DeShawnDre Brown's breakout in first start gives Harrison confidence after beating Central

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — For the first time in four weeks, Harrison's student section had something to sing about.

Collectively harmonizing Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" with phone flashlights in the air, the Warriors faithful finally got to celebrate a victory — and an emphatic one at that. Harrison is back in the win column after beating Central 42-7 to snap a four-game losing streak dating back to the Week 2 upset over Jasper.

"We got lucky enough to get a win tonight, and luck is where hard work and opportunity meet," Harrison coach Moe Sutton said. "We took advantage of an opportunity."

Last season, the Warriors (2-5) lost their matchup with the Bears in the fourth quarter. This time around, there was a running clock for the final five minutes in their favor. And all that was built behind a sophomore quarterback making his first career start and a receiver who couldn't miss.

Indiana high school football: Check out all the Week 7 Evansville-area final scores

DeShawnDre Brown admitted he was a bit nervous before kickoff. The new man under center had never started a varsity game, so this was uncharted territory against a city rival. Once he took the first snap, he left all the nerves and pressure behind.

In the air, Brown finished 12 of 17 for 187 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he added 173 yards and two scores, one of which was an 81-yard carry to the end zone. In total, five touchdowns on 360 yards of total offense. An interception that was returned for a touchdown was the only blemish on Brown's otherwise spectacular night.

Not a bad opening act.

"It means a lot to me," Brown said. "I've never really did something like this before on this type of level. It just felt really good."

If that's the kind of performance Brown can put in every week, the Warriors have hope about turning their program around. Sutton said the sophomore under center was "on the fence" about playing football, eventually choosing to do so because of some friends.

"He came out and had a hell of a night," Sutton said.

More often than anyone else, junior receiver Myles Terry was on the end of Brown's completions. Five receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns may indicate the start of a blossoming QB-WR relationship for the Warriors, which is something they'll need going forward.

"You'll see more of it next year," Sutton said, highlighting that both players would return. "The thing is, it's just like playing backyard football. You just have to go get it."

Terry's second of his two first-half scores saw the student section serenade him with chants of his name, already having scored more points alone than Central's total as a team.

"(Brown) was able to put the ball in my hands and that's the reason I scored," Terry said. "We've been working all week long, working hard. We just made it happen tonight."

Of course, beating a winless Bears team doesn't mean the season has turned around on Fielding Road, but it certainly can't hurt the cause. The hope now is to build momentum, with a trip to the Reitz Bowl against Mater Dei and an East Side rivalry game against Bosse to close the season.

From last season's loss to the 35-point win against the same team, Sutton credited his senior-heavy squad for getting more people out to play for Harrison.

"We're just doing a great job," Sutton said," and the kids are bought into the coaching and we're executing."

If the Warriors are going to keep the students singing and waving their flashlights in the air, more performances like Friday are needed. If Brown and Terry can further build their relationship after that performance, the chorus may be heard around Romain Stadium more often.

"I think we can use this to help us build confidence — a lot of confidence," Brown said. "It'll help us just push through and help us win games."

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: DeShawnDre Brown leads Harrison over Central