger said. “To be honest, our kids didn’t take Week One seriously. We always beat Bedford, all the hoopla, blah blah blah. Our kids were dialed this week, like we were playing for a trophy.
“The first game (BNL prevailed 33-15), we ran the ball well on them. But when you fumble three times and throw two picks, it’s tough. We felt if we played a clean game, they would struggle to stop us.”
That’s exactly how it played out. Dewey was a bulldozer with 37 carries, slot receiver Landon Cazee went a little crazy with 8 catches for 160 yards, and Martinsvllle quarterback Chase Davis completed 13 of 19 for 193 yards and two more touchdowns. The Artesians parted BNL on the left, parted on the right, plowed up the middle for 462 total yards.
“Dewey is an amazing player,” BNL coach Brayden Tidd said. “And if it’s not your night, it’s not your night. Credit to them and their offensive line. Dewey is a heck of a player, and their line moved us around.”
Martinsville set the tone immediately, converting a fake punt to keep the first drive going. Davis hit Cazee for 38 yards, and Dewey punched in his first score. After BNL went three-and-out, the Artesians went three-and-in as Davis found Cazee for another 38-yarder and Dewey tornadoed through tacklers from 17 yards for a 14-0 lead.
That was only the beginning of the fireworks. Doesn’t the IHSAA frown on those following touchdowns in the postseason? The explosions kept coming, in several ways.
BNL got started with a 13-play answering drive, as Parker Kern snagged a 22-yard pass on the sideline, then caught a 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. But Martinsville came right back, with Davis capping a 10-play response with a 7-yard touchdown to tight end Landen Pottorff.
After the Stars settled for a 33-yard field goal by Parker Beeson, Martinsville set off the charges again, with Davis hitting Cazee for another 50-yard catch-and-dash touchdown and 28-10 lead. BNL was teetering and in trouble.
That’s when the Stars showed some true grit. Brody Horton ripped off a 25-yard run, and Dayson Kirby lofted a 41-yard touchdown strike to Driven Axsom. BNL’s Jackson Jones picked off a Davis pass with 18 seconds left in the half, setting up a Beeson boot from 28 yards on the final play of the half. The Stars had momentum, and kept it when Kirby finished off another dynamic march with a smart scramble and quick dump off to Cam Gates for a 19-yard score that got the Stars within 28-27 with 14 minutes left.
Needing a stop, BNL could not come up with it. Dewey rolled over a tackler and sprinted 33 yards, leading to another Davis-Pottorff connection for a 35-27 advantage. Then came disaster for the Stars as Kirby was sacked from behind, causing a fumble at midfield. Nine straight Dewey carries later, Martinsville was in the end zone again.
The clincher was Dewey’s final score, following Grady Gardner’s interception at midfield and return to the 9, with 2:02 left. BNL added a late touchdown on Kirby’s 22-yard strike to Malakai Goodman.
”When you’re chasing all night, it’s hard,” Tidd said. “But I told the guys this was what this offense is built for. We showed that, we fought all the way to the end. Any time you’re playing catch-up the entire game, it’s always tough. History is against you, odds are against you.
“I’m so proud of their fight. No matter what happened, we needed to play hard. If this is the last one, leave everything on the field. I thought they did that. That’s all I can ask. Very proud of them.”
Kirby was 14 of 31 for 227 yards. Jaden Gilbert was the main target with five catches for 88 yards, and Horton totaled 91 rushing yards. BNL has scored more than 35 points only four times in its postseason history, but it was not enough.
“We knew we would struggle to stop them at times,” Dugger said. “Hats off to Coach Tidd, his offense was potent. And those kids just make plays. We knew we had to outscore them. I can’t say enough about those kids and that program, with what they’ve been through. To come out and compete at that level is impressive.”
Dewey just caused too many problems. Cazee was also a headache from his slot position, finding holes in the secondary, but the ground gouging was the main reason BNL could never get in front.
“He’s been our workhorse,” Dugger said. “Our conference is brutal, and that kid is one of the best in it. Everyone knows we’re going to give him the ball. He’s just hard to tackle.“
Heritage Hills, which will host the regional, jolted Jasper 38-8 in Sectional 24.
Bedford NL 7 13 7 8 – 35
Martinsville 14 14 0 21 – 49
First quarter
M – Lucas Dewey, 1 run (Charlie Rawlins kick), 8:21; M – Dewey, 17 run (Rawlins kick), 6:07; BNL – Parker Kern, 2 pass from Dayson Kirby (Parker Beeson kick), 0:55
Second quarter
M – Landen Pottorff, 7 pass from Chase Davis (Rawlins kick), 8:42; BNL – Beeson, 33 field goal, 5:35; M – Landon Cazee, 50 pass from Davis (Rawlins kick), 2:42; BNL – Driven Axsom, 41 pass from Kirby (Beeson kick), 1:16; BNL – Beeson, 28 field goal, 0:00
Third quarter
BNL – Cam Gates, 19 pass from Kirby (Beeson kick), 2:17
Fourth quarter
M – Pottorff, 3 pass from Davis (Rawlins kick), 10:35; M – Dewey, 4 run (Rawlins kick), 4:25; M – Dewey, 1 run (Rawlins kick), 2:02; BNL – Malakai Goodman, 22 pass from Kirby (Gilbert pass from Kirby), 1:16
Team statistics
BNL – First downs 14 (5 by run, 8 by pass, 1 by penalty); Rushing 24-129; Passing 14-31-1-227; Total yards 356; Fumbles 2 (lost 1); Penalties 3-25
M – First downs 19 (14 by run, 4 by pass, 1 by penalty); Rushing 41-269; Passing 13-19-1-193; Total yards 462; Fumbles 1 (lost 0); Penalties 4-39
Individual statistics
Rushing – (BNL) Kirby 7-38, Horton 17-91; (M) Dewey 37-235, Gardner 2-29, Pottorff 1-7, Davis 1-(-2)
Passing – (BNL) Kirby 14-31-1-227; (M) Davis 13-19-1-193
Receiving – (BNL) Kern 2-24, Gilbert 5-88, Gates 2-17, Goodman 3-53, Axsom 2-45; (M) Cazee 8-160, LaFary 3-23, Pottorff 2-10
