Late TD sends Bulldogs to bell win
LINDSAY DEBOLT
Milan’s offensive line opens up a hole for running back Beckett Langferman in the first half of Friday’s Ripley County Bell Game. Langferman finished with 204 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
For Milan, it was simply heartbreak. Yet another game in the series as of late where the Indians seemed to have all the momentum and a win in sight. For Batesville, it was another grind to the end. With their backs up against the wall, the Bulldogs found a way to make magic happen again, this time using a touchdown and extra point with just over 30 seconds left.
It would be the eventual game-winner and the Dogs survived and knocked off Class A No. 3 Milan 28-27 to maintain the Ripley County Bell on Friday night for a seventh-straight year.
A standing room only crowd at Milan witnessed yet another classic between the two schools and that included witnessing a fun fourth quarter of action. Tied 21-21 going into the last frame, Milan quarterback Lane Smith connected with Beckett Langferman on a 66-yard touchdown but a missed extra point kept the score at 27-21 with 11:43 to go.
About 10 minutes later, the game-winning drive began for the Dogs. After fumbling earlier in the quarter on a crucial sprint to the end zone, Zadiin Small recovered following a Milan punt and proceeded to aid the blue and white on the drive with his running ability. Eventually, Batesville found itself nine yards out and that was when quarterback Calvin Padgett saw an opening in the corner and bolted to the house on his own to tie the game with 34 seconds left.
Ronan Post’s fourth extra point of the evening put Batesville up 28-27. Milan had a chance to get the ball back one final time but was unable to threaten as the Indians remained deep in their own territory and time soon expired.
All four Batesville touchdowns came on the ground although Padgett’s completed passes to Rylan Yeager, Jake Schornick and Jackson Elston proved pivotal throughout the evening. Padgett ran for two scores -both gave the Bulldogs a lead in the game- and Small went for a 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that tied the game 21-21.
Dylan Shane had the other touchdown, a one-yard punch near the midway mark of the first quarter.
Smith had two touchdown passes -one to Beckett Langferman and a 22-yard pass to Kamden Miller- but again the Indian run game put up major numbers, totaling 349 rushing yards.
Beckett Langferman carried the ball 23 times and had 204 yards and a touchdown that gave Milan its first lead with 4:49 to go in the third quarter. Grant Langferman had eight carries, 106 yards and a touchdown. His 31-yard scoring run came with five minutes left in the first period.
Neither team provided defensive statistics by time of print. Batesville (2-0) hosts South Dearborn (1-1) on Friday night in the first home game of the season while Milan (1-1) gets set to host archrival Class A No. 7 North Decatur (1-1) in a Mid-Indiana Football Conference showdown.
