Can the Eagles get past Milan, punch ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium?

South Putnam head football coach Chuck Sorrell needs absolutely no reminders about what is at stake Friday night.

A season ago, the Eagles got on the bus and made the long drive to Providence for the Class A South Semi-State, falling short 35-30. That loss has sat with Sorrell and the Eagles for almost a year.

On Friday, South Putnam (11-2) will have a chance to board the bus, make another long trip to the southeastern part of the state and remove some demons when it travels to Milan (7-4). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be heard on GIANT fm WREB 94.3. 

A chance to play for the Class A state title at Lucas Oil Stadium is on the line, and the winner will play the winner of Pioneer (12-1) and South Adams (10-3). 

South Putnam (11-2) finds itself in the Class A South Semi-State after knocking off Sheridan, 26-6, a week ago in the regional. The victory was the sixth in a row for the Eagles, who have outscored foes 168-48 in the playoffs. Against Sheridan, running back Ty Benton and quarterback Drew Cline led the way. Benton rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Cline added two trips to the end zone and 40 yards on the ground. As a team, South Putnam rolled up 231 yards on the ground. 

On the season, Benton averages just under 195 yards a game and has rumbled for over 2,300 yards, while Brier Cook has added over 700 yards this season. Cline has thrown for over 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns this fall. 

As for Milan, it truly has been a tale of two seasons for the Indians.

After opening the season with a dismal 1-3 record, Ryan Langferman switched the offense from a spread attack to more of a Wing-T style, and the move paid off nicely. Milan has won six of its last seven since making the move, including a 22-7 win over Providence last week in the regional. The regional title was the first in 29 years for the Indians. 

Quarterback Wyatt Marsh rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and the Indians ran for 296 yards on the ground. Over the last seven games, Milan is averaging 180 yards a game on the ground. 

On the season, Milan averages 32 points per game and has allowed 15 per contest. 

Sorrell notes Milan reminds him a lot of both Riverton Parke and Sheridan, who the Eagles defeated to win a sectional and regional, respectively. 

"It is the same offense that we have seen the last two weeks. It's RP physicality with a lot of the Sheridan plays and RP size of players. We have to get in the right gaps, squeeze gaps and get penetration on the defensive line. 

We have to win to give ourselves a chance. Milan is playing for the same opportunity and it will be a nice Friday night of football," Sorrell said. 

The change in offense has ignited an offense that has Sorrell's undivided attention. 

"They are really good. They are sound. They are a tale of two seasons. About week five, they changed their offense. They played an Eastern Hancock team we played, and they were a spread team and not very successful. They were 2-4 or 2-3 at that point and they switched to the Wing-T and went to the single wing. Their quarterback and running back have thrived in this. They have been really successful these last five or six weeks," Sorrell said. 

As for what it will take for South Putnam to breakthrough and punch a ticket to Lucas Oil, Sorrell said it comes down to the basics. 

"We have to play good in all three phases. We have to pin them down and make them drive the length of the field. We have to get points and we have to continue to kick extra points," Sorrell said.