Hamilton Southeastern’s Terry Walker III threw a 76-yard touchdown pass during the Royals’ win over Avon last week. Southeastern plays the Mudsock game Friday against Fishers. (Joshua Herd)
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
In the blink of an eye, we are one-third of the way through the regular season of high school football. Five of the eight Hamilton County teams are making their presence known in their respective classes’ rankings.
Carmel (No. 3) has emerged back toward the top of Class 6A. Hamilton Southeastern is close behind at No. 5 with Westfield climbing back up to No. 6. Fishers is holding tight at 11th. Guerin Catholic is also holding steady in Class 3A at No. 9.
No. 5 Hamilton Southeastern Royals (3-0) at No. 11 Fishers Tigers (2-1)
Tomorrow night, the City of Fishers will feast their eyes on the Royals and Tigers from Clarian Field at Fishers for the 20th regular season meeting for the Mudsock. A split crowd of neighbors dressed in red and blue will fill the stands.
HSE leads the all-time series with a 17-13 record. Fishers took the Mudsock game last year (37-35) and outlasted the Royals for the sectional championship, 44-41. Southeastern has won seven of the last 10, including playoff games.
Week 3’s battle with Avon to open Hoosier Crossroads Conference play was that and more for HSE. It wasn’t until 3:35 left in the first when Andrew Babb took his lone carry 1-yard into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
The Orioles tied it 7-7 with a touchdown pass. Southeastern then scored rather quickly. Terry Walker III found top target Kendrick Pennybaker for a 76-yard TD pass to give the Royals a 14-7 halftime lead.
Gage Sturgill, seen here during Fishers’ Week 1 game against Carmel, completed 13 of 20 passes, resulting in 278 yards, during the Tigers’ Week 3 win over Noblesville. (Joshua Herd/File photo)
Avon scored early in the fourth for a 14-14 tie again. HSE kicker Luke Marchionni made a 27-yard game-winning field goal with 3:13 left to seal the 17-14 win for the Royals.
Walker completed 9 of his 16 passes for 114 yards, three of those were caught by Pennybaker for 81 yards.
Fishers took advantage right away last week at Noblesville. The Millers punted on their first series. Running back Ryan Thembulembu scored two rushing TDs in less than four minutes of game clock for a 14-0 Tiger lead after one.
The Millers got on the board with a 26-yard Caden Lytle field goal just into the second, but Fishers managed another three scores before halftime.
Quarterback Gage Sturgill threw two touchdown passes to Vincent Rozzi and Thembulembu ran in his third on the ground to give the Tigers a 35-3 lead at halftime.
Fishers scored one more time just into the third on a Sturgill TD pass to Darian Girton to go up 42-3.
The Millers’ Noah Shinkle had two rushing touchdowns to account for the final of 42-17.
Sturgill had another solid game passing, going 13 for 20 resulting in 278 yards. Thembulembu ran just nine times for 124. Rozzi caught nine for 225.
Clinton Central Bulldogs (2-1) at Sheridan Blackhawks (1-1)
The Sheridan Blackhawks have been waiting since their last home game on Aug. 29 against Alexandria to take the field again.
After last week’s game was cancelled by Tri-Central, the Trojans were forced to a junior varsity only schedule because of lack of players, leaving Sheridan with no game in Week 3 and a lot of time to get ready for their first Hoosier Heartland Conference game against Clinton Central.
Friday night at Bud Wright Stadium is the 50th game of the series with the HHC rivals. Sheridan leads with a commanding 45 wins to just four losses to the Bulldogs. The Blackhawks won last year in Michigantown, 43-26.
The Bulldogs started off with a home win over 4A Frankfort, 30-0. They went on the road two weeks ago and took down Faith Christian with a 63-14 rout. Last week, Clinton Prairie handed Clinton Central its first loss, losing 32-0 at home.
Sheridan opened with a road win against Greenwood Christian at Beech Grove Middle School (32-29) and lost its home opener two weeks ago to Alexandria, 54-14.
Senior Alex Cravens leads the backfield charge with 30 carries and 218 yards and a TD. Fellow senior Jonathan Barnes compliments with 18 for 138 and 4 scores. Barnes leads on defense with 14 tackles, two for a loss.
