It’s all about surviving and advancing, onto the Regional Finals

Even when you are 11-0 and playing in the regional semis, not every game is expected to be an easy walk in the park. The Tippecanoe football team was tested for the first time this season.  They survived their closest game of the season, defeating Hamilton Badin 23-16 on Friday night to remain unbeaten. They will now advance to the Division Three, Region 12 Regional Finals against London, Friday night at 7 p.m.

“The next play is our best play, we talked about that on almost every play,” Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher said following the game, having to deal with the adversity throughout the game. “Our kids kept battling the adversity. We had a two touchdown lead and then boom, it was down to one (point). There are so many plays that this game came down to, our kids just kept battling.”

Even with a 17-3 lead in the third quarter, Burgbacher knew the game would turn into what it eventually did. A battle.
“We knew it was going to be a 48-minute football game. That’s a great football team over there and I appreciate their coach and everything they do, but I am so stinking proud of our kids. We have battled injuries all year and it is next man up.”

After Badin threw an interception to Jackson Robbins on their first drive, the Red Devils went to work. Tipp converted a big fourth down on the drive and threw a pass down to Max Deckard inside the Badin 15. Eventually having to go for a field goal, giving Tipp a 3-0 lead.

Following a Badin fumble that was recovered by Tipp, Larkin Thomas hit Will Strong on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 2:58 left in the half to make it 10-0. Badin added a field goal at the end of the half, cutting their deficit to 10-3 at the half.

With 6:10 left in the third period, Tipp began to pull away when Xavier Melton scored from seven yards out to make it 17-3, but just that quickly, adversity struck the Red Devils.

Badin returned the kickoff back for a long touchdown to immediately take the momentum away from Tipp. Then as the third quarter came to a close, they scored again, but a missed extra point allowed the Red Devils to hold a slim 17-16 lead.

Tipp then moved inside the 20 on a big play to Strong. Thomas then took the ball inside the two where Melton finished the drive to make it 23-16 on a missed extra point.

A missed Tipp field goal with 2:27 left gave Badin one last chance, as they stared at a fourth down at the 40. A game-ending interception by Colin Isaac sent Tipp to the regional finals.

“Turnovers were the difference, and you have to take care of the football,” Burgbacher said. “We gave up that touchdown on the kickoff return and they kept fighting back.”