By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Discipline, defined as the trained ability to obey rules or practice a code of behavior, separates and identifies the best, or worst. The military demands it. Success requires it in great quantity. It’s strength and consistency bonded together by proper habits.
Abraham Lincoln referred to it as “choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” Jim Rohn, a famous motivational speaker, preached it is “the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day.” That key characteristic allows individuals to control desires, manage impulses, and make proper choices.
On the football field, in the ultimate team game, discipline is vital. Each play, every player has a job. Deviate from the designed plan, there’s chaos. Fail to harness emotions, there’s penalties.
Bedford North Lawrence’s physical and mental control will be tested when the Stars (1-1) face Jeffersonville in their Hoosier Hills Conference and home opener on Friday night. The Red Devils (1-1) will challenge BNL’s defensive toughness with a monotonous, repetitive, devastating desire to run the ball with power and speed. Penalties have been a BNL sore spot the first two weeks. Discipline will decide if both trends continue.
Jeffersonville already started its quest for the conference title with a 20-6 home triumph over Seymour last week. The scouting report was pretty simple. The Devils blasted away for 397 rushing yards while attempting only four passes. That sounds like the Norman Dale offensive strategy from the classic movie Hoosiers. How many passes? Four!
Guess what BNL expects.
“We’ll find out who wants to get into the piles, who wants to play,” BNL coach Brayden Tidd said. “They will be downhill and fast, physical and athletic. They have a couple of linemen who play really physical up front. We better be ready to go.
“We have to make sure we read our keys. Coach (Heath) Snider (the defensive coordinator) does a really good job, coming in with packets of information, it’s hard to out-prepare him. As long as we read keys, wrap up and tackle, our defense has been playing well – especially in the second half of games. I trust those guys. I like our chances.”
In the past, stopping the run has been a major BNL issue. Last season, the Stars surrendered over 2,000 rushing yards, thus 36.9 points per game. That has improved noticeably during the first two weeks of 2025. Martinsville ran for a modest 179 yards in the opener, Bloomington North only 98 last week.
The Devils will seek to change those stats. Darien Williams ran for 200 yards against Seymour, while quarterback Benji Rice added 105 with two rushing touchdowns.
“The identity of this year’s team looks different compared to last season,” Jeff coach Joe Washington said. “Last year, we relied heavily on dynamic receivers. This season, our strength is built around establishing the run game and controlling the clock.”
On the opposite side, BNL has displayed impressive gains in the passing game. Senior quarterback Dayson Kirby ranks first in the state in passing yards (844, plus 8 touchdowns), while top target Jaden Gilbert ranks sixth in receiving yards (274). Cam Gates and Parker Kern have made huge contributions.
“Dayson has done a nice job of getting the ball out quick, doing what we ask,” Tidd said. “He’s not being a superhero, he’s getting the ball to four dudes out there who are really good. If we can stay there, and get a little better as the ultimate goal, the sky is the limit. I knew we would be good offensively, but I didn’t know we would put up these kind of numbers. It’s pretty cool to see.”
“Their passing attack is a major point of emphasis,” Washington said. “Our defensive line is young and still gaining experience, which makes containing their quarterback a challenge. On film, he has consistently demonstrated outstanding accuracy, placing the ball where only his receivers can make plays and extending drives after the catch. That level of precision is impressive and presents a real test for our defense.
“Additionally, BNL returns several experienced players from last year’s squad, and it’s clear from the film that they have taken another step forward in toughness and execution.”
Overlooked in the neon passing is the shadow work done up front by the offensive line. Kirby has been given time to trigger the quick-strike attack.
”They’ve been phenomenal,” Tidd said. “I make sure to tell our skill guys, the reason they have really good numbers is because of those guys. They’re used to working together as a unit, and it’s really paid off.”
Jeffersonville will test that as well. Last season, the Devils recorded nine sacks (certainly an unacceptable and devastating total) during a 33-12 victory that ended BNL’s three-game winning streak in the series. Driven Axsom and Kern caught TD passes.
BNL’s focus, in addition to finally scoring in the second half, will be cutting down on penalties. The Stars were flagged 10 times at North, 12 times against the Artesians. That has to change. The Stars have gotten some extra yardage work in practice to pay for the yards they’ve given up in games.
“It’s working on the things we’re struggling with,” Tidd said. “It’s getting back to the basics to get rid of holding, where we line up on offense, get all the bad habits out in practice.”
Jeffersonville has, historically and recently, dealt with similar problems. The Devils were flagged 12 times last season against BNL. This year, their 37-0 loss at Cincinnati Taft was cut short with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter when a scuffle erupted between the teams. Last week against the Owls, Jeffersonville was flagged 12 times, including multiple unsportsman penalties. So the team with the highest level of discipline will have a huge advantage.
BNL will start the chase for the eighth HHC title in program history. The Stars won a share of the league crown in 2022.
”That was one of the goals,” Tidd said. “It’s a good game to come out and make a statement. That’s always the goal. It’s like a new season, going into a stretch of conference games. It’s big for us.”
Jeffersonville won its last HHC championship in 1997.
“Securing our first conference win is always a significant accomplishment,” Washington said. “For such a young team, this victory provides not only momentum heading into this week, but also the confidence they need as they continue to grow and develop.”
JEFFERSONVILLE at BNL
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
Records: Jeffersonville 1-1 (1-0 in HHC); BNL 1-1 (0-0 in HHC)
Coaches: Joe Washington, 7-5 in second season at Jeffersonville; Brayden Tidd, 1-1 in first season at BNL
Sagarin ratings: Jeffersonville 62.21; BNL 59.25
Series: Jeffersonville leads 32-17
Last meeting: Last year at Jeffersonville, the Red Devils waited out a 90-minute lightning delay for a 33-12 victory. Jayden Berkley scored twice, Rico Wright threw for a TD and ran for another, and the Devils recorded 9 quarterback sacks while ending BNL’s three-game winning streak in the series.
Previous game story: Red Devils play the waiting game
Game notes: BNL quarterback Dayson Kirby leads the state in passing yards after two weeks, and Jaden Gilbert ranks sixth in receiving yards. Jeffersonville’s last win at BNL came in 2020. The Devils went 6-4 last year, their first winning season since 2015.
