FOOTBALL: Smith leads Pioneers past Mitchell in 2A sectional semi 14-12

By GREG BURTON

Special to Southern Indiana Preps

CLARKSVILLE—Kevin Smith’s number got called often Friday night at Murphy Stadium, and he responded with big, impressive numbers of his own.

In Class 2A Sectional 39 semifinal action, the Providence junior running back ran roughshod over visiting Mitchell, helping the Pioneers edge the Bluejackets 14-12. The victory propels the Pioneers (6-5) to the sectional championship next Friday against Paoli (9-2). The title game will be played at Murphy Stadium, with kickoff at 7 p.m.

Friday’s game was similar in many ways to the teams’ meeting four weeks previously. In that game, each team was scoreless in the first half. But then Providence won that contest in the second half 27-8.

Providence failed to score again in the first half of this game, as Mitchell led 6-0 at halftime. The Pioneers then scored twice in the second half to win.

The person who did the most damage for the Pioneers was Smith, who ran the ball 26 times and accumulated 146 yards. Smith also scored the Pioneers’ two touchdowns.

The first score looked improbable, even as it happened. On the opening drive of the third quarter, Smith got the ball and ran into what appeared to be a pile of players. While most everyone watching waited for a whistle to blow to stop the action, Smith broke out of the pack and raced 37 yards into the end zone for the score.

Smith’s second score was the topper on a 15-play, 81-yard drive for Providence. His 1-yard run into the end zone with 11:14 left in regulation proved to be the game-winner.

The Pioneers led 14-6 at that point, but things got dicey at the end of the game. Mitchell (8-3) scored on a 2-yard run by Brandon Brazzell with 2:27 remaining. Providence stopped the two-point conversion run, and the Pioneers led 14-12.

Providence was forced to punt, and the Bluejackets took possession with 1:08 remaining. Mitchell started at its own 26-yard line.

Two pass interference calls were called against Providence. After Mitchell capitalized on some running plays, the Bluejackets had a first-and-10 at the Providence 16 with about 30 seconds to play.

Disaster then struck Mitchell. The Bluejackets were flagged for a chop block, sending the ball back to the Pioneer 41. On the next play, the Bluejackets fumbled the snap and Providence’s Brogan Welch recovered.

The Pioneers snapped the ball and took a knee, then the clock ran out as Mitchell had no timeouts remaining.

CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 39

SEMIFINAL

PROVIDENCE 14, MITCHELL 12

Mitchell           0 6 0 6–12

Providence      0 0 7 7–14

Second quarter

M — Brandon Brazzell 2 run (pass failed), :26.

Third quarter

P — Kevin Smith 37 run (Brandon Schafer kick), 9:44.

Fourth quarter

P — Smith 1 run (Schafer kick), 11:14.

M — Brazzell 2 run (run failed), 2:27.

WILLIAMS LEADS PIONEERS PAST PERRY CENTRAL

LEOPOLD – On Oct. 20, junior running back Kaden Williams ran for 291 yards on 19 carries and scored six touchdowns in Providence’s 48-15 victory at Perry Central (4-6) in the first round of Sectional 39.

Smith rushed the ball 10 times for 53 yards with one score.

-         - Kevin Harris contributed to this report.

CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 39

FIRST ROUND

PROVIDENCE 48, PERRY CENTRAL 15

Providence         7  13  21  7-48

Perry Central     7    0    8  0-15

First quarter

Pr – Kaden Williams 44 run (Brandon Schafer kick), 8:18.

PC – Cameron Bland 3 run (Ty Mullis kick), 2:53.

Second quarter

Pr – Kevin Smith 20 run (Schafer kick), 8:18.

Pr – Williams 31 run (kick failed), :11.

Third quarter

Pr – Williams 63 run (Schafer kick), 11:41.

Pr – Williams 5 run (Schafer kick), 9:11.

PC – Camrin Wright 4 run (Bland run), 4:03.

Pr – Williams 62 run (Schafer kick), 3:47.

Fourth quarter

Pr – Williams 7 run (Schafer kick), 9:15.