Brookville quarterback Keegan Mehr had 178 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns during the Blue Devils 28-18 victory over Preble Shawnee.
Photos Zach Gagnier | For the Register-Herald
BROOKVILLE — Brookville and Preble Shawnee battled back and forth all night Friday in a game that featured several fourth down stops, seven turnovers, 11 penalties, and only one punt.
In the end Brookville made just a few more key plays to win the contest 28-18 to advance to the Division V, Region 20 regional semifinal where the Blue Devils will face SWBL Buckeye Division champion Waynesville (10-2) at Centerville this Friday night.
Brookville is now 10-2 and Preble Shawnee finishes the season at 8-4.
The win for Brookville was the 150th for coach Mike Hetrick.
Brookville intercepted Shawnee quarterback Brody Morton four times during the game even though Morton only threw two interceptions in the first 11 games of the season. Morton did complete 20 passes and threw for 230 yards, one touchdown and a two-point conversion.
Isaac Blankenship ran one time for a 58 yard touchdown for the arrows and Colton Schroeder kicked a 35 yard field goal.
Brookville also tossed an interception and lost two fumbles in Arrow territory. The Blue Devils did have two players for the first time this season surpass 100 yards in rushing. Keegan Mehr had 178 yards and Walt Adams 123 yards. Mehr scored two touchdowns and threw for another.
Shawnee took the opening kickoff and scored in four plays. A 50 yard pass from Morton to Blankenship set the Arrows up at the Brookville 11. One play later Kaden Taylor caught a nine-yard pass from Morton for a touchdown. Shawnee led 7-0 with 10:11 on the first period clock.
The Blue Devils responded with a nine-play, 64 yard drive for a touchdown. Keegan Mehr had several key runs in the drive including a scamper of 25 yards to the 11.
On fourth down Mehr rolled left and found a wide-open Seth Hoover in the back of the end zone for a touchdown with 5:03 remaining in the initial period. Walt Adams booted the PAT and the game was tied at seven.
Hoover then picked off a pass at the two and Brookville drove out to the 43 where a fourth down resulted in an incomplete pass and the Arrows took over late in the first frame.
Preble Shawnee drove deep into Brookville territory and with 9:43 remaining in the first half Schroeder booted a 35 yard field goal to give the Arrows a 10-7 advantage.
Brookville had a drive end when a ball deflected off a Blue Devil receiver that was intercepted by the Arrows Brody Lynch at the 32.
Getting into Brookville territory, the Arrows tried a swing pass when Dane Moore reached up with his left hand and snagged the ball at the Brookville 45 for an interception. Moore had no one in front of him and he happily streaked 55 yards for a touchdown. Adams booted the PAT and Brookville led 14-10 at halftime.
Brookville took the second half kickoff and drove 79 yards in six plays to score a touchdown. The scoring play was a 53 yard jaunt by Keegan Mehr on a quarterback draw. Adams made it 21-10 with 8:20 left in the third frame.
The Arrows were forced to punt but Brookville was stopped on downs by the Arrows at the Shawnee 33. On the third play Issac Blankenship took a direct snap, circled left end, and rambled for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Shawnee went for two and Morton found Reece Smith open for the conversion. Shawnee went ten for ten on two-point conversions this season.
With the score 21-18 Brookville responded with a seven play drive that ended with a Keegan Mehr 17 yard journey for a touchdown. It was 28-18 with 34 seconds left in the third period.
Mehr intercepted a pass with seven seconds left in the third quarter. Brookville moved downfield but lost a fumble at the Arrows 14. Shawnee got near midfield in three plays but a long pass was intercepted by Seth Hoover with 7:48 left in the game.
Brookville kept the ball the rest of the game using 13 plays to run out the clock. The final score was 28-18 Brookville.
Game Notes from Larry Myers Brookville Football Historian show the win was the 25th win over Preble Shawnee in 25 total meetings. The win was the 150th for coach Mike Hetrick at Brookville, the most of any Brookville football coach.
The win was the fourth non-SWBL win at home for Brookville, the most since 1955. First time ever a final score of 28-18 in a Brookville football game.
Brookville had 25 first downs and Shawnee 15; Brookville had 362 yards rushing and 54 passing for a total of 416. The Arrows had 334 total yards, 230 passing and 104 rushing.
Brookville lost two fumbles and threw an interception and Shawnee scored no points off the turnovers. The Arrows threw four interceptions and Brookville with a pick six got seven points off those turnovers.
Shawnee was two of three in the Red Zone with a touchdown and field goal. Brookville two for two with a pair of touchdowns. Brookville was six for 11 on third downs and one of three on fourth downs.
Shawnee was three for seven on third downs and one for two on fourth downs. Brookville had 83 plays and the Arrows 52 plays. Time of possession shows Brookville with 32:15 and Shawnee with 15:45.
Shawnee stats show Isaac Blankenship ran for 58 yards and a TD. Brody Morton was 19 of 34 passing for 224 yards, a touchdown, a two-point conversion, and four interceptions. Blankenship caught seven balls for 107 yards, Kaden Taylor five snags for 82 yards and a touchdown. Reece Smith caught a conversion pass.
Brookville stats show Keegan Mehr had 178 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Walt Adams added 123 yards on 19 totes. Mehr was seven of 12 passing for 54 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Dane Moore, Walt Adams, and Sam Fullenkamp each snared two balls and Seth Hoover had a catch and a touchdown.
Defensively Seth Hoover had two interceptions, Keegan Mehr one, and Dane Moore one for a touchdown of 55 yards.
Tackles show Cole Crabtree made eight tackles which is a career high. Seth Hoover and Jake Lenser four stops each and Sam Fullenkamp made three tackles.
Brookvillesports.com, a free radio internet site, will broadcast Friday night’s playoff game between Brookville and Waynesville beginning at 6:35 p.m. Brookville and Waynesville will meet for the second time this season. Waynesville won 21-14 in the first meeting on Sept. 8.
