Daily Reporter staff reports
NEW CASTLE — Greenfield-Central took to the road for its regular-season finale on Friday, facing two-win New Castle in the final tune-up before sectional play.
The Cougars, in search of their first road win of the year, got a second-half lead but couldn’t stay with the Trojans, falling 62-35. They finish the season with a 1-8 record and 1-6 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference, a seventh-place finish in head coach Travis Nolting’s first season with the team.
The Trojans finish at 3-6 (2-5).
The Cougars fell behind by 14 in the first quarter before tying the game with two straight scores, both from freshman Brayden Herrell, who scored from 45 and 83 yards out. The Cougars fell behind again but scored with 17 seconds left in the half to make it 26-21, then used a surprise onside kick to start the second half to get possession right back in the third quarter. Gavin Rose put the Cougars on top with a TD catch, but things fell apart from there.
After falling behind briefly, New Castle rallied to score 28 straight points to pull away for the win.
New Castle will take to the road to open sectional play against Richmond next Friday. The Cougars will host Muncie Central, who fell to 0-9 on the year with a loss to Logansport.
The winner of the Greenfield-Central/Muncie Central game will advance to the second round, where they would face either Pendleton Heights or Shelbyville in the sectional semifinal.
The Cougars are looking for the first tournament win since 2016, when they topped Jay County, 41-21, in the sectional opener.
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Three of the four Hancock County football teams open sectional play Friday night, with the Greenfield-Central Cougars at home and Mt. Vernon and Eastern Hancock on the road. New Palestine will open tournament play on Nov. 1.
Muncie Central at Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
Mt. Vernon at Connersville, 7 p.m.
Eastern Hancock at Winchester, 7 p.m.
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