By James Costello Sports Editor
GOSHEN — After an 0-5 start to the 2009 season, few spectators might have expected Bremen to still be alive and playing for a championship in Week 12.
But that’s just what will happen Friday as the Lions travel to Fairfield in a battle for the Class 2A, Sectional 26 crown.
The Lions went winless in their first five outings, only breaking into the win column with a narrow 23-20 win over Northern State Conference foe LaVille at home in Week 6. In fact, that decision was Bremen’s only victory in the regular season, and although the little school hung tough during several games of an outsized schedule comprised mainly of 3A opponents, the team gave few indications of the level of post-season success it would eventually have.
The Lions kept the faith, though.
“We thought from day one that we had enough ability and we had the right kids that we could compete for the sectional,” said head coach Rich Moren.
“Yeah, I think our staff and our kids have thought that all year. The way we’re playing right now, we were kind of hoping that would happen during the season, but it just didn’t. But you know the lesson in all that is it’s never too late. The tournament is really the beginning of the second season, and everybody’s slate is wiped clean, so we had just as good a chance as anybody else.”
Many of Bremen’s regular-season struggles stemmed from a seemingly never-ending litany of injuries, illnesses and other misfortunes.

Moren himself was sidelined with the flu in Week 8 and coping with the loss of his mother the previous week. In terms of his players, the eight-year Bremen head coach estimated going into the final week of the regular season that his No. 1s had all been on the field together for a combined quarter of a game all year long.
“It just seemed like every game we had one of our key kids that were out for this and out for that,” he said. “We were putting people in to patch up and get by, and now that we do have everybody, we’ve got them in the right spot and that’s made a huge difference.”
One of the biggest differences has been on the defensive end.
The Lions have pitched two straight shutouts in back-to-back wins over Eastside and Garrett. With everyone finally back in the lineup and healthy in Week 9, Moren and his staff were able to go back to the drawing board and retool Bremen’s defensive scheme.
“When we got everybody back we kind of reevaluated where our strengths would be,” Moren said. “We switched schemes and went to a 3-5 because we felt like we had some quality linebackers and we needed to find a place to get them on the field. We felt like at that point that put our best 11 on the field defensively. I think it took them a few weeks to understand the new scheme, and now the kids are zeroing in and understanding what they need to do... There’s not as much thinking, they can just go out and play.”
The Lions needed every bit of their revamped defense in last week’s close semifinal win over Garrett, as kicker Justin Nick booted a 30-yard field goal with 11.8 seconds left on the game clock to lift the team to a 3-0 victory and its first sectional championship berth since 2000. It was a welcome reversal of fortune for Bremen, which had gone 1-3 in games decided by 7 points or less headed into the semifinal.
“There were several games in the regular season that we had a chance to win and they came up short so maybe that helped prepare us and whatnot, but I guess the bottom line is that we were able to get it done at the end,” said Moren. “They realize that we’re turning the corner, and I think they’re happy about it. The thing is we’re playing pretty close to four quarters of good football. We’re not having those lapses that we had earlier in the season. As the season wore on, they were able to grow and overcome that, so that’s really been beneficial for us.”
The Lions probably won’t be able to count on another shutout Friday against the Falcons, who have put up a prolific 455 points — including 79 in their sectional opener against Prairie Heights — en route to a 9-2 record this year. On the other side of the ball, Fairfield hasn’t given up a lot of points, either, allowing multiple scores by opponents in just five games.
“I think the big, big key area is going to be on the line,” said Moren. “They’ve got a good defensive line, and offensively they can put up some points. I really think the football game Friday night is going to come down to the guys in the trenches.
“Everybody talks about their offense and their ability to score, but their defense sure don’t give up many points, either. It’ll be a huge challenge for us, and the weather’s supposed to be good so hopefully we’ll be able to mix it up quite a bit.”
Making matters more difficult for Bremen as it vies for its first sectional title in 12 years is the fact that the team will be on the road Friday. It’s the program’s first look at a trophy since 2000, when the Lions lost a narrow 10-7 sectional championship decision to North Judson. It’s also a much-deserved second chance after a rocky season, and Moren said the trip isn’t likely to lend itself to any mental let-downs, either.
“The playoff wins for us over the last decade have been few and far between, so we’re just excited to still be playing in November,” he said. “It’s been 12 years I think since we’ve had a chance to play for a sectional championship. At home, on the road, it really doesn’t matter to us. We’re just excited to have a shot at it.”