FLOYDS KNOBS — The Floyd Central football team rode 14 early points off two turnovers and never trailed visiting Castle in capturing the 5A Sectional 8 championship last night at Ron Weigleb field, 42-32.

“We got up on them early and just sort of held them off,” said Highlanders (9-3) coach Brian Glesing, whose squad faces Center Grove in next week’s regional. “I never would have believed we’d have scored 42 points on them, but they made some mistakes and we were able to take advantage of it.”

On the Knights’ first play from scrimmage, quarterback Schyler Cooper’s pass near midfield was picked off by Floyd Central’s Matt Rue, who returned the interception to the Castle 33.

Seven plays later, Highlander quarterback Max Guenther dove in for a one-yard touchdown run after nearly being caught in the backfield, and the extra-point gave Floyd Central a 7-0 lead.

On the kickoff following the Guenther touchdown, Castle’s Trey Smith fumbled at the Floyd Central 40 and a pile of Highlanders recovered. Guenther scored again from 1-yard out just three plays later and Floyd Central led 14-0 with just under seven minutes left in the first quarter.

The early cushion allowed them to stave off the Knights, who shredded Floyd Central on the ground throughout the first half but were forced to play catch up from that point on.

Castle’s first drive attempt following the turnovers went for 76 yards on 16 plays and culminated with a 5-yard Logan Hayford touchdown run as time was running out in the first quarter.

But the Highlanders answered, embarking on a lengthy drive of their own that ended when Guenther notched another touchdown run, this time from 2 yards away. Guenther’s 3rd touchdown of the night resulted in a 21-7 Highlander lead early in the 2nd quarter.

Despite fighting the game-long deficit, Castle coach Doug Hurt stuck to his gameplan, utilizing the shifty Hayford and Cooper and the strength of the Knights’ offensive line.

Following a 1-yard touchdown by Floyd Central’s Aaron Sparks, Castle received the ball with less than 2 minutes left in the first half near midfield.

But the Knights’ only pass play on their closing drive came on 3rd down at the Highlander 11, and Drew Ison took the screen pass from Cooper through the Highlander defense and gained the touchdown with 10.9 seconds left in the half.

Any momentum Castle may have gained from the late touchdown was limited, as Cooper sought Smith in the end zone for a pass on the ensuing two-point conversion. The ball was batted down by Rue, and it was a two-possession game going into halftime, 28-19, with the Highlanders leading.

“We were able to stop them twice on their two-point conversions and that made it a two-possession game,” Glesing said. “That was exciting for our kids. We knew they were an outstanding football team with a great offense, and we were going to have to outscore them.”

Floyd Central received the football on the second half kickoff and wasted no time in advancing into Castle territory. They were inside the Knights’ 5 when Kyle Bramble took the handoff and found Allen in the end zone for the three-yard halfback pass for a touchdown.

That touchdown and extra point made the margin 35-19 and gave the Highlanders (9-3) all the cushion they needed.

Aaron Sparks rushed for 146 yards on 26 carries and finished with two scores for the Highlanders. Bramble carried 14 times for 101 yards and added the touchdown pass to Allen. Guenther added a fourth touchdown run in the third quarter, and Rue picked off another pass in the fourth quarter to help salt the game away.

Hayford finished with 178 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns but coughed up a costly fumble in the third quarter that Bramble recovered. All three Castle turnovers resulted in Floyd Central touchdowns.

“I just feel good for our whole team,” Guenther, a senior and four-year starter, said. “It’s what we’ve all been working for such a long time, and it’s great to get that hardware and to have our whole team down here to enjoy it.”



FLOYD CENTRAL 14 14 14 0—42

CASTLE 7 12 7 6—32



1st quarter

FC: Guenther 1 run (Van Buren kick), 7:45.

FC: Guenther 1 run (Van Buren kick), 6:51.

C: Hayford 6 run (Steenburg kick), 53.9.



2nd quarter

FC: Guenther 2 run (Van Buren kick), 9:13.

C: Hayford 14 run (kick failed), 6:27.

FC: Sparks 1 run (Van Buren kick), 2:07.

C: Ison 11 pass from Cooper (pass failed)



3rd quarter

FC: Allen 3 pass from Bramble (Van Buren kick) 8:38

FC: Guenther 5 run (Van Buren kick) 6:44

C: Ison 14 pass from Cooper (Steenburg kick) 4:48

4th quarter

C: Hayford 3 run (pass failed), 5:12