After dropping the season opener at Louisville-Male, the Floyd Central football team has regrouped for two wins in a row.
The latest of those victories came last Friday in the Highlanders’ home-opener against Madison.
FC Head Coach said his team was a little flat, but overcame that to get the win.
He said if not for his team’s star tailback Kyle Bramble, it would have been a closer contest.
“We had the best player on the field,” he said. “Without Bramble, this would have been a different kind of game. I am glad he is on our team!”
For the second week in a row, Bramble rushed for more than 240 yards. His total of 298 yards on 13 carries against Madison included a long of 96 yards.
He also scored four touchdowns for the second game in row.
Bramble is listed as the sixth best offensive player in the state according to the list compiled at the Indiana High School Athletic Association. He leads the state in most statistical offensive categories.
While Bramble and the FC offensive line kept things rolling, Glesing saw things that must be improved.
One area was his team’s inability to add to the lead.
“I felt like we didn’t have a killer instinct in the second half,” Glesing said.
One area Glesing sees improving is on the defensive side of the ball.
“We’re a lot better than we were,” he said. “We gave up 13 last week and six this week. That was a lot of our second-team players in the game when they got the six. But, we still have to keep getting better because we have to go against Columbus East, Bedford, New Albany and those kind of teams. Then we have the playoffs.”
It took less than three minutes for FC to get on the scoreboard when Bramble scored on a four-yard run.
The Highlander defense bent a few tims on Madison’s ensuing possession, but didn’t break.
After the Cubs moved the ball past midfield, the drive stalled thanks to a sack by senior Tom Stroeble. The tackle for a loss cost Madison seven yards and forced a punt.
The Cubs pinned FC deep in their own territory, but that didn’t matter as Bramble broke a 96-yard run.
FC missed the PAT (point after touchdown), but led 12-0.
Later in the half Bramble ripped off a 67-yard run. This time, Jason VanBuren connected on the PAT, putting the Highlanders on top 19-0.
Bramble and FC extended the margin to 26-0 at intermission when he scored on a 76-yard run as time expired.
The only offense FC managed in the second half was a 37-yard field goal off the foot of VanBuren and a safety.
VanBuren has made just five of 10 PATs this season, but seemed to regain his confidence against Madison.
He connected on three in a row against the Cubs and added the fieldgoal.
Glesing said he is glad to see the confidence returning.
“That’s one reason we tried the fieldgoal in that situation,” Glesing said. “We wanted to get him on track. He’ll be fine.”
Floyd Central is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
Glesing said he has a good feel about how his team is coming together.
“We’re right were I thought we would be,” Glesing said. “We are a couple of plays from being 3-0. We’re in good shape. We’re going to keep doing what we do. We’ve got to become better tacklers and keep getting better.”
Friday the Highlanders travel to Seymour for a showdown with the Owls.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. according to John Harrell’s Indiana High School Football Web site.