By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Fashionably late to the scrimmage, Bedford North Lawrence finally made a grand entrance. Some view that practice as disrespectful. But this was a glorified practice, and the Stars were the hosts. At least they showed up. To quote David Lee Roth, they didn’t “feel tardy.” But they looked like it. Give ‘em something to write on.
After a rough start, BNL answered the late bell to showcase expected skill during the IHSAA controlled scrimmage with Brownstown on Friday night. The third offensive series was the charm, producing three rapid-fire touchdowns to end the workout on a crisp note. Until that point, the Braves – ranked No.1 in the Class 2A preseason poll – were the life of the party.
With Malakai Goodman unleashed, BNL’s offense clicked. The starters played sparingly, hoping to mask and disguise regular-season intent as much as possible. But it would have been disheartening to miss the main event and fail to reach the end zone. Thankfully, the Stars came up with highlights and talking points.
Cutler Chastain threw two touchdown passes and Goodman snagged four passes as the Stars closed out the scripted session at their explosive best. In reality, the first unit played only 18 out of the 37 varsity snaps, so there was no such thing as continuity or momentum. They are saving that for the real deal next week, when BNL opens the regular season.
“I liked a lot of things with the first group,” BNL coach Brayden Tidd said. “We executed well, and we didn’t show a whole lot. We opened it up just a little bit, it was important to get on the board. I wasn’t too worried about that, because I know we can score. They did seem to come to life.“
That third set (12 plays with the 35-yard line as a starting point) was definitely needed. Chastain started it by ripping a 14-yard pass to Goodman, and Brody Horton dashed 21 yards for a score. Two snaps later, Chastain connected with Goodman for a 35-yard touchdown, then came back with another 22-yarder to his most electric target. Nate Hildum capped the set with a bruising 13-yard touchdown run.
Seven plays, three scores. That’s more of what is anticipates. It also helped when the intensity level got a noticeable boast. Not that anyone was keeping score.
“It’s so hard for the kids to get up for a scrimmage,” Tidd said. “It’s important and it’s cool, but it doesn’t mean a whole lot at the end of the day.”
Tell that to the Braves. The first two passes from new quarterback Eli Hutchinson went for a 59-yard touchdown (Kye Trueblood) and 54-yard score (Brock Dean). Keep that trend going, he’ll be All-World.
“Eli can throw,” Brownstown veteran coach Reed May said. “Trueblood is a heck of a receiver. We’re going to use him. Now pass protection is always a concern (and Brownstown’s line has been rebuilt from last year’s state runner-up), but Eli can throw it well. And our quarterback run will be a big part of our offense. He’s a fullback who can play quarterback.”
In BNL’s defense, the defense did finally fight back. The Stars forced and recovered two fumbles (Grady Dalton and Hudson Kern), recorded two quick-whistle sacks (to protect the quarterbacks from unnecessary violence) and broke up a pass (Joe Conover) in the end zone. But the Braves also scored three times in the goal-line set.
“It’s never a great look,” Tidd said of the big-play bombs. “We need to get that cleaned up. It’s getting to the right spots, being in the right spot at the right time.“
In the limited duty, Chastain was 7 of 10 passing for 107 yards, Goodman’s four catches totaled 76 yards, and Horton added 39 rushing yards. Those numbers will be far greater later.
”It’s the first scrimmage, the second time we’ve tackled somebody since November,” May said. “But we flew around. Until I watch film, it’s hard to evaluate.”
Hutchinson was easy to evaluate. He completed 4 of 5 for 145 yards. Dean scored twice as Brownstown’s famed wing-T attack was difficult to slow with no practice and film time to adjust.
BNL’s other touchdown was a 24-yarder to Cam Gates (on fourth-and-goal, following a penalty and sack).
Both teams now shift the focus to the opener next week. Brownstown will start at Corydon, while BNL will face a rematch with Martinsville, which conquered the Stars in last year’s sectional final.
