Bloomington, Indiana – This Saturday, the Indiana Cutters defense will have a shot at redemption as the Cutters travel to Bourbon, Indiana to take on the Kosciusko County Mustangs in the Interstate Football League championship game.  Three months ago the Mustangs beat the Cutters 20-14 in the first regular season game. 

Since July, the Cutters defense has recorded 4 shutouts in league play while holding their opponents to just 52 total points in 9 games.  On the season, the Cutters are giving up less than 6 points per game.  

The defense is lead by strong outside linebacker, team captain and 2007 Defensive MVP, Andre Key.  Key calls the signals for the defense and rarely comes off the field.  In the world of semi-pro or adult amateur football, Key prides himself on leading by example.  In two years with the team he has missed only one practice due to a work conflict. 

Team captain and strong safety Nick Land anchors a stingy secondary for the Cutters.  Land, a full-time chemist, works out virtually all year long to get ready for the game he loves.   Married with children, Land’s college career was cut short at Kentucky Wesleyan after his freshman year because of the need to support a young family. 

The defensive line includes defensive tackles Mike Hicks and Heath Johnson and nose guard Barry Grooms.  All veterans of semi-pro or arena football, the three have great quickness at the line of scrimmage and pursuit to the ball. 

The Cutters play a 3-4 defensive scheme similar to that of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL.  It allows the Cutters to take advantage of a wealth of talented linebackers.  Besides Key, the other linebackers include outside backer, Dan Eason, and inside backers, Kurt Engelking, Mike Cameron, Justin Carter, and Sean Connors.   

“Our depth of linemen and linebackers allows us to rotate a lot of players,” said Cutters Defensive Coordinator, John Shean.  “Aggression to the ball and fresh legs are key to our success on defense.” 

Saturday’s IFL title game is at 7 pm at Triton High School 12 miles west of Warsaw, IN.

MARTINSVILLE,Ross Flint

In the days leading up to his return to Bill Siderwicz Field, Israel Thompson had a hard time falling asleep.

It had been 12 years since he last put on the shoulder pads and played in a game on his high school home turf.

In the days leading up to his return, he told Indiana Cutters assistant head coach Jim Allen that he would have a big game in the semi-final game between the Cutters and the Southwest Ohio Blazers, which decided who would play for the Interstate Football League championship.

His prediction came true, from the first play of the game through the fourth quarter. The result was his first chance — ever — to play for a championship in football.

“Just like old memories,” he said.

Thompson gained 35 yards on the first play from the line of scrimmage and scored on a 12-yard run two plays later, and the Cutters didn’t look back. He ended with 118 yards on 11 carries with three touchdowns in leading the Cutters to a 52-6 win

“I’ve been amped up about (coming back),” he said. “It was good to come back.”

Thompson was one of five former Artesian football players to return, joining Mark Whitaker, who gained three yards on one carry, and linemen Chris Hester and Joshua Graves.

The Cutters completed a 48-yard touchdown pass shortly after his first touchdown, then Thompson scored his second touchdown on a nine-yard run after the Blazers fumbled the snap on a punt, giving the Cutters excellent field position.

By the end of the half, Indiana led, 42-6, with the lone Southwest Ohio score coming when one of the Cutters’ players touched the ball on a punt.

“We just overpowered them,” Thompson said in giving the offensive line credit. “The outcome turned out fantastic. I didn’t know how I was going to do.”

Thompson’s lone gaffe in the game came on a three-yard gain that he then fumbled, but was recovered by Graves for an extra four yards.

He scored his third touchdown with 8:30 remaining on a 30-yard run, in which he broke several tackles on his way to the end zone. That gave Indiana a 45-6 lead, and the Cutters added a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone.

“There’s a lot of people I know (who came to the game), a lot of people who haven’t seen me play since high school” he said.

Saturday, the Cutters play in the Interstate Bowl V at 7 p.m. at Triton High School in Bourbon. The Cutters will play the Kosciusko County Mustangs, which defeated the Miami Valley Warriors, 33-26, to advance.