Playing Preble Shawnee’s Arrows for the first time since 2013, the Blue Devils of Brookville
claimed a 28-18 victory on their home turf Friday night to advance to the regional semi-finals in Division V. In downing the Arrows the Devils recorded an almost unbelievable 25th consecutive win all-time without a loss over their opponents from Preble County.
In a contest that most predicted to be a high-scoring affair, Brookville utilized a punishing
second half ground game to wear down Shawnee and limit the Arrows’ offensive possessions in the final two quarters.
On a cool, breezy evening Shawnee took the game’s opening kickoff and marched 76 yards
in four plays, a drive highlighted by a Lane Lovely 25-yard run and three completions by
sophomore quarterback Brody Morton, the final to Kaden Taylor for 9 yards and a touchdown.
With the extra point by Colton Schroeder the Arrows grabbed a quick 7-0 lead with 10:11
showing on the clock.
Brookville started its first drive of the night and went 64 yards in eight plays with Keegan
Mehr connecting with Seth Hoover for a 4 yard score at the 5:03 mark of the opening quarter.
Walt Adams extra point made it 7-7 as the crowd had barely had time to get settled in the
second round playoff contest.
Shawnee’s next possession came to a halt as Hoover intercepted a Morton pass at the Blue
Devil 2-yard line and the quarter ended 7-7.
With 9:43 left in the first half Shawnee grabbed a 10-7 advantage on the strength of a
Schroeder 35-yard field goal. Shortly after came “the play” of the game as the Devils Dane
Moore picked off a Morton pass in the right flat and returned it 59 yards to the end zone for a huge momentum swing in both teams’ fortunes. With Adams adding the extra point, Brookville took a 14-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Receiving the second half kickoff, the Devils drove 79 yards in six plays all on the ground
with Mehr dashing 58 yards to paydirt to finish the drive. With Adams converting his third kick of the night, the Devils went ahead 21-10 at the 8:20 mark of the third quarter and established what would be the story of the second half with solid blocking by the offensive line leading to over 250 rushing yards in the final two quarters.
The Arrows got back in the game with 4:02 left in the third stanza on a 58-yard gallop by
Isaac Blankenship making it 21-16. Morton hit Reece Smith for a two-point conversion and the Arrows were back within three at 21-18. Hoover returned the ensuing kickoff to the Shawnee 40, leading to the final score of the evening as Mehr ran a quarterback keeper in from 8 yards out and with Adams final kick of the game the Devils went ahead 28-18.
The fourth quarter was all Brookville as the Devils limited Shawnee to only four offensive
plays by steadily chewing up the clock with a dominating run game and securing the right to advance to the third round of playoff action.
Coming off of seasons finishing 13-1 and 8-3, Coach Dave Maddox’ young Arrows
concluded the year with an 8-4 mark and have a promising future ahead. Morton unofficially was 24 of 36 passing with 4 interceptions and a touchdown to pace the Shawnee attack.
In advancing to face SWBL rival Waynesville for a second time this season, the Devils of
Coach Mike Hedrick move to 10-2 following last year’s 11-2 record and 8-3 ‘21 mark. Mehr
unofficially carried 20 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and Adams rushed 19 times for 124 yards and a touchdown as the Devils ground game accounted for 363 yards.
The regional semi-final game with the Spartans, who defeated Brookville by a 21-14 count
earlier, will be played next Friday evening at 7:00 at a site still to be determined.
