By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – Everybody did their part for Hamilton Southeastern on Friday night, and that led to another Mudsock football trophy.
The Royals held off Fishers 35-34 in an exciting overtime game at the Tigers’ field. Southeastern’s offense was incredible, scoring four touchdowns in regulation from big plays. Then in overtime, the Royals’ defense stepped up, making a crucial tackle on a two-point conversion try.
The Tigers went first in the extra period, and it only took two plays: Khobie Martin ran the ball in from six yards to put Fishers ahead 34-28. The Tigers then went for two, but Southeastern’s Judah Parker made a tackle just shy of the goal line to deny Fishers any additional points.
“It was a big stop,” said Parker. “I have faith in our offense. We have a great offense.”
The Royals’ offense also scored quickly, with Jalen Alexander making a six-yard run into the end zone on second down. The score was 34-34, so Southeastern just needed one point, and Hugo Belmonte stepped up and kicked the game-winner.
“I trusted all my teammates, I trusted myself, I trusted my holder, my snapper,” said Belmonte. The junior had tried for a 49-yard field goal with the clock winding down in regulation, but it was just short.
“But I knew that all my teammates trusted me, and I came back, made the extra point and won the game,” said Belmonte.
Going for two in overtime, kicking 49-yard field-goal attempts – there was no shortage of guts in this game. There was also no shortage of enthusiasm, with very few people in a sellout crowd leaving early.
“You live for these moments,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly, who has now coached the Royals to four straight Mudsock victories. He called Fishers a “really good team” and enjoyed the atmosphere as well.
Southeastern’s Jalen Alexander scored three touchdowns, starting with a 96-yard run in the first quarter. Alexander made a 72-yard run in the fourth quarter, and got an overtime score that helped the Royals to victory. (Joshua Herd)
“You like it when it’s a competitive game,” said Kelly. “This was a competitive game.”
And it looked like it would be defensive at first when the first few possessions came up empty for both teams.
Alexander took care of that midway through the first quarter, when he blasted down the field for a 96-yard touchdown score. Those would be the only points of the opening period.
The Tigers answered early in the second quarter when Bennett Gorak punched the ball in from the one-yard line. A 15-yard pass from Gorak to JonAnthony Hall got Fishers to the 2, and Gorak took it one yard at a time until he broke through.
Southeastern added two more touchdowns in the second quarter. Chandler Weston took off on a 67-yard run to the end zone, then later threw a pass to Donovan Hamilton that turned into another 67-yard score. With that, the Royals led 21-7 at halftime.
Fishers began the third quarter with a drive downfield that ended in a touchdown. Joel Gates caught a pass to set the Tigers up, and Gorak took the ball in from the 1. In the fourth quarter, Fishers tied it up after Khobie Martin scored from a six-yard run. That tied the game at 21-21.
A familiar sight during the game was Fishers
quarterback Bennett Gorak (left) handing off to
Khobie Martin. The running back totaled 285
yards for the game and scored three touchdowns. (Kent Graham)
“Their offense is a very, very, very hard offense to stop,” said Kelly. “You’re not going to stop them. “We were going to try to contain them and limit their big plays and big-play opportunities. They got some big plays on us and their receivers are phenomenal. Their running back is really, really good.”
Alexander stepped up for the Royals again, taking off to the end zone on a 72-yard run. Belmonte’s kick made it 28-21. He would go on to make all five of his extra-point attempts.
Martin added the final regulation touchdown, taking the ball in from six yards. Jonathan Tangara made the kick; he was also perfect on extra-point attempts, making all four. The Royals tried for one last score in regulation, but would wind up winning in overtime.
“I thought it was a good all-around effort,” said HSE offensive lineman Styles Prescod. “Personally, for the offensive line, we needed to come out more dominant. They came out with a punch in the second half, and it took us a while to respond, but we got it done in the end, so it was a good game.”
The lead running back for both teams hit the 200-yard mark: Martin rushed for 285 yards, while Alexander was right at 200. Donovan Hamilton caught five receptions for the Royals and had a big play at the end of the first half when he made a tackle that stopped a certain Fishers score. Hall led all receivers with eight catches.
Royals quarterback Weston was 9-of-18 for 147 yards, while Gorak went 12-of-22 for 186 yards.
“I’m real proud of our kids, the effort that they gave,” said Fishers coach Curt Funk. “They never gave up. We missed out on some opportunities in the first half. We thought we played a little sloppy,” which Funk said may have just been the team getting “caught up in the moment” of the Mudsock.
“But then we just settled in the second half,” said Funk. “Our kids adjusted and played hard. And they played hard in the first half, too.”
Southeastern stayed unbeaten at 4-0 for the season and hosts Westfield next Friday. Fishers dropped its first game of the year, and is now 3-1. The Tigers play next Friday at Brownsburg.