Columbus North’s Braylon Thoman, right, makes a catch under pressure from Center Grove’s Brody Boswell in a sectional final football game Nov. 3, 2023 at Columbus North High School.
The Republic file photo
Braylon Thoman thought his high school football career was finished.
The Columbus North senior wide receiver landed hard on his elbow after going up for a catch in a win at Southport the third week of the regular season. He was diagnosed with a torn UCL, but was fortunate to miss only the next three games.
“I kind of thought my season was over, and then once I got my results back, I was just ready to get into physical therapy and get back onto the field with my guys,” Thoman said. “Physical therapy helped a lot with Dr. Guse, and then just my workouts that I could do at home and in the weight room.”
Upon his return, Thoman has picked up right where he left off prior to the injury. The Bull Dogs leading receiver and team MVP as a junior, he has 31 catches for 398 yards and six touchdowns this season.
“Braylon is not the fastest guy, but he’s so smart and just understands how to run good clean routes and get open,” North coach Logan Haston said. “He understands spatial awareness on the football field, and he’s a really strong possession receiver for us.”
Columbus North’s Jordan Briner runs upfield after catching the ball against Roncalli Sept. 13 at Columbus North High School.
The Republic file photo
Thoman’s injury didn’t come without its positives. During his absence, senior Jordan Briner emerged as another big weapon in the passing game.
“I missed some games, but I feel like during my time off, I was helping the team, helping the receiver group a little bit, and then Jordan stepped up a lot,” Thoman said. “It’s really because of Jordan. While I was gone, he stepped up really big, and now teams really have to respect us both. So I feel like Jordan has really helped me.”
“I just tried to do the best I could,” Briner added. “He’s our guy on our receiver groups, so I just tried to fill in the best I could for him and step up and be a leader for our team.”
Jordan Briner
Briner leads North with 39 catches for 431 yards and has five touchdowns. He also has carried five times for 69 yards and a score.
“Jordan is just a little bit faster, shiftier,” Haston said. “We can do some more things with him to kind of take the top off of a defense. They’ve been a really good 1-2 punch for us the last two years.”
Meanwhile, the Bull Dogs have gotten solid production out of a third receiver, junior Morgan Knapp, as well as senior tight ends Garrett Long and Eli Smith, giving junior quarterback Asher Ratliff plenty of target options.
“I think our offense is playing really great right now,” Briner said. “A lot of us have a year of varsity already under our belt, so we’re really clicking and getting it together. Coach Haston does a great job of getting a lot of people the ball, so it’s really hard to defend our offense.”
North’s only loss this season came in Week 5 at Bishop Chatard when Thoman, Long and top offensive lineman Drew Schiefer all were out with injuries.
“I’m really proud of how other guys did step up in (Thoman’s) absence, but you could tell he was missing,” Haston said. “His presence on the field is very noticeable. The way he’s just a sure-handed guy for our quarterback to go to on crucial third and fourth downs when we have to have a conversion. He’s our go-to guy, and when he was gone, we missed that, and we also missed his leadership. He’s one of our team captains, and his leadership on the field is invaluable, so we definitely missed that when he was gone.”
Braylon Thoman
Thoman has a scholarship offer from Calvin Austin, but also is looking at University of Indianapolis, Marian and Centre College. Briner has visited Marian and Manchester.
The Bull Dogs went 8-1 during the regular season, won the Conference Indiana title and were ranked No. 7 in the final Associated Press Class 6A poll. Following a bye week last week, they are preparing to host Franklin Central in Friday’s sectional semifinals. A win would put them in the sectional final, likely at longtime nemesis Center Grove.
“Ever since middle school, we knew once we got to high school, we were going to make a run,” Thoman said. “I think we have a really good chance, but we also can’t look too far ahead. It’s about us. As a team, we have to come together and go on a run and win a lot of games.”
“We’re not worried about any team in front of us,” Briner added. “It’s just having the confidence to go beat the team that we play next. Right now, our focus is on Franklin Central.”
