Indiana Preps | On The Line — Girls Flag Football Regional Results

Terre Haute South entered Saturday with one loss and less statewide attention than several of the teams around it.

It left with a place at state.

And two previously unbeaten teams left with their seasons over.

The Braves opened regional play by beating Beech Grove 35-12, handing the Hornets their first loss after a 10-0 start. Then came Evansville Mater Dei. The Wildcats entered the regional unbeaten at 11-0 and had advanced past Clarksville in the semifinal.

Terre Haute South beat them 41-21.

Two undefeated opponents. Two elimination games. Two wins. The Braves are headed to the October 17 state finals at Grand Park.

That is one of the strongest postseason statements any team in Indiana made Saturday.

Beech Grove brought one of the state’s more productive passing offenses into the regional. Terre Haute South never let the game become a shootout, creating separation and ending the Hornets’ perfect season with a 23-point win.

Then the Braves had to turn around and do it again.

Mater Dei had been one of the state’s most complete teams all fall, with Izzy Like leading a high-level passing attack and the Wildcats carrying an unbeaten record into Saturday. Terre Haute South scored 41.

That is what gives the day weight. Winning one game against an unbeaten opponent can become a moment. Doing it twice in the same regional is a résumé.

The Braves were 12-1 entering Saturday, but much of the statewide conversation had centered on Penn, Snider, Lawrence North, Mater Dei and Beech Grove.

That conversation changes now.

Za’Nariae White remains one of the biggest reasons Terre Haute South should be taken seriously at Grand Park. The junior entered the regional with 1,356 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns — production that placed her among the most dangerous offensive players in the state. Her presence gives the Braves an identity that travels. Everybody knows where the stress starts. Stopping it has been another matter.

The postseason has also shown the Braves are more than one player. Beech Grove was undefeated. Mater Dei was undefeated. Terre Haute South had to deal with two different offensive styles and two teams accustomed to playing from ahead. Neither survived the day.

There are bigger names headed to Grand Park. Penn is defending a championship. Snider is still unbeaten. Terre Haute South will arrive with something just as useful.

Proof.

The Braves did not need a perfect regular season to reach state. They just ended two of them.