Like the famous Guns N’ Roses song “Welcome To The Jungle,” Floyd Central High School found itself inside the jungle of the Bloomington High School South football field Friday night.
The Panthers defeated the Highlanders to the tune of a 55-7 victory in the regional championship round of the 2025 Class 5A Indiana High School Athletic Association Football State Tournament.
Floyd Central started the game’s opening possession off on the right foot, driving inside the Bloomington South 40-yard line. However, on a fourth down outside of field-goal range, the Panthers stopped the runner inches shy of the first down for a turnover on downs.
Bloomington South failed to capitalize, going three-and-out. Both teams followed up with further punts, but Floyd Central muffed the Panthers’ second punt to eventually set up a 1-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Duncan Combs for the game’s first score.
With Bloomington South up 6-0 after a missed extra point, Floyd Central drove down the field in response. After senior running back Sebastian Robertson gashed the Panthers’ defense for several gains, junior receiver Luke Jacobi caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Highlanders a 7-6 lead with 25 seconds left in the first quarter.
However, Floyd Central’s lead didn’t even last until the end of the quarter. Bloomington South senior receiver Sam Giles returned the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead heading into the second quarter.
The kickoff return flipped a switch within Bloomington South. While Floyd Central’s offense was productive in the first quarter, it was shut down for the remainder of the contest.
After forcing a three-and-out, Bloomington South senior tight end Jalen Williams caught a deep pass in stride for a 65-yard touchdown on the Panthers’ first play of the drive. Senior running backs Braylen Townsend and Shaun Cooper both ran for touchdowns as the scoreline read 34-7 at the break.
Up 27 points and receiving the ball to start the second half, Bloomington South continued to dominate. Not only did Giles catch a 38-yard touchdown, but the Panthers also successfully converted a 2-point try to take a 42-7 lead and enact a running clock for the remainder of the game.
Cooper scored his second rushing touchdown to increase the lead to 42 points on the first play of the fourth quarter. On the final play of the game, senior cornerback Gabe Taylor, the same player who recovered the muffed punt in the first quarter, ran back an interception for a 98-yard touchdown.
The regional championship ended 55-7, a much more convincing victory for Bloomington South compared to its previous playoff victories. The Panthers sweated out their first two games with a 41-34 triumph over Terre Haute South Vigo High School on Oct. 31 and a narrow 31-28 win over crosstown rival Bloomington High School North 31-28 on Nov. 7.
“Feels great,” Bloomington South head coach Gabe Johnson said. “We came out and did everything that we wanted to do.”
The Panthers’ defense, which had given up 62 points in their last two games combined, locked down the Highlanders’ offense for three quarters. Unlike the previous playoff games, no late comeback was required, as the defense held firm.
Bloomington South’s offense had a much more relaxed playoff game than usual, not having to play from behind. Combs had two touchdowns through the air and one on the ground, playing a mistake-free game. Meanwhile, the ground game churned out 147 yards and four touchdowns.
“They got a lot of good players,” Johnson said. “We were just happy to come out of this with a big win and have a chance to practice next week.”
Bloomington South travels to New Palestine High School at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 in the semi-state championship round. If the Panthers win there, they will play at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for a chance at a Class 5A State Championship title.
