By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The ping-pong balls certainly bounced in Bedford North Lawrence’s favor.
The Stars (1-7) drew a home game against Jennings County (0-8) in the first round of Class 4A’s Sectional 23 when the IHSAA announced the 2024 state football sectional pairings. BNL already owns a 41-14 victory over the Panthers during the regular-season meeting on Sept. 28.
That winner will meet either Shelbyville (1-7) or Greenwood (2-6) in the semifinal.
In the opposite bracket, No.2 Martinsville (8-0) will host Charlestown (1-7) in the first round on Oct. 25, while Silver Creek (3-5) will visit Connersville (2-6).
BNL’s draw was a best-case scenario for a team that needs a postseason reset. The Stars are seeking to win sectional games in three straight seasons for the first time in program history, and the heavy sectional favorite (Martinsville has 8 wins, and the rest of the field combined has only 10) is poised in the other side of the bracket.
“That was pretty good for us,” BNL coach Derrick Barker said. “You can’t complain about that one.
“Any time you get a team you know a little bit about, that always helps. We played pretty well against them, and we get a home game. And with the favorite on the other side, that’s three good things in a row. That’s a promising start.
“We’re excited to get another home game, we’re familiar with them, having played them. But we know, in the tournament, anything can happen. It’s whoever plays the best that night.”
BNL won its only sectional in 2011.
