BY: ELI SMITH
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
Boonville went into the sectional title game riding as high as you could after beating one of the best teams in the area, Reitz in an instant classic. The entire town bought into Boonville Football’s program and were ready to win Boonvilles first sectional title in 18 years against Memorial.
The festivities began in fourth period Friday as Boonville High School had a pep assembly to remind the students of Boonville how much this game actually means for the Boonville Football program. People began tailgating at the high school right after school and did so until gametime, setting up for what looked like was going to be a fun night of football.
This was Boonville’s first sectional championship game played at home in a long time, with the game a week before against Reitz possibly being the best game ever played at Bennett field. Memorial came to Boonville fresh off a nail-biting win against Jasper. Boonville and Memorial knew what it was like to win a close game in the postseason and that is why they had made it to that point.
Memorial won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving Clay Conner and Boonville explosive offense the ball first. The Pioneers went down the field while converting on two third and longs before stalling out around the Memorial 30 yard line and turning it over on downs. Memorial then marched down the field and took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Boonville’s offense just couldn’t punch it into the endzone before the first half. The Pioneers gave up a field goal in the second quarter and then embarked on a drive into the Memorial redzone late in the 2nd quarter. With 15 seconds on the clock, Boonville was at the Memorial six looking to cut the lead to three before halftime. Boonville could not capitalize as Clay Conner threw a rare interception over the middle of the field in the endzone, leaving the Pioneers scoreless at halftime.
Although Boonville was down 10-0 going into the break you have to believe that they were confident that they could come back and win the game. Memorial started the 2nd half at their own 27, and it didn’t take long for them to score as they took it to the house on the first play from scrimmage of the half. Although this padded the Memorial lead there was still almost 2 quarters of football to play, leaving hope for the Pioneers. Boonville took a long drive themselves and got it into the endzone midway through the third making the score 17-7.
The score would stay that way until Boonville held a Memorial drive to a field goal early in the 4th giving the ball back to Boonville with a chance to cut it to one possession. That chance never happened as the Memorial kicker placed the ball in the soft spot of Boonville’s kick return team, and the Tigers recovered the ball. This was the backbreaking moment in the game, putting the Pioneers down 2 possessions and giving the Tigers great field position. The Tigers ended up scoring that drive before Boonville went on another touchdown drive making the score 27-14. Memorial scored again late in the 4th and solidified their sectional title win.
Cooper Aigner said after the loss, “I never want to have this feeling again, I wanted that trophy.” Boonville definitely has a lot to look back on and be proud of. They made people believe in them when only they knew what they were capable of. Boonville’s season was one of the best in program history even though they didn’t come out with a sectional or conference championship. This team did something that not many Boonville teams have done, and those things are play for a conference title, sectional title, and beat one of the most historic programs in all of Indiana in Evansville Reitz. If you ask me, this year’s Boonville Football team made history and made a name for themselves.
The Pioneer Online 
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