Westfield’s Deacon King (20) takes the handoff from Cooper Melvin (12) during the Shamrocks’ game with Carmel Friday, Aug. 29. (Joshua Herd)
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
No. 13 Fishers Tigers (1-1) at Noblesville Millers (1-1)
The Tigers and Millers head into Hoosier Crossroads Conference action on slightly different wavelengths. Fishers grabbed a big road win last week over Lawrence North (31-28) and Noblesville was edged at home by Homestead (13-10).
Including playoff meetings, Fishers owns a 17-5 record against Noblesville in the overall series.
The Tigers own seven consecutive wins over the Millers.
Both the regular season (17-14 in overtime) and sectional (31-21) meetings were won by Fishers in 2024.
Following the road win at LN, the Tigers have jumped back into all three ranking polls. In both the Associated Press and USA Today polls they are No. 11 and No. 13 in the coaches poll.
Fishers grabbed a 7-3 lead with six seconds left in the first on a rushing TD from sophomore Sam Hawkins. Ryan Thembulembu scored his first time in the game with 6:53 left in the second for a 14-6 lead at halftime.
Thembulembu scored in the first minute of the third on a 59-yard touchdown grab from Gage Sturgill. Thembulembu then scored his third TD on a 26-yard jaunt.
Lawrence North tied it 28-28 in the fourth and it came down to the leg of Micah Hillen. With two seconds left in the game, Hillen nailed a game-winning 29-yarder to give Fishers the upset win, 31-28.
Sturgill made the passing game happen once again, completing 16 of 26 for 246 yards, including four for 88 to Thembulembu and 70 on six receptions to Vincent Rozzi.
Homestead scored first against the Millers with an early passing touchdown in the first quarter.
Kicker Caden Lydle got Noblesville on the board with a 43-yard field goal later in the period, then the Millers took a 10-7 lead that they held onto at halftime when Cody Prater caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Windsor Hutchins.
After a scoreless third period, the Spartans took the lead for good with a 22-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter.
Hutchins had a good night in the pocket, finding his receivers on 17 of 22 passes for 102 yards. Noah Shinkle was the leading rusher with 19 carries for 73 yards.
No. 8 Westfield Shamrocks (1-1) at No. 17 Zionsville Eagles (2-0)
The Rocks and Eagles come into their HCC opener in similar situations tonight. They both are looking to recover from tough Week 2 losses. Westfield was stunned at Carmel last week (34-10) and Zionsville came up short in a shootout at Lawrence Central (40-30).
Tonight is the 44th meeting all-time between the two green-clad conference rivals. Zionsville owns a 27-16 record against Westfield in those games, including playoff matchups. Westfield has won 13 straight in the series.
Last season, Westfield won the regular season (28-10) and sectional (35-13) matchups over Zionsville.
Westfield dropped to a tie for No. 6 and Zionsville is No. 17 in the 6A coaches poll this week.
The Shamrocks got down early to Carmel last week and stayed down. After the Greyhounds went up 20-0 in the first half, Westfield was able to cut the lead in half for a 20-10 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
Diego Herrera booted a field goal and quarterback Aiden Grabowski ran in a TD in the third.
Carmel’s offense became too much for Westfield’s defense, as the ‘Hounds scored two more times in the fourth to extend out to the final of 34-10.
Deacon King was held to 12 carries for 46 yards and denied a touchdown for the first time this season. Aiden Grabowski was 10 of 21 for 73 yards.
