Fishers’ Ryan Thembulembu rushed for 125 yards on 15 carries during the Tigers’ game with Carmel last Friday. (Joshua Herd/File photo)
Fishers visits No. 4 Lawrence North and Sheridan hosts 2A No. 16 Alexandria
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
Hamilton County teams went 6-2 in their openers and things amp up even more in Week 2. Fishers has a tough road game at Lawrence North and Sheridan hosts Alexandria for its home opener.
Week 1 had a few firsts for three football teams in Hamilton County and all three occurred on the road.
First-year head coach Jake Chesney guided the Sheridan Blackhawks to a comeback win over Greenwood Christian in his first game, 32-29. In his first game as head coach at Noblesville, John Hebert notched a road win at Mt. Vernon, 21-6. Carmel’s Kevin Wright got his second stint with the Greyhounds off with a bang with a 49-24 win at Fishers.
The Indiana Football Coaches Association poll entering Week 2 has half of the Hamilton County teams ranked. In Class 6A, Westfield (3), Carmel (6) and Hamilton Southeastern (7) sit solidly in the Top 10. Guerin Catholic is ranked No. 9 in Class 3A.
The USA Today poll has Westfield up at No. 2, HSE (6) and Carmel (7) flip-flop spots. Guerin is at No. 11.
Fishers (0-1) at Lawrence North (1-0)
The Tigers and No. 4 Wildcats begin a series tonight and this game could turn into a shootout and keep fans entertained all evening.
Fishers and Lawrence North have not met since Oct. 24, 2008. The Tigers won that sectional game 31-20 score.
Sixth-year head coach Curt Funk scheduled tough non-conference opponents in Carmel and Lawrence North to better prepare them for their Hoosier Crossroads Conference slate and hopes of a playoff run.
LN outlasted Lawrence Central last week, 34-27.
In their home opener, Fishers had a 10-7 lead over Carmel through one with a rushing TD by senior Ryan Thembulembu and a field goal from classmate Micah Hillen.
Unable to climb out of a 35-14 hole in the second and third quarters, the Tigers could not overcome Carmel’s offense.
Fishers got scores in the second and third. Senior quarterback Gage Sturgill hit fellow senior receiver Vincent Rozzi for a 5-yard TD pass and then another to Rozzi in the third.
Reporter sportswriter Richard Torres spoke to Curt Funk after last week’s game.
“I thought our offense did a nice job, and we caught some bad breaks with some costly penalties, but then we got into a game of catching points,” Funk said. “When that happens, your offense gets out of balance. Unfortunately, defensively, we just didn’t get enough stops.”
Thembulembu led the Tigers with 21 carries for 125 yards and a TD. Gage Sturgill was an efficient 19-of-27 for 250 yards, and two touchdown passes. Along with Rozzi’s 70 yards on six catches, junior Darian Girton quickly became a go-to with four receptions for 90 yards.
Alexandria (1-0) at Sheridan (1-0)
Tonight’s game is the first-ever meeting between Alexandria and Sheridan and marks the first Sheridan home-opener since 1966 that legendary coach Larry “Bud” Wright will not be on the home sideline at Bud Wright Stadium, since retiring.
Former Blackhawk Jake Chesney now has the reigns, taking off from where his mentor left. The first-year coach got things off on the right foot with a 32-29 comeback win against Greenwood Christian at Beech Grove Middle School.
Sheridan jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but the host Cougars scored three consecutive times in the first half to lead 21-12 through two quarters.
Greenwood Christian’s lead grew to 29-12 when they scored on a 75-yard pass play in the third.
After that, it was all Blackhawks. Sheridan scored 20 unanswered points to come away with a come-from-behind three-point win.
Senior running back Alex Cravens rushed for 220 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown. Completing the senior backfield trio, Jacob Hall carried six times for 76 yards and Jesse Barnes ran for 60 on 12 rushes (3 TDs).
The Reporter’s Chuck Godby talked to Jake Chesney after last Friday’s win.
“We’ll go back and look at the film, but overall I’m happy,” Chesney added. “This is our brand of football. We’re in shape, we’re physical and we’re going to wear teams down.”
