Giants head to fourth semistate in five years

staff report

It is deja vu all over again for the Ben Davis football Giants.

Last year the Giants started the season 1-3 before a double overtime win against Warren Central helped turn the season around. Ben Davis advanced to the semistate round of the Class 6A tourney before losing to Center Grove 17-10.

This year the Giants were 2-5 before securing five straight wins and again find themselves in the Class 6A semistate against Center Grove, this time at Giants Stadium. Center Grove is 12-0 and has been rated No. 1 all season and figure to be a tough test for the Giants at home this Friday.

Last Friday, the Giants spotted Carmel a 7-0 lead on the opening kickoff before rallying for a 27-21 win that sends BD into its fourth semistate game in the past five years. Center Gove has ended BD’s season two of those previous three times at semistate.

Junior quaterback J’uan Swanson led the attack against Carmel with 201 passing yards and two touchdown tosses and adding 49 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Junior running back Devon Wiley added 103 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Center Grove defeated Ben Davis 35-12 during the regular season. The Trojans advanced to semistate with a 38-0 win over Warren Central.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The second era of coach Stan Benge began its home campaign Saturday night with a 43-40 win over Brownsburg. The Lady Giants host Warren Central in a Thursday night game. The game was moved from Friday due to BD hosting a footbal semistate Friday.