By GREG KEIM
Ever since Bob Miller took over as coach of the Fairfield High School football team, one of his goals for the program has been winning a sectional championship.
The Falcons have never won a football sectional title.
The No. 10-ranked Falcons (9-2) host the Bremen Lions (3-8) in the Class 2A, Sectional 28 finale Friday night with a 7:30 kickoff.
“Winning a sectional title would be huge for both our kids and the program,” Miller said. “The players know the opportunity is there and are physically ready. It’s going to come down to execution.”
If Fairfield wins, the Falcons would be on the road for the regional on Nov. 13 either at Rensselaer or Wheeler.
The Falcons and Bremen were scrimmage partners back on Aug. 14.
“Since then Bremen has changed everything,” Miller said. “They have gone from a pro style offense to what I would describe as a spread Wing-T. They use double twins with motion and then run Wing-T plays out of that. It spreads the defense out.”
Bremen posted a 1-8 regular season record. The win was over LaVille 23-20 with losses to Plymouth 48-6, Tippecanoe Valley 28-24, New Prairie 34-14, Triton 30-21, Culver Community 49-33, Knox 13-7, Jimtown 35-0 and John Glenn 42-7.
The Lions defeated Eastside 44-0 in a sectional opener and Garrett 3-0 in last Friday’s semifinals on a 30-yard field goal by 6-2 (225) senior Justin Nick with 0:11 to play.
Bremen has a rich tradition in the playoffs with nine sectional, six regional and four semistate crowns and state championships in 1989 and 1997.
The Lions have an overall playoff game record of 47-25 while the Falcons are 17-24.
Eastside is the only common opponent. Fairfield defeated the Blazers 48-0 in Week 5.
This is just the second football meeting between Bremen and Fairfield.
The first was also in sectional action with the Lions winning 34-14 at Bremen in 2001. Jeremy Mathews scored two touchdowns and Tim Werner kicked a pair of PATs for the Falcons.
Fairfield has gained 3,849 yards this season with 2,472 rushing and 1,377 passing.
Leading rushers are 5-11 (160) junior tailback Darin Hochstetler 971 yards on 142 carries (6.8 average) and 5-11 (195) senior fullback Micah Noble 825 on 136 (6.1).
Six-two (180) junior quarterback Chase Pinion has completed 36-of-88 passes for 750 yards. He has 12 touchdown passes.
Six-two (170) junior wide receiver Tanner Foust has been the main target with 27 catches for 808 yards and 17 TDs. Hochstetler has 14 receptions for 265 and 5-10 (190) junior tight end Eric Smoker 14 for 265.
“Our offense needs to play fast,” Miller said. “Last week’s game in the mud may have been a good thing. We don’t have a big offensive line so we are not going to pound people. But last week showed we can run the ball between the tackles.”
Five-seven (133) junior place-kicker Derek Vogelzang is 35-of-41 on PATS and 2-of-5 on field goals (long of 33 yards). Hochstetler is averaging 36.6 yards on 24 punts.
Foust is the top returner with an average of 15.7 yards on kickoffs and 19.9 on punts.
Defensive leaders are Noble 53 tackles and 96 assists, 6-1 (160) sophomore Brad Newcomer 22 and 56, 6-0 (200) senior Doug Beiler 23 and 39 and 5-10 (210) senior Cameron Riley 14 and 44.
Noble and Vogelzang both have four interceptions and Foust three.
“Bremen’s offense will be a challenge for our defense,” Miller said. “We have a good game plan in place. The kids have to stay focused, play with great responsibility and be aggressive.”
