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Indians Advance to the Playoffs

by Joslyn Ketzner

The St. Francis Indians took down the Stockton Tigers by halftime in the Bracket Game on Friday, October 25 on Greene Field. The Indians have completed their regular season undefeated. With the undefeated season, they have come home with three pieces of hardware, League Championship, District Championship, as well as returning the Yoke Bowl to St. Francis.

 The Indians increased their record to 9-0 with a score of 46-0 against the Stockton Tigers. 

Jordan Raby, senior, had three rushing touchdowns. Brady Dinkel, junior, had two touchdowns and one passing to Senior Connor Keller.

“I am sure glad this wasn’t our last game of the season,” Keller said. “I know teams will get harder from here, but I am ready to go play them with my teammates. I hope the younger teammates keep this trend going for more years.”

The Indians held the Tigers very well on Friday night, only letting them get 9 yards for the night. Shadryon Blanka, sophomore, said “Our defense had a dandy game holding the opposing team to a total of 9 yards.”

With 45 seconds left on the clock and it’s the Indians ball, Sophomore Colton Neitzel hiked the ball back to junior, Brady Dinkel as he took a knee and another knee with 25 seconds left to end the game. 

Not many head coaches could brag about having an undefeated regular season their first year. Head Coach Nick Fawcett has not only accomplished this, but you would never hear him bragging about it. He gives the credit to the players and assistant coaches for helping him.

“When I first started to get to know the players, it was evident that they had lost their love for the game,” Fawcett said. “It seemed to be more of a job to them, rather than something they did for fun. I told the boys from the get-go that football was too difficult of a sport to play if they weren't having fun. I promised the boys that we would make football fun again, and I firmly believe that we have achieved that. I feel the success we have had in the win/loss column is a direct reflection of the boy's hard work and regaining their passion and love for the game. I'm also fortunate enough to have assistant coaches, in Coach Carmichael and Coach Dinkel, who have bought into that theme and who always have the boys’ best interests in mind. Between the boys and the assistant coaches on this team, they have made my job easy.” 

Cheer on the Indians as they take on Victoria in the first round of the playoffs at home on Greene Field on Friday, November 2 at 7 p.m.