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Eastbrook coach Jeff Adamson talks about his 3A No. 3 Panthers' 49-0 victory at Blackford. Video by Mike McGraw
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By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

HARTFORD CITY – The hardest part of springing an upset is controlling momentum. When you face a superior opponent, you know going in that the least little thing can start the snowball rolling in the wrong direction. 

Blackford faced the task of trying to keep that from happening Sept. 25 in its Central Indiana Conference contest with Class 3A third-ranked Eastbrook. In the end, the snowball rolled over the host Bruins, 49-0.

For most of the first half, Blackford did a good job of keeping the high-powered Panther offense under control. Midway through the second quarter, Blackford trailed only 7-0. Eastbrook had dented the board with a 14-yard Jeremy Porter-Jones run in the first period. 

But with a little over six minutes to play in the half, the Panthers struck again on a five-yard jaunt from running back Colton Benedict. What followed started that snowball rolling downhill.

Eastbrook (6-0 overall, 4-0 in CIC play) used a little trickery by attempting an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. It worked to perfection, and the Panthers quickly made the score 21-0 with 4:39 left in the half when Jeremiah Poe scampered 14 yards to paydirt. 

After Blackford (2-4, 2-2) failed to move the ball, it took Eastbrook just two plays to strike again at the 2:11 mark. It was Benedict again, this time from 32 yards away. Yet the Panthers still weren’t finished. 

They added another quick strike in the final minute of the quarter when Benedict scored from seven yards out. Suddenly, it was 35-0 heading into intermission. Oh, that fateful momentum.

If there was any suspense left, the Panthers ended it on their first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Quarterback Tanner Day got into the action by romping 73 yards for a touchdown and a 42-0 Eastbrook lead. The Panthers would tack on another score later in the period for the final tally.

Next up for Eastbrook is an Oct. 2 CIC road contest at Elwood (1-5, 1-3), a 48-7 Week 6 loser at Madison-Grant (5-1 overall and tied with Eastbrook for the league lead at 4-0). Blackford will be home again next Friday for a CIC clash with Mississinewa (2-4, 2-2), a 28-6 Week 6 winner at Alexandria.