By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Take it on the run, Bedford North Lawrence wanted it no other way. Believe it, for a good minute. New Albany was under the gun. The Bulldogs needed a speedwagon to get away. They could not outrun the storm.
Running game, running quarterback, running clock. Spurred by a relentless defense that refused to surrender ground, sparked by a balanced offense, the Stars revealed more layers to their scheme, more dimension to their structure during their most dominant performance this season. BNL’s sensational passing attack got the most glory during the first three weeks of this turnaround campaign. During this victory, credit can be distributed like Oprah handing out prizes to her studio audience.
Defense gets a gold star. Running game gets a gold star. Quarterback gets a gold star – everyone gets a gold star!
BNL’s Dayson Kirby threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as the Stars smacked New Albany 38-3 on Friday night. Brody Horton dashed for 95 rushing yards, and BNL’s defense allowed only 59 total yards, losing the shutout when the Bulldogs kicked a field goal on their final snap.
By then, with the running clock triggered at the 11:42 mark of the final quarter, the outcome was long decided. BNL (3-1 overall) improved to 2-0 in the Hoosier Hills Conference as it chases the coveted league championship.
Why did the defense earn its gold star? New Albany (0-4, 0-1) managed only three first downs (the first coming late in the third quarter) while BNL recorded three sacks and two turnovers. Kirby’s gold star? The state passing leader showed off his previously-undetected scrambling skill with a 40-yard scamper and a great fake for a rushing touchdown. Who knew?
The defense gets top billing this time. BNL has had only one shutout in the last seven-plus seasons, and that was lost when Carter Thompson drilled a line-drive 38-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining. That was set up by R.J. Long’s jitter-bug dash of 42 yards. Other than that, New Albany had 12 plays that gained nothing or lost yardage.
“They were unbelievable,” BNL coach Brayden Tidd said. “It didn’t matter who we threw in there, they were buying in. I’m super proud of them. They’re just doing their jobs, like I’ve asked all year. We have a really good group.”
Gibson Crane and Brady Byers recorded back-to-back sacks in one series, Dyllon Smith and Dylan Flinn pocketed first-half interceptions, and the Stars had New Albany freshman quarterback Grady Mayfield on the run almost every snap.
“We were firing on all cylinders,” Crane said. “It was great. We barely let up a first down. We kind of got in his head, the defense was amazing.“
The offense did its share. BNL struck quickly during its first series, when Kirby’s first pass hit Driven Axsom over the middle for a 45-yard catch-and-scamper score. On the next drive, Kirby found Parker Kern for 17 yards and Cam Gates for a 19-yard TD pass. The third possession featured a 27-yard strike to Gates and Horton’s 2-yard touchdown bolt. The Stars had a 21-0 lead in one quarter.
BNL added another first-half touchdown following the Smith pick. Kirby, flushed from the pocket by pass-rush pressure, took off up the middle and found plenty of space, racing 40 yards. He capped off the drive with a perfect fake and a 2-yard score. Parker Beeson booted a 24-yard field goal as BNL finished the half with a 31-0 advantage.
The Stars forced the running clock when Kirby hit Gates for 44 yards to set up Malakai Goodman’s short score to start the fourth quarter.
BNL had more rushing yards (182) than passing (177). That’s something new.
”If we can get the run game going, it will open up a whole other dimension for this offense,” Tidd said. “I’d like to see us finish a little stronger in the second half, strong for the whole four quarters. If we come out and play like I know we can, we can be dangerous.
“I’ve been talking to Dayson, any time you escape the pocket, everyone is dropping. Run the ball. It was nice to see.”
“It’s very important,” Horton said. “Everyone who sees us knows it’s a pass offense. My line was doing their job, making the holes. We can hurt them on the run, they’re not expecting it. It impacts a lot.”
Kirby finished 9 of 21 passing, with Gates catching three for 90 yards.
BNL’s only problem was a recurring one. On one of the last hot summer nights, the Stars were buried by a snowstorm of flags – 12 penalties for 117 yards of backward progress.
The Stars finished on the bad end of the mercy rule four times last season, so reversing that was sweet.
”They needed it, that’s what they’ve been talking about,” Tidd said. “They’re just hungry.”
”It’s amazing, the best feeling,” Horton said. “We’re through the roof.”
BNL will seek its third straight victory when it travels to Seymour next week. The Owls dropped to 0-4 with a 42-14 loss at Floyd Central.
New Albany 0 0 0 3 – 3
Bedford NL 21 10 0 7 – 38
First quarter
BNL – Driven Axsom, 45 pass from Dayson Kirby (Parker Beeson kick), 9:18; BNL – Cam Gates, 19 pass from Kirby (Beeson kick), 3:13; BNL – Brody Horton, 2 run (Beeson kick), 0:05
Second quarter
BNL – Kirby, 2 run (Beeson kick), 1:47; BNL – Beeson, 24 field goal, 0:25
Fourth quarter
BNL – Malakai Goodman, 3 run (Beeson kick), 11:42; NA – Carter Thompson, 38 field goal, 1:40
Team statistics
New Albany – First downs 3 (2 by run, 1 by penalty); Rushing 21-48; Passing 3-14-2-11; Total yards 59; Fumbles 1 (lost 0); Penalties 9-62
BNL – First downs 14 (9 by run, 3 by pass, 2 by penalty); Rushing 38-182; Passing 9-21-1-177; Total yards 359; Fumbles 0; Penalties 12-117
Individual statistics
Rushing – (NA) Mayfield 4-(-20), Chambers 5-(1), Long 9-70, Kaiser 3-(-1); (BNL) Kirby 10-57, Horton 19-95, Goodman 5-22, Chastain 1-0, Crane 3-8
Passing – (NA) Mayfield 3-13-1-11, Kaiser 0-1-1-0; (BNL) Kirby 9-21-1-177
Receiving – (NA) Cannon 1-8, Kiper 2-3; (BNL) Kern 1-17, Gates 3-90, Goodman 3-14, Axsom 3-56
