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BROWNSBURG -
Fans clad in purple would find no help from their rosters when staring down the opposing defensive line.
On the pamphlet handed out to the fans Warren Central has two players with number 94, two with 95, a 96, 98, 99. Yet 97 was causing all sorts of problems for Brownsburg Friday night.
"I changed it," said senior defensive tackle Elijah Jones, who is listed as No. 99 in the programs.
Number 97 was former Warrior defensive lineman Steve Barnett's-who donned the digits while Jones was coming up through the program, so when the opportunity came to flop it mid-season he jumped at it.
See: Brownsburg Wins First Sectional Since 1985
"He was like my older brother, my mentor," said Jones, who also has "97" tatooed on his right arm.
Bulldog fans would have liked to have known the name to go with the number, because he's the one who officially ended their season as they drove down the field in the final three minutes of their first regional championship game since 1985.
Jones' sack of Brownsburg quarterback Robby Robbins on fourth-and-seven at the Warrior 12 was the last of a handful of stops by the Warren Central defense, and helped preserve the 14-6 win Friday night.
"It was crazy," said Jones about the final play. "All I saw was my brother out there (Warrior Defensive Lineman) Kris Harley just smack him and he took off running and I hit him and just went in there and finished him."
Read: Wes Woodward's "Pick Six"
It was a fitting end to a game that was defensive struggle on both sides from start to finish, one that a stronger defensive effort on Warren Central's part helped them reach the semi-state round for the first time since 2006.
"They saved us at Franklin Central (A 14-13 first round win) and they saved us here," said Warriors head coach John Hart. "They are playing great football."
This run of solid defense by Warren Central began against Center Grove in the regular season, when the normally high-powered Trojans were held to just two touchdowns by the Warriors in a 28-14 win. Since then they've allowed 13 points against the Flashes, seven against Perry Meridian, and 14 against Lawrence Central.
They saved their best effort so far for Brownsburg, whose option-heavy offense came into the game averaging over 42 points in three playoff victories. Warren Central, however, would keep a normally active Robbins in check for most of the game, allowing them into their territory just a few times.
Sans a first quarter touchdown drive, which was capped off by a nine-yard touchdown run by Darryl Jordan-the Brownsburg offense was three-and-out most of the game.
"We've just got to cut off outside veer, and that's what we did," said Jones of the defensive strategy. "We cut off the inside veer and smacked them in the mouth, and the defense had a great game."
There was a little bit of offense that was needed too, and that came mostly from senior running back Shakir Bell. He gave Warren Central the lead by a tackle-breaking 36 yard touchdown run in the third quarter that gave the Warriors a 7-0 lead. Up by a point in the fourth quarter, Bell took over again, compiling rushes of 13, 14 and 18 yards before putting in the touchdown from two-yards out that gave Warren Central the 14-6 lead.
See: Former Warren Central Running Backs Fight Back From Injuries
"We weren't having the best game we had all season so we felt like we just had to make a play," said Bell of the fourth quarter drive. "We did our assignments just perfectly."
Bell finished with a game high 220 yards and the two touchdowns in helping Warren Central reach their first semi state game under Hart, which will be played at home next Friday against Center Grove, who beat Floyd Central 42-7.
"Great teams find ways to win, sometimes you're gonna win 48-47 and sometimes 14-6," said Hart. "I couldn't be more proud of this team."
On the pamphlet handed out to the fans Warren Central has two players with number 94, two with 95, a 96, 98, 99. Yet 97 was causing all sorts of problems for Brownsburg Friday night.
"I changed it," said senior defensive tackle Elijah Jones, who is listed as No. 99 in the programs.
Number 97 was former Warrior defensive lineman Steve Barnett's-who donned the digits while Jones was coming up through the program, so when the opportunity came to flop it mid-season he jumped at it.
See: Brownsburg Wins First Sectional Since 1985
"He was like my older brother, my mentor," said Jones, who also has "97" tatooed on his right arm.
Bulldog fans would have liked to have known the name to go with the number, because he's the one who officially ended their season as they drove down the field in the final three minutes of their first regional championship game since 1985.
Jones' sack of Brownsburg quarterback Robby Robbins on fourth-and-seven at the Warrior 12 was the last of a handful of stops by the Warren Central defense, and helped preserve the 14-6 win Friday night.
"It was crazy," said Jones about the final play. "All I saw was my brother out there (Warrior Defensive Lineman) Kris Harley just smack him and he took off running and I hit him and just went in there and finished him."
Read: Wes Woodward's "Pick Six"
It was a fitting end to a game that was defensive struggle on both sides from start to finish, one that a stronger defensive effort on Warren Central's part helped them reach the semi-state round for the first time since 2006.
"They saved us at Franklin Central (A 14-13 first round win) and they saved us here," said Warriors head coach John Hart. "They are playing great football."
This run of solid defense by Warren Central began against Center Grove in the regular season, when the normally high-powered Trojans were held to just two touchdowns by the Warriors in a 28-14 win. Since then they've allowed 13 points against the Flashes, seven against Perry Meridian, and 14 against Lawrence Central.
They saved their best effort so far for Brownsburg, whose option-heavy offense came into the game averaging over 42 points in three playoff victories. Warren Central, however, would keep a normally active Robbins in check for most of the game, allowing them into their territory just a few times.
Sans a first quarter touchdown drive, which was capped off by a nine-yard touchdown run by Darryl Jordan-the Brownsburg offense was three-and-out most of the game.
"We've just got to cut off outside veer, and that's what we did," said Jones of the defensive strategy. "We cut off the inside veer and smacked them in the mouth, and the defense had a great game."
There was a little bit of offense that was needed too, and that came mostly from senior running back Shakir Bell. He gave Warren Central the lead by a tackle-breaking 36 yard touchdown run in the third quarter that gave the Warriors a 7-0 lead. Up by a point in the fourth quarter, Bell took over again, compiling rushes of 13, 14 and 18 yards before putting in the touchdown from two-yards out that gave Warren Central the 14-6 lead.
See: Former Warren Central Running Backs Fight Back From Injuries
"We weren't having the best game we had all season so we felt like we just had to make a play," said Bell of the fourth quarter drive. "We did our assignments just perfectly."
Bell finished with a game high 220 yards and the two touchdowns in helping Warren Central reach their first semi state game under Hart, which will be played at home next Friday against Center Grove, who beat Floyd Central 42-7.
"Great teams find ways to win, sometimes you're gonna win 48-47 and sometimes 14-6," said Hart. "I couldn't be more proud of this team."
