BLOOMINGTON — Talent took over in Bloomington on Friday, November 13.
It began as a tight game between Castle and Bloomington South football in the IHSAA Class 5A regional championship. The Knights’ Ben Quach scored the game’s first touchdown following a goal-line stop that held the Panthers to a field goal. It was an impressive catch in the back of the end zone, and the throw from quarterback Sawyer Winsett was put in a spot where only the senior could catch it.
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More: Southwestern Indiana regional football scores, updates
Bloomington South responded with a touchdown from quarterback Duncan Combs on a sneak that would make it 10-7. Then, Castle responded with a drive that featured multiple conversions, eventually leading to a short-yardage rushing touchdown from senior Austin Pritchard. Bloomington South offered another response from another Combs rush into the end zone.
It was 17-14 at halftime. But in the second half, outside of a stop on Bloomington South’s opening drive, the Knights simply could not keep up with the No. 3 team in 5A, falling 38-14 to end their season.
A tale of two halves
The Panthers scored 21 on three-straight possessions in the second half: a passing touchdown to wide receiver Jonathan Winstead, and two receiving touchdowns from wide receiver Mayson Lewis.
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Castle’s offense could not move the ball down the field as it did in the first half. Each drive was short, rarely getting past its own side of the field. Defensively, Combs and his surrounding cast overwhelmed the Knights in both passing and running the football.
While Castle’s season has come to an end, still, Castle coach Doug Hurt is proud of what his group accomplished. It did not always seem likely they would end up here.
“This might be one of the biggest turnarounds I’ve ever had,” Hurt said. “We’ve had teams where we got better, but just in terms of the general attitude and effort and love for each other, it’s one of the most remarkable things that I’ve seen. If you would have asked me or the public five weeks ago if Castle would be down three against Bloomington South at half of the regional final game, I don’t think many people would have believed.”
Hurt has a close relationship with Bloomington South coach Gabe Johnson. The two played college football together at Indiana State. Johnson praised Castle’s attitude and effort in a conversation with Hurt after the game.
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A turnaround led by the senior class
The Castle Knights take the field ahead of their game against the Mater Dei Wildcats in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.
As expected, it was an emotional environment inside the Castle locker room following the loss. A senior class headlined by Brodie Farmer will not suit up for the Knights again after tonight.
Hurt credits that entire group of upperclassmen for allowing the turnaround to happen.
“I’ve known Brodie since he was born, but then so many other seniors are just really special,” Hurt said. “I think some guys didn’t understand the whole team culture and “‘we’ before ‘me.'” To just see the attitudes and hearts kind of change throughout the season to where it was no longer about stats, it was about each other, those are the things that you want football to teach you.”
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Hurt said his group heads back to Newburgh with their heads held high. Castle believed it had what it took to win this game and become regional champions. The first half showed that.
Hurt hopes the underclassmen look at what transpired in the final stretch of the season as a learning lesson for what the standard at Castle football looks like. As for tonight’s defeat, it comes against a worthy opponent.
No. 3 Bloomington South will play at No. 1 Cathedral for a semi-state title next Friday, Nov. 20.
Markos Tsegaye is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. He can be reached at mtsegaye@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @10_Markos_.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Second half costs Castle football in Class 5A regional championship game
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
