Southport continues Cinderella season with 27-10 win over Arsenal Tech
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Southport’s Cinderella season was in jeopardy before sophomore quarterback Luke Johnston found some magic.
The Cardinals, clinging to a 3-point lead early in the fourth quarter, faced a fourth-and-17 from the Arsenal Tech 32. Johnston threw deep, but a Titans defender appeared to be in position to make a play.
Somehow, the ball slipped by and landed in Cardell Tucker’s arms as he fell to the ground at the Tech 6-yard line. Two plays later, Johnston found Kyle Raisor alone in the middle of the end zone.
Christian Perry added insurance with a 48-yard touchdown run on Southport’s next possession, giving the Cardinals total control. Southport defeated Tech 27-10 on Friday night for its first sectional championship since 1990.
The Cardinals (11-0) advanced to play Center Grove (10-1) in regionals.
“Really, this whole season has been a special season,” Southport coach Bill Peebles said. “The sectional is just one more step in the story.”
The pass from Johnston to Tucker got typical results for both teams. Southport made yet another winning play in a difficult situation.
“It was one of those ‘wow’ passes,” Peebles said. “It was a ‘wow’ throw, a ‘wow’ catch, and honestly, it was a great defensive play, too. We just came up with the ball. And it was big.”
Arsenal Tech coach Emil Ekiyor said the Titans were close to having a special season, but the Titans regularly fell short in clutch situations such as the missed interception on Johnson’s pass.
“If we go back and look at our season, it’s 12 to 15 critical plays in the games we lost,” he said.
Perry, who will take a recruiting visit to Purdue on Saturday, finished with 30 carries for 169 yards.
“He’s a special running back,” Peebles said. “Big, strong kid. Speed, good vision. He’s really turned into honestly, one of the top-tier backs in the state of Indiana.”
Even though Perry posted big numbers, he struggled to rip off the kinds of runs he was used to because of Arsenal Tech’s speed.
“It was really tough to go outside, I’m going to be honest,” he said. “I just tried to get my yards inside and cut up. That was the most effective way to get yards.”
Johnston connected on 15 of 19 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals. Tim Jewell had seven catches for 83 yards and Tucker caught three passes for 45 yards.
James Gilbert tried to keep Tech in the game. The junior ran for 148 yards on 18 carries and scored Tech’s only touchdown on a 52-yard run in the second quarter.
But Tech connected on just 1 of 8 passes.
“Southport is a good team,” Ekiyor said. “There’s a reason they’re undefeated. Coach Peebles does a heck of a job here. His kids play hard, play with confidence. They made some plays, and we didn’t.”
Arsenal Tech bounced back from the punishments handed out after the fight with Fort Wayne South Side and nearly won its first-ever sectional. Ekiyor said after the game that he would no longer coach the Titans.
“I believe my time is over,” he said. “Somebody else has to step in because I’ve given a lot to it in six years. It’s grueling, it hurts, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about. It’s been a long season. A lot of sacrifice on my family.”
Ekiyor said he accomplished his goals at Tech.
“I’ve done the job I was asked to do, which was develop something and create some excitement for football, create an environment where kids could succeed, where inner-city kids could use football as a tool to buy into education, and I think we’ve done that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Southport’s dream season continued.
“From here on out, we know we’re going to be underdogs because we’re facing teams that have a strong history and play in the MIC and play great schedules,” Peebles said. “We’ll just take them one at a time and do the best we can and hope our kids play another great game.”
Arsenal Tech (5-6) 0 7 3 0 — 10
Southport (11-0) 7 6 0 14 — 27
S — Christian Perry 29 run (Jacob Jurgen kick)
S — Tim Jewell 17 pass from Luke Johnston (kick failed)
AT — James Gilbert 52 run (Ronny Hernandez kick)
AT — Hernandez 25 FG
S — Kevin Wagner 4 pass from Johnston (Jurgen kick)
S — Perry 48 run (Jurgen kick)
