Photos: Brownsburg thumps Ben Davis to advance

INDIANAPOLIS — Brownsburg’s aura of invincibility was supposedly shattered after a loss at Hamilton Southeastern two weeks ago. The Bulldogs were no longer

INDIANAPOLIS — Brownsburg’s aura of invincibility was supposedly shattered after a loss at Hamilton Southeastern two weeks ago.

The Bulldogs were no longer unbeaten, they surrendered their No. 1 ranking in Class 6A and, adding to the perceived postseason uncertainty, quarterback Jayden Whitaker suffered a sprained ankle.

Not so fast. 

Consider a 48-20 road thumping of Ben Davis in the Sectional 5 opener Friday night as convincing evidence that third-ranked Brownsburg can bounce back and reassert itself as a state title contender.

Unlike in the season opener, when the Bulldogs edged the host Giants 21-16, Brownsburg started impressively by scoring the game’s first 24 points.

Caleb Morris scored on a 2-yard run then Whitaker, showing no ill effects from his injury, threw a 24-yard TD pass to Frederick Hawthorne to make it 14-0 in the first quarter.

Mike Berry kicked a 25-yard field goal and Garrett Sherrell scored on a 25-yard run to make it 24-0 in the second quarter.

Ben Davis, a nine-time state champion and most recently in 2017, never recovered.

The Giants finally scored near the end of the first half as Thomas Gotkowski threw a 17-yard TD pass to Destin Beuchamp, but Brownsburg’s defense delivered a pair of knockout blows with a pair of pick-sixes in the third quarter. Griffin Simpson returned the first 43 yards to make it 34-6, then Nick Cloyd ran back an interception 40 yards along the sideline for a 41-13 lead.

The Giants scored again, but the Bulldogs countered as Sherrell scored from 2 yards out to make it 48-20 with 8:32 remaining. The large lead allowed Brownsburg to rest Whitaker after that.

Gotkowski had three TD passes, the others covering 7 yards to Marques Reese and 36 yards to Lincoln Murff.

Brownsburg (9-1) ensured an opportunity to play for a sectional title against the Avon Orioles (2-8), who defeated host Pike 25-14. The Bulldogs beat the Orioles 60-21 in Avon in Week 4.

Ben Davis, which had lost its previous three games by one score or less, finishes at 6-4.

Brownsburg vs. Ben Davis football

Photos from Mark Evrard

Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7457
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Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7428
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Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7437
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Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7439
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7440
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7441
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7442
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7443
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7444
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7445
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7446
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7447
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7448
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7449
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7450
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7451
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7452
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7453
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7454
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7455
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7456
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7458
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7459
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Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7461
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7462
Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7463
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Brownsburg vs Ben Davis Indiana football October 28 2022 Mark Evrard 7472

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