Photos: Daily Journal 2013 football player of the year Indian Creek senior Brenden Smith Friday at Indian Creek High School. Scott Roberson / Daily Journal In the hours leading up to one of Indian Creek’s early-season football games, the coaching staff decided Brenden Smith would handle placekicking duties for the Braves. Not for the season. Just the one game. Smith, who out of equal parts talent, circumstance and necessity would be asked to perform every task shy of driving the team bus to road games during the 2013 season, eagerly accepted the challenge. The regular kicker was out, and the Braves needed a fill-in. “It was a home game, and I did make one point-after kick,” said Smith, remembering Indian Creek’s 33-25 loss to eventual Class A state finalist Eastern Hancock in Week 3. “The other one went to the right, and I think almost hit the play clock.” Smith laughs at the image of the wayward boot, football’s version of a golf slice. He can afford to. It might be the lone blemish on the 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior’s otherwise spectacular final season in an Indian Creek uniform. A four-year varsity letterman, Smith has been selected The Daily Journal’s 2013 Johnson County Player of the Year after leading the Braves to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Class 3A Sectional 30 championship game. Smith finished as his team’s leader in no fewer than seven statistical categories: rushes (123), rushing yards (960), receptions (53), receiving yards (948), punts (26), touchdowns (34) and total points (205). He also was in the top five in numerous others, including tackles from his defensive back position. Indian Creek coach Mike Gillin, who recently completed his 35th season as a high school head coach, readily admits he’s never before had to lean on the versatility of one player the way he did Smith for 12 weeks. That’s because with the loss of junior tailback Dokken Egenolf, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first half of the first game, Gillin had to restructure an offense designed around Egenolf. Suddenly, it was designed around Smith, a wide receiver who began the season with an outside chance of becoming the state’s all-time leading pass catcher. “I knew going into the season Brenden was going to be a big part of what we were doing,” Gillin said. “Once we lost Dokken to a season-ending knee injury, everybody knew Brenden was our go-to guy. He carried us for most of the year.” Gillin isn’t merely speaking figuratively. Smith not only accounted for 79 percent of his carries (97 of 123) over Indian Creek’s final five games, he also totaled 22 receptions and 33 tackles in that time. “He even wanted to play some quarterback,” Gillin said. “Brenden is a pretty good thrower and could have been a great option quarterback.” Smith did manage to muscle his way into the Braves’ passing attack, though. He finished the season 2 of 6 through the air for 75 yards and a score, attempting at least one pass in four Indian Creek games. For the Braves to truly flourish, though, Smith would be needed elsewhere. By season’s end he had played receiver, running back, quarterback, safety, linebacker, punter, kicker and return specialist. “When I first saw Dokken get hurt, I was like, ‘He’ll be OK,’” said Smith, who never envisioned switching from wide receiver to running back. “He’s one of the toughest kids I know.” Egenolf wasn’t all right. Due primarily to Smith, the Braves’ offense would be, though. “Brenden told me on several occasions, ‘Coach, I’m ready to carry us,’” Gillin said. “Obviously, when he was on the field we were a pretty good football team, and the other players on our team did a good job of growing up around him. “It was just a pleasure to have him on our team.” It’s fitting Smith’s first start at Indian Creek occurred in the program’s most-publicized game to date: the 21-3 home loss to Chatard in a Class 3A semistate in November 2010. Then a freshman, Smith lined up as the Braves’ slot receiver, hauling in two Trey Reese passes for a total of 12 yards. He would total 26 receptions that season on his way to 215 for 48 touchdowns over his career. Smith’s 3,157 yards ranks him eighth all-time in career yardage among Indiana high school players. Indian Creek posted a 38-13 record in Smith’s four varsity seasons, an era that also included two Class 3A sectional and one regional crown. Smith counts this season’s 17-14 sectional victory at No. 3 and previously undefeated Batesville, followed a week later with a 34-27 win against visiting No. 8 Hamilton Heights, among the most cherished of his lengthy scroll of football memories. By the same token, being eliminated two weeks later by Guerin Catholic on the unranked Braves’ home field proved one of the most heartbreaking. “The best four years of my life,” said Smith, who is also an outstanding pitcher/outfielder for the Indian Creek baseball program. “Just the family you get going through the experience. We play as a family at Indian Creek. Everybody knows everybody, and it’s a community thing. “Football makes you respect others, and people don’t realize how close you become playing it. You shed your blood, your sweat and your tears with your teammates. I’m honestly still in shock that it’s over.” Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services 0
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:19:30 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015