North Central used a dominant second-half running game and a back-breaking pick-six by linebacker Kolton Ablitar to win a wildly entertaining week one 42-37 shootout over Brebeuf, sending the Braves to their thirteenth opening week loss in the past fourteen years. A game that was billed as a showdown between two high-profile QBs, NC junior Chase Grove and Brebeuf senior Keegan Bouwkamp, was ultimately won in the trenches, as the Panthers, led by tailback Tua’John Averitte’s 144 yds on 16 carries, ran for 177 of their 222 rushing yards in the second half, including four straight rushes for 63 yards on the game-winning drive. That drive ended with Averitte’s 20-yard TD run making it 35-30 NC with 3:58 to play, and Bouwkamp was driving the Braves when he threw the one pass he would probably like to have back, a shot over the middle which was intercepted by Ablitar and taken 42 yards to the house. Bouwkamp threw his fourth touchdown pass of the night 90 seconds later, a 22-yard strike to Carter Cosgrove, to give Brebeuf a chance, but kicker Miles Wilmore’s onsides kick went harmlessly out of bounds to give the visiting Panthers possession to run out the clock. And while Matt Geske’s senior-laden team will rue the missed opportunities in this back-and-forth game that featured five lead changes, this was probably the team’s best Week One performance since 2021’s upset win at Chatard, and it leaves a far better taste in the mouth than last year’s 35-13 loss at NC which yielded five long TD plays and cost them a starting quarterback. Bouwkamp finished 20/35 for 257 and four touchdowns, but threw two interceptions, both by Ablitar. Cosgrove caught nine passes for 149 and three scores. Jasir King had 15 rushes for 77 yards. Brebeuf led 17-14 at halftime on the strength of two long drives sandwiched around a field goal that resulted from an NC fumble on a kickoff return. The Braves defense, which brought back seven of it’s eight leading tacklers from last season, seemed up to the task, holding NC’s offense to 168 first half yards and only 58 on 13 rushes. But the second half saw NC’s MIC-sized offensive line (290 lbs average) start to open holes for the shifty Averitte, and Brebeuf couldn’t get off the field when they had to. Brebeuf will lick their wounds and head to Mount Vernon next week to play the Marauders, who struggled with Kokomo in their opener, before winning 21-12. Come to Hancock County to cheer on your Braves as they look to get their first win of a still-promising 2026 campaign!