BREMEN - Waiting for the big play. When LaVille and Bremen met at Don J. Bunge Field, defense was the topic of discussion, especially late in the game. With a low-scoring, one-point game, fans were sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for something to pop. The stadium crowd was looking for someone to break free for that big play. As per the norm on this first Friday of INSC play, scores were generally on the low-side. The 56th encounter between the neighborhood rivals was no different. For the better part of 44 minutes, defense was the name of the game. Heading into the last 4:35 of the fourth period, the teams combined for 12 punts and the Lakeville guests clung to a 7-6 lead. LaVille put together a 9-play, 68-yard drive that finished with LHS quarterback Collin Czarnecki completing a 6-yard pass to Brayden Schwitz for the go-ahead touchdown.  The Lancers pass attempt at a 2-point conversion fell incomplete with LaVille holding a 13-12 lead. Bremen got one final series, but the LaVille defense stood tall, holding the Lions offense to 0 for 4 through the air.  The Lancer secondary of Xzavian LaFave and David Mitchell knocked the desperation pass down as the horn sounded. Final in this INSC opener for both teams - LaVille 13, Bremen 12. "Being a senior on this team, Czarnecki was able to keep his composure and believe in his teammates that we could get the ball down the field and get a touchdown," said LaVille head coach Jeff Kaiser. "He was able to display his leadership and athleticism on that drive and threw to a few different receivers along with a very crucial scramble that allowed us to keep that drive going." It was the ninth consecutive victory in the series for the Lancers. "The kids never gave up, they believed in each other and that's what happens (a comeback win)," said Kaiser. "It was a good, clean, hard-nosed game in a great environment. It's nice to win at Bunge Field." Bremen opened the scoring after Luis Garcia jumped on a LaVille fumble at the Lancer 21. Four plays and 1:54 later, Carson Anderson hit paydirt from four yards out to put the Lions up 6-0 with 2:48 left in the first quarter. The first quarter closed, with LaVille on the move and trailing, 6-0. On the first play from scrimmage in the second stanza, Czarnecki found Schwitz for his first of 5 catches to move the ball down to the 2-yard line.  Two plays later, Cody Allen pushed his way over the goal line behind the blocking of Kennan Richhart and Braedyn Foster along the right side.  Czarnecki added the point-after and LHS took a 7-6 advantage. In a quickly played third quarter, the two teams combined for five punts and the Lancers held on to the one-point edge. Bremen looked like they might take the lead early in the final quarter, highlighted by a couple pass completions from quarterback Silas Laidig.  Laidig connected with Luke Kincaid on a key 3rd down and 8 with a 17 yard completion.  Later in the same drive, Laidig hooked up with tight end Noah Wildauer for another 17-yarder to move the ball inside the LaVille red zone. Then, on a second and long, the ball got loose and LaVille's Kaid Hernandez recovered to stall the Bremen drive. After an exchange of punts, Bremen looked like it had the big play when Laidig launched a 38-yard strike to Luke Kincaid for the go-ahead TD. The Lions opted to go for a 2-point conversion, but Allen and Jonathan Neese snuffed out the left sweep to keep Anderson out of the end zone. With BHS leading, LaVille pounced on the Lions squib kick to set up shop at its own 32. Plenty of time left on the clock for LaVille and a couple timeouts in their pocket, Kaiser sent senior quarterback Czarnecki and the Lancer offense onto the field for what he hoped would be the cap on a game-winning drive. Over the next 2:45 of game clock, Czarnecki and the Lancer offense put together the best drive of the game. First, Czarnecki found Schwitz over the middle for a big 18-yard pitch and catch to move the ball to midfield. Two little out patterns, one to LaFave for 6 yards and a 9 yard toss to Allen on the left side, moved the ball to the Bremen 35. After a pair of incompletions had Czarnecki and the Lancer offense facing a 3rd and 10, the shifty QB spread his offense out, avoided the rush, and raced 11 big yards to a LaVille first down. Allen moved the ball inside the BHS 10 before Czarnecki finished the drive with the bullet to Schwitz over the middle to put LHS ahead. After an 0-2 start, LaVille evened its record at 2-2 on the season.  LHS joins Jimtown and Knox at 1-0 in INSC play. When asked about either being 2-2 or 1-3 overall after four games, Kaiser said, "two and two and having that quality win and the way we did it, allowed our guys to build confidence in each other.  Many of the upperclassmen have been in big games before and it showed by the composure we were able to display. We must continue sharpening up our fundamentals and play with confidence moving forward." Coach Kaiser's crew returns to Lancer Field on September 20 to battle Tippecanoe Valley.  Kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. LAVILLE 13, BREMEN 12 At Don J. Bunge Field, Bremen Score By Quarters LaVille 0 7 7 13 Bremen 6 6 6 12 Scoring Summary B - Carson Anderson 4 run; kick failed LV - Cody Allen 1 run; Collin Czarnecki kick B - Lucas Kincaid 38 pass from Silas Laidig; run failed LV - Brayden Schwitz 6 pass from Czarnecki; pass failed                                   LV              B First Downs            9                13 Yards Rushing      52              139 C-A-Int                10-15-1      6-17-0 Yards Passing      127              100 Punts-Avg            7-36            5-41  Penalties               5-35          5-35 2024 INDIANA NORTHERN STATE CONFERENCE Football Standings Jimtown 1-0 Knox 1-0 LaVille 1-0 Bremen 0-1 John Glenn 0-1 Tippecanoe Valley 0-1 Week #5 Games September 20 Bremen at Jimtown, 7 p.m. John Glenn at Knox, 7:30 p.m. Tippecanoe Valley, 7:30 p.m.