Staff writer Jami Frankenberry has more on the seventh-ranked Braves’ 22-10 victory over No. 4 Western Branch:
Indian River was the more motivated team, and it showed. The Bruins struggled throughout on offense, tossing four interceptions and managing only a second-quarter TD.
Fourteen of Western Branch’s plays resulted in a gain of 1 or no yards.
“This is the time of year that the defense has to get better,” Braves coach Cadillac Harris said. “And tonight we played pretty good.”
Playoff match-ups
Next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Division 6: #6 seed Bethel at #3 seed Western Branch
Division 5: #5 seed Indian River vs. #4 seed Hampton at Todd Stadium in Newport News
Banged-up Bruins
Western Branch began the game without a host of starters, including QB Michael Brown, although Brown played for two series in the second quarter.
The Bruins’ offense was a lot like the concession stand’s Brunswick stew on Friday – it had a little bit of everything. Western Branch used a variety of offensive formations, showing off the single-wing, the wing-T and a pro-I, among others.
Five different Bruins took snaps, and three threw at least one pass. Brown and DeMarta Johnson each threw two INTs.
Western Branch coach Scott Johnson attributed the INTs to “bad reads.”
On the ground
Indian River’s Van Dyke Jones led all rushers with 132 yards on 21 carries. He scored two TDs.
Other notable stats:
Indian River: Frankie Hamrock 2-6-0, 32 yards passing; Dravon Poittilo 5-7-0, 25 yards passing.
Western Branch: Carl Parson 6-40 rushing; Travis Paige 11-24 rushing; Vernon Payne 12-80 rushing.
Payne gained many of his yards after taking the snap. He was the go-to back in the single-wing.
Braves cash in
Indian River’s offense was opportunistic, scoring 10 points off turnovers and punching in a TD after a bad snap on a punt attempt.
That bad snap came early in the third quarter with Indian River clinging to a 16-10 lead. Western Branch lined up to punt from its own 42-yard line, and punter Donnie Chattin appeared to be warming up his leg when the snap came flying at him. He grabbed the ball and ran but was tackled for a 17-yard loss.
Indian River took over at the 25, and five plays later QB Frankie Hamrock’s 1-yard keeper gave the Braves a 12-point lead.
Psychic coach?
Western Branch was inside the Indian River 10-yard line for a third-and-8 when Braves coach Cadillac Harris yelled to his team, “You got a bootleg coming!”
Sure enough, QB Johnson rolled left and was tackled after a 5-yard gain. Johnson gained 1 yard on fourth down, giving the ball back to Indian River.
-- Jami Frankenberry
