Bloomington South Stuns North in IHSAA Football Thriller

In a dramatic sectional final that encapsulated the intensity of Indiana high school football, Bloomington South overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat rival Bloomington North 31-28 in Class 5A Sectional 15. The Panthers' relentless comeback culminated in a game-winning field goal as time expired, securing their third sectional title in five years and advancing to the regional round.

A Comeback for the Ages

The Bloomington rivalry reached fever pitch as North built a commanding 28-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback John Bargen threw three touchdown passes, including a 1-yard strike to Nate Walker that gave the Cougars a seemingly insurmountable edge. However, South’s championship pedigree surfaced when quarterback Duncan Combs ignited an 17-0 scoring surge. Combs connected on his final eight passes for 68 yards, culminating in Braylen Townsend’s 1-yard touchdown run with 3:07 remaining to tie the game at 28.

Townsend’s Workhorse Effort

Senior running back Braylen Townsend delivered a career-defining performance, carrying the ball 42 times for 198 yards and the game-tying touchdown. His relentless ground attack wore down the North defense and set the stage for Combs’ late heroics.

"I just had to show them how we run the football at Bloomington South," Townsend said. "The O-line played perfect tonight. I wouldn’t have done anything without them."

South coach Gabe Johnson emphasized his team’s poise under pressure. "The big thing is to get your kids not to panic," Johnson stated. "Last week’s thriller may have helped us win another. We get another week to fix our slow starts, and that’s a good thing."

North’s Valiant Fight

Despite the heartbreaking loss, North (7-4) showcased remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. The Cougars navigated significant offseason adversity and pushed South to the brink, with Bargen throwing for 188 yards and three touchdowns. North’s inability to sustain drives in the final quarter proved decisive, as they managed just 61 rushing yards on 18 carries.

"I’m proud of them," North coach Brett Cooper said. "What a whirlwind for them in the summertime and to fight through the adversity that they did. It just didn’t go our way."

Regional Road Ahead

South (10-1) now turns its attention to a regional home matchup against No. 9 Floyd Central (10-1), which rallied past Evansville North 15-10 in foggy conditions. The Panthers will aim to correct their slow starts while continuing their "no panic" mantra that has defined this postseason run.

"We figured out some things defensively at halftime and got some things going offensively," Johnson noted. "We can’t afford to have slow starts like we’ve been having at this point in the tournament."

The victory adds another chapter to one of Indiana’s most intense high school football rivalries, proving that in the IHSAA tournament, resilience and composure can turn near-defeat into championship glory.