Greencastle head coach Dave Stephens had a feeling that people would be in for a surprise when they checked the score from Friday’s Class 2A Sectional 39 championship game. Facing powerhouse Linton-Stockton, who defeated them 46-14 in late September, Stephens and his team were on a mission to prove their resilience. They nearly pulled off the upset, coming within three points of victory in a 42-39 thriller.
After Greencastle wide receiver Trevin Long’s electrifying 64-yard touchdown catch late in the game brought the score to 42-31, the Tiger Cubs answered with another huge play. Quarterback Cole Stephens connected with Anthony Adams for a 63-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion, narrowing the gap to 42-39 with 11 minutes left.
The Tiger Cubs’ defense rose to the occasion, halting the Miners on their next possession and giving Greencastle a chance to take the lead. However, Ian Williamson’s 42-yard field goal attempt just missed, allowing Linton-Stockton to run down the clock and claim the sectional title.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our kids,” said Coach Stephens. “Outcomes are outcomes, but all you can focus on is the process. Our kids showed as much resiliency as I have ever seen. They believed in doing things the right way and worked hard, but it just didn’t break their way tonight. Linton-Stockton is a powerhouse for a reason, and we’re striving to build our program up to that level.”
The game started with promise for Greencastle, as Williamson drilled a 43-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Linton-Stockton quickly responded with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Braylon McBride to Paul Oliver, followed by a successful two-point conversion, setting the Miners up 8-3. A seven-yard touchdown run from Cooper Smith extended the lead, and Oliver added another score, giving Linton-Stockton a 20-3 advantage.
Refusing to back down, Greencastle found momentum with an 80-yard touchdown run by Caiden Blodgett and a 30-yard touchdown catch by Long, cutting the lead to just 20-18. However, Linton-Stockton capitalized on a personal foul and a big run by Jesse Voigtschild, setting up another touchdown from Smith just before halftime, putting them up 28-18.
The Tiger Cubs kept battling in the second half, as Brayden Monroe’s two-yard run brought them within four at 28-24. Linton-Stockton then surged forward with back-to-back touchdowns to lead 42-24, but Greencastle mounted a final comeback effort that ultimately fell just short.
Coach Stephens credited his team’s perseverance and character as they finished the season at 5-7, enduring a challenging start and multiple injuries. “Nobody packed up or packed in. Our guys showed what kind of football team we are. I couldn’t be prouder of them, no matter what the scoreboard says. We are champions because they stayed true to the process and believed,” he said.
Greencastle quarterback Cole Stephens shined with a 27-of-35 passing performance for 384 yards, while Long led the receivers with 203 yards on eight catches. Blodgett also contributed 91 yards on the ground.
For Linton-Stockton, quarterback McBride went 8-of-15 for 141 yards, while Oliver tallied 108 receiving yards and Voigtschild rushed for 184 yards. The Miners advance to host Brownstown Central in the regional round, after Brownstown Central’s victory over Tell City.