GREENFIELD — Saturday felt a bit like opening night for Greenfield-Central coach Adam Sherman.
There were some jitters, he admitted, but not because the Cougars were at home for the first time this season.
“I was really nervous because if you change the routine, sometimes it can all go haywire,” Sherman said on the game’s postponement from Friday. “I was really impressed with how they handled everything.”
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The Cougars dealt with quite a bit the night before as severe weather swept across the region, preventing the game from starting. Game officials put the contest in lightning delay for more than two hours before all parties eventually agreed to postpone until the next day.
“I think we warmed up three times on Friday night,” Sherman said. “Me as a teenager, that would have drove me nuts, and then having to come back Saturday?”
His team didn’t seem to mind either way.
Once the game got underway, the Class 4A Cougars stormed out to a 17-0 lead at home and cruised to a 52-35 victory against 5A Bloomington North. The win secured Greenfield-Central’s third consecutive 2-0 start in three years and pushed their season points scored total to 94.
“We have some pretty special kids on our team. They’ve bought into what we’re doing,” Sherman said on his program’s 13 touchdowns in two games. “We’ve been unbelievably prepared.”
After running away from Class 2A Eastern Hancock 42-28 the week prior, Greenfield-Central topped itself in the encore by scoring seven touchdowns overall, including six rushing.
A Skylar Gary 60-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter put the Cougars up 14-0, and a 34-yard field goal from Nate Brand to made it 17-0.
Bloomington North cut into the lead in the second quarter making it 17-8, but touchdown runs from running back Michael Sosnowski and another one from Gary kept the Cougars in control.
Gary led all rushers with 159 yards on eight carries and three touchdowns. He averaged 19.9 yards per rushing attempt after racking up 157 yards and two scores in the season opener.
Sosnowski compiled 82 yards on nine carries with a pair of rushing touchdowns. The Cougars backfield gained 302 yards total rushing behind another stout performance from the offensive line, averaging 11.6 yards per rushing attempt.
“I think we’ve had some pretty well-kept secrets with our skill guys. Not a lot of people knew about a Michael Sosnowski or Skylar Gary,” Sherman said. “But it’s not just them. Spencer Hert runs our offense how it needs to be run, and Orlando Mojica gives a versatile player. It’s a total team effort.”
Hert completed 6 of 9 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown to Mojica. The quarterback added 40 yards rushing and a touchdown. Mojica hauled in three catches for 83 yards.
Through two games, the Cougars offense has steamrolled to 803 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns while passing for 192. The biggest reason for their early success, Sherman said, is part preparation and the solid play of their defense.
“I’m really impressed with the unselfishness,” Sherman said. “They play for one another.”
Senior Bryce Ratliff recorded an interception and a team-high six tackles, while junior Andrew Leslie and Chase Ratliff both finished with five. Senior defensive lineman Cameron Wetli bulldozed to three tackles for a loss.
Things were far from perfect, Sherman said, noting a lost fumble and some miscues while around 60 players logged valuable varsity reps during the game.
Greenfield-Central has surrendered 63 points during its winning streak and will face county rival Mt. Vernon on Friday for the Marauders’ homecoming. The game is the first of seven straight Hoosier Heritage Conference contests for the Cougars, who have lost five in a row to the Marauders. The last Greenfield-Central win against Mt. Vernon was 6-0 in overtime five seasons ago.
“I’m new to it, but the far east side of Indianapolis seems to be the land of rivalries,” said Sherman, who is in his first year at Greenfield-Central. “Every single game seems to have an emotional meaning. I think it’s awesome and what it’s all about.”
