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Survive and advance: Gibson Southern extends streak to 21 after shootout with Vincennes

treasure washington, evansville courier & press
·3 min read

FORT BRANCH, Ind. — Devan Roberts calmly sat postgame as he caught his breath.

The Gibson Southern senior running back's family members surrounded him on the field as he picked something off his cleats. Perhaps he was soaking in the moment. He's not guaranteed another game on Jack Jewel Memorial Field. After all, the entirety of the Titans' Class 3A sectional opener with Vincennes Lincoln was anything but calm.

Although the No. 2-ranked Titans escaped the high-scoring affair with a 63-42 victory, the Alices threatened to pull the upset. They capitalized on broken coverages with long touchdown passes, remaining within one score entering the fourth quarter. But in the end, Roberts' 205 yards and three total touchdowns kept the Titans' season alive.

Indiana high school football:High school football: Evansville-area sectional opener scores, schedule, streaming links

Surviving and advancing is the only goal at this time of year. Gibson Southern coach Nick Hart reminded them that wins in the tournament aren't always pretty. They count the same, though.

Gibson Southern (10-0) extended its winning streak to 21 straight on Friday. It's been almost two years since the defending 3A champions lost to another team from Indiana. But another trip to Lucas Oil Stadium is the last thing on their mind.

Gibson Southern’s Devan Roberts (26) is brought down by Boonville’s Marques Ballard (26) during their game at Bennett Field in Boonville, Ind., Friday evening, Oct. 14, 2022.
Gibson Southern’s Devan Roberts (26) is brought down by Boonville’s Marques Ballard (26) during their game at Bennett Field in Boonville, Ind., Friday evening, Oct. 14, 2022.

"There's some stuff that we have to clean up," Hart said. "But this group does a great job at competing. (Vincennes) has some great players and we were struggling to get some stops. But down the stretch in the fourth quarter, our defense came up big with some stops to let us kind of pull away there."

The Titans' defense has made opponents feel uncomfortable all season. Their offense has consistently put points on the board — Friday matched a season-high of 63. Yet, it was the tremendous special teams play that made the difference.

Roberts and junior Michael Herren returned kickoffs for touchdowns of 82 and 83 yards, respectively. Herren's came just seconds after Vincennes quarterback Xander Hunt ran 55 yards for the score on fourth-and-1 to regain momentum in the Titans' favor. Both credited their teammates' blocking for giving them lanes to take the ball to the house.

Special teams coach Tony Butler has harped on creating alleyways during returns. That's something they pay extra attention to during practice. Nothing particularly special happened. They just ran right through.

"Special teams is going to help us win the game," Roberts said. "It's going to help us put those extra points on the board."

The Gibson Southern Titans walk onto the field before their game against the Southridge Raiders at Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Ind., Friday evening, Sept. 16, 2022.
The Gibson Southern Titans walk onto the field before their game against the Southridge Raiders at Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Ind., Friday evening, Sept. 16, 2022.

Roberts is having quite the individual season leading the Gibson Southern rushing attack. With 1,321 yards and 19 touchdowns, he's tallied the most yardage since Michell Spindler (1,435) in 2018. All he can do is thank his teammates.

"It feels pretty dang phenomenal," Roberts said. "Starting from nothing to coming up to something is very achieving."

Junior quarterback Tanner Boyd added: "He's been a stud all year. We knew coming in that he was going to provide for us like he always does. He's just different. He's a different breed."

And while Boyd didn't play his best game statistically by throwing two interceptions, he made plays with his arm and legs to keep drives alive when it mattered most. One play Hart pointed out was when he ran to convert a fourth-and-10.

"He just makes really good decisions," Hart said. "He does a great job of controlling the offense and winning (the game) for us."

Gibson Southern’s Tanner Boyd (10) eludes the tackle of Boonville’s Reece Wilder (22) during their game at Bennett Field in Boonville, Ind., Friday evening, Oct. 14, 2022.
Gibson Southern’s Tanner Boyd (10) eludes the tackle of Boonville’s Reece Wilder (22) during their game at Bennett Field in Boonville, Ind., Friday evening, Oct. 14, 2022.

That's what Gibson Southern has done all season.

It will face another undefeated team next Friday when it goes on the road to play No. 8-ranked Owen Valley (10-0) in the sectional semifinals. The Titans intend to keep getting stronger, too. Many of them who experienced last year's run to Lucas Oil Stadium from the sidelines are now in the center of the action. They have the opportunity to string together a special postseason themselves and clinch back-to-back sectional crowns for the first time since 2012-13.

It's not always pretty, but a win's a win.

Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on Twitter @Twashington490.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: Gibson Southern survives and advances over Vincennes