February 4, 2019 by jordanfoundation // No Comments
Article written by guest columnist Danny Tippit
After running the gambit last year going undefeated with a record of 8-0, Coach Matt Apple, his staff, and then 7th grade Creston Middle School football team, now 8th graders, hoped to repeat that success this 2018 season with an additional goal in mind.
This 2018 season introduced the inaugural creation of the MIIC Conference (Metropolitan Indianapolis Interscholastic Conference). It was the first time that all middle schools that feed into MIC Conference high schools could play for their own conference championship. Formed into two divisions, North and South, including feeder middle schools for Pike, North Central, Warren Central, Lawrence Central, Ben Davis, and Center Grove. Creston Middle School opted for the South Division while Raymond Park and Stonybrook Middle Schools were placed in the North Division. The following schools competed in the MIIC South Division; Creston MS, Lynhurst MS, Chapel Hill MS, Center Grove North MS, Center Grove Central MS, Fall Creek Valley MS, and Belzer MS.
Because of the new conference schedule there was not a Warren Township Jamboree this year, however, Coach Apple, Coach Opal, and Coach Williams had their Creston boys ready to do battle against a talented and big Raymond Park squad. Raymond Park wanted revenge after a 40-0 pouncing they took last year, and though they put up two scores on the board, Creston was still too much for the Raymond Park 8th Graders. Final score 30-12 Creston.
Game two was a highly anticipated match up between a cross-town rival township school. Chapel Hill is one of two Ben Davis middle schools that Creston has been chomping at the bit to play. Coach Apple increased the pressure and intensity in practice and made sure the Creston Indians weren’t sleeping on this crucial game. With a balanced pass/run attack and a very stingy defense, Creston showed out at their first home game with a 30-6 shellacking of their Chapel Hill opponent. Two down, seven more to go.
The next two games were much of the same. Creston allowed only eight points from Fall Creek Valley and blanked out Southport MS (out of conference game) while putting up a combined 80 points between the two of them; 36 and 44 points respectively.
At the halfway mark of the season Creston stood at 4-0. Their next opponent, Center Grove Central, was also undefeated. This would end up being a clash of the middle school titans and also Creston’s toughest challenge in two years. With some of the best up coming players in the MIC between both teams it was sure to be a heated one. Fuel for the fire was the 30-6 surprise beating Creston gave the Trojans the year before as 7th graders. The Trojans, without question, wanted revenge this season, especially since it was on their turf for the second year in a row.
The game started off just as last year, Center Grove Central controlled the ball trying to keep #5 Tippit and the high-powered Creston offense off the field. After a tipped pass from Tippit, resulting in an interception, Central and its systematic Wing T offense marched down the field for the score. They weren’t able to convert the two point conversion leaving the score 6-0.
It was clear that Center Grove’s defensive game plan was to focus mostly on the #5 Tippit/#8 Holman connection, while putting a lot of pressure on #36 Fotukia Scott, Creston’s most impact player, but they forgot that when you chop one head off the hydra two more grow back. Those two were in one person, RB #23 Chris Jordan Jr. Jordan was the work horse for the Creston offense when Tippit/Holman wasn’t connecting or Tippit wasn’t running for his life. And with Scott’s early exit from the game, much of the hope laid on the shoulders of Chris Jordan, a responsibility he wore well. Though Scott scored Creston’s first TD in the first half, it was Jordan’s rushing attack and the Creston defense that stepped up in the second half. Number 23 pounded the rock down the CG defense eventually scoring on a 15 yard scamper. It was up to the Creston D to hold back the Center Grove running attack.
With the score 16-12 all the way into the 4th quarter, the Trojans were knocking on the TD door. With :30 seconds left in the game, fourth and goal, it was must score situation. The Trojans had attempted to the throw one other time in the game and that was for a failed two point conversion in the first half. After 45 rushing attempts thus far in the game, CG decided to pass instead of run it in for the TD. The Trojans targeted their 6’3” tight end for the score, but it was in the hands and then out of the hands, with a little help from Creston DB #35 Zach Simon. Game over. Creston remains undefeated and poised to win the first ever MIIC South Division Championship.
In seven days Creston played three games; a squeaker against Center Grove Central, a 62-0 bruiser over Stonybrook, and a 36-0 blank out over Center Grove North.
Next up Lynhurst, the only team standing between them and Creston’s bragging rights as first ever MIIC Champions. All week long Coach Apple kept warning them about the ‘bigs boys’ on the other side of the city, especially the running back. But the Creston boys aren’t intimidated easily. It’s just another game on the schedule. Business as usual. That was all they could think about along with whatever it took to reach their season goal of winning the championship as well as going undefeated for a second year. It was expected this would be another barn burner like the Center Grove Central game. Creston opponents even told the coaches it would be one of the toughest teams they would meet this year. No one told Lynhurst though. Creston amassed 270 yards of offense and 30 points on just 29 offensive plays while holding Lynhurst to 115 total yards of offense and two scores. Result: 30-12 Creston. First ever MIIC Champions South Division and still undefeated at 8-0.
So with the MIIC Championship secure the final goal left was to complete a second undefeated season. One more wall to knock down and that was Belzer MS. Hailing from Lawrence Township, feeding into Lawrence Central High School, Belzer has had the reputation to have size, speed, and talent. In years past Belzer has also been known to upset some potential undefeated seasons for Creston. The question was not whether or not Belzer would beat Creston, but would Creston beat itself. ‘Dem Boyz’ as they are affectionately called by their parents and fans, were true to themselves giving Belzer the same treatment they had poured out on every opponent the last two years. Final outcome was the best offensive and defensive performances the last two years. Creston put on Belzer something they will remember for years to come. Creston’s passing game went to the air devouring up 213 yards on nine completions led by Devaon Holman with 149 of those yards on only 5 receptions. The rushing attack, led by Jordan pounded out 109 yards on 18 rushes. Total offensive yardage was as staggering 322 yards on 27 offensive plays. The Mean Green D wasn’t to be out done though. They held the Belzer offense to only 102 yards total offense, stuffing them in the run and the pass with a couple of fumbles and one interception. Final score – 36-8 Creston.
It is crazy to say that after the season this football team had last year as 7th graders that they could improve, but they did. In the off season many players took to all-star teams, camps, combines, and even some got national recognition as being some of the top middle school athletes in the country. They all grew in knowledge, athleticism, and brotherhood. Coach Apple, Coach Opal, and Coach Williams gave their all to these boys for the last two years and the results proved that. Not only did they win, they individually got better. Next up? Freshman year. The future is bright!
2018 8th Grade MIIC Champions; South Division – Creston Middle School Indians
Head Coach – Matt Apple
Assistant Coaches – Scott Opal, Sammie Williams, Damon Ward
1 – Dejuan Harney 5 – Daniel Tippit 7 – Victor Boyd 8 – Devaon Holman 11 – Brandon Snodgrass 13 – Terrance Tindall 14 – Jacobi Harris 18 – Camron Radford 17 – Jeremiah Peeler 19 – Perris Dew 22 – Michael Durham 23 – Christopher Jordan Jr 24 – Aaliyo Winters 25 – Chance Richardson 31 – Darryl Chunn-El 35 – Zachary Scott 36 – Fotiukia Scott 45 – Freddie Gilreath 50 – Charles Johnson
51 – Shamar Woodson 52 – Zain Rowland-Taylor 55 – Ja’Quane Chatman 58 – DJ Ward 63 – Daniel Gray 69 – Anesi Akpeokhai 73 – Macih Denning 74 – Erieon Madry 75 – Jaiden King 80 – Terrell Williams 81 – Luis Soriano 85 – Nyier Whitthorne 88 – Keyshawn McGill 91 – Gevarion Ransom 94 – Toney Carter 99 – Bryon Tillman
