By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The offensive numbers are staggering, in terms of single-season excellence and historical perspective. Bedford North Lawrence didn’t invent the term “basketball on grass” to describe a high-scoring attack – former Purdue coach Joe Tiller made that famous – but it’s probably appropriate to borrow it right now.
Consider these incredible statistics:
First, BNL has scored 40-plus points in four consecutive games for the first time in program history. In fact, BNL has played 509 games since 1974, and totaled 40-plus points only 66 times. That’s 13 percent.
Second, reaching the 40 mark basically requires seven touchdowns. High school teams average about 10-12 possessions per game. That’s almost 70 percent of drives reaching the end zone.
Third, senior Malakai Goodman ranks second in the state in rushing with 993 yards (after Brody Horton started in the backfield for the first six quarters before suffering a season-ending knee injury) while averaging over 10 yards per carry. He’s on pace to shatter the single-season school record of 1,456 yards, set by Kraig Smoot in 2010.
Finally, the Stars are currently averaging 39.6 points per game. The program record is 36.2, set in 2018.
Who gets the credit for all this firepower? Running backs, quarterbacks and receivers earn the glory and the headlines. Coaches design the plays and direct the schemes. But without one major unit doing all the dirty work, nobody would be going anywhere.
Offensive lineman toil in anonymity, until an official yanks a penalty flag out of the back pocket. They wear jerseys that are numbered in the 50s and 60s, not exactly top sellers on Amazon. But their contribution is invaluable. BNL’s line has been divine, the reason Goodman and the gang have been so successful. So it’s time for Case Stiles, Cameron Morales, Carter Sollman, Riley Sons, Cooper Knoy and Chase Rynders to step from the shadows and take a bow.
“Our line has been – night and day – so much better,” BNL coach Brayden Tidd said. “That’s a testament to them, how hard they worked in the offseason, and Coach (Josh) Gould. He has built a really good relationship with those guys, they trust him and he trusts them. For them to be locked in, you’re seeing it now.
“Having everyone back on offense, expect the quarterback, you expect it. And the standard is the standard. They can’t drop, we need to shoot high. When you have the groups of kids we have, that should be the benchmark. They’ve shown they can do it.”
What makes this season even more amazing is the switch from a passing-dominated style last season to road graders in 2026. Linemen love to run block, preferring to power forward rather than retreat to protect.
“I think we’ve been physical,” Sollman said. “I had to learn to be physical against bigger dudes than me. It’s great, what we’re doing. With Malakai in the backfield, the guys up front are going crazy.
“It’s getting to play with all my boys, and winning. Winning is fun. And seeing what Mal is doing. When he’s 40 yards downfield, it’s like ‘Holy moly.’ It’s just crazy.”
Jennings County will be the next defense tasked with slowing down the Stars. BNL (4-1) will seek to extend its 40-something streak and its overall winning streak to four when the Stars make the trip to tangle with the Panthers (2-3). Jennings, which often blitzes linebackers, has held only one opponent (Eastern Pekin) under 21 points this season.
BNL has dominated the series, winning 11 straight, and the Stars haven’t lost at Jennings since 2002. But taking another win for granted would be a dangerous mindset.
“Getting complacent is the biggest thing,” Tidd said. “We just come off a really big win (over Seymour), our largest margin yet. Getting better every week is one of our three main goals, so we can’t be complacent. We have to want this one as bad as we want the other ones.
”The first thing that sticks out is their offense, I think I saw six different formations. Preparing for all of those is a nightmare. The kids have to remember where to line up.”
The Panthers will feature quarterback Brady Franks (332 passing yards plus 247 rushing yards with six touchdowns), running back Andrew Maschino (251 yards) and receiver Cooper Beineke (10 catches for 133 yards).
Last season, BNL crushed Jennings twice, recording a 63-0 victory during the regular season and a 50-0 triumph in the Class 4A sectional opener. The Panthers managed only 140 total yards combined in those two games, while Horton accounted for seven touchdowns.
“I think they will hold a grudge against us,” Sollman said. “We ended their season. We can’t underestimate them.”
BNL at JENNINGS COUNTY
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
Records: BNL 4-1; Jennings County 2-3
Coaches: Brayden Tidd, 12-5 in second season at BNL; Jason Burton, 4-21 in third season at Jennings County (5-40 in fifth season overall)
Sagarin ratings: BNL 57.18; Jennings County 30.07
Series: BNL leads 47-7
Last meeting: Last season, the Stars swept two games from the Panthers. BNL won the regular-season game 63-0 as Dayson Kirby threw four touchdown passes and Brody Horton scored three times. In the Class 4A sectional, BNL rolled to a 50-0 triumph as Horton ran for 124 yards and four touchdowns.
Previous game story: Serious Stars earn first-class upgrade
Game notes: BNL has won 11 straight games in the series. BNL’s last loss at Jennings County was a 14-13 setback in 2002. The Stars rank 43rd in the state in scoring at 39.6 points per game, and they have set a program record with four consecutive games of 40-plus points.
