By JAMES SEAY
For The Reporter
FISHERS – In a thrilling regular-season matchup of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, the Fishers Tigers overcame relentless rain and a determined Zionsville Eagles squad, securing a 34-14 victory. The Tigers showcased their resilience by relying on a mix of standout players to fill crucial offensive positions left vacant by absent teammates.
Head Coach Curt Funk acknowledged the team’s adaptability, stating, “We had some players out and had guys fill in those holes and step up in a big way.”
The game started with the Fishers Tigers gaining possession first and making an immediate impact. A spectacular 57-yard run from sophomore sensation Ryan Thembulembu punctuated their opening drive. However, a holding penalty temporarily derailed their momentum. Unfazed, the Tigers powered through on a critical 4th and 18 play, as sophomore quarterback Gage Sturgill connected with Thembulembu in the end zone for a touchdown, marking the game’s first score. Sturgill would go on to amass 222 passing yards and two touchdown throws, while Thembulembu contributed 133 yards from scrimmage.
Fishers’ Ryan Thembulembu rushed for 103 yards and caught a touchdown pass during the Tigers’ victory over Zionsville on Friday. (Julie Brown)
Coach Funk commended Sturgill’s growth: “He was thrown into the fire after our QB went down against Franklin Central. The progression we have seen with Gage has been phenomenal, and I credit him and his hard work along with our Offensive Coordinator Coach Moore on his development.”
Zionsville retaliated in the second quarter, mounting a determined drive deep into Fishers’ territory. The Tigers’ defense forced a crucial third down but, after what appeared to be an interception, a defensive pass interference penalty kept the drive alive. Seizing the opportunity, the Eagles connected for a touchdown pass to Eugene Hilton, son of former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, knotting the score at 7-7 with 9:34 remaining in the half.
Fishers quickly countered with a deep pass to JonAnthony Hall, setting them up in the Zionsville red zone. In a surprising twist, the Tigers placed the ball in the capable hands of Senior Offensive Lineman Grant Haworth. Haworth executed three consecutive runs from the ‘wildcat’ formation and scored, propelling the Tigers back into the lead, a position they held for the remainder of the game.
Coach Funk shed light on the unique formation, saying, “It is a package we put in this week for short-yardage situations. The kids embraced it, and the lineman especially loved seeing him get into the end zone.”
The Fishers’ defense remained unyielding, forcing a turnover, with senior Reagan Thembulembu recovering a fumble that set the stage for another touchdown pass from Sturgill to Hall. Their defense also showcased its strength, with seniors Jake Pruitt and Brady Wolf combining for consecutive sacks to halt the Zionsville offense.
As the third quarter began, Zionsville unleashed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Hilton, narrowing the score to 21-14. The Tigers swiftly responded, determined not to relinquish their lead, with Hall returning the subsequent kickoff for a touchdown, extending their advantage by two touchdowns. Hall finished the night with 233 total yards and two touchdowns.
Fishers’ defense continued to shine, particularly with sophomore Carsen Eloms making crucial pass breakups to stymie Zionsville’s attempts. The turning point occurred when junior Tristan Johnson intercepted a pass in the red zone, thwarting Zionsville’s drive and preserving their lead.
The final quarter saw the Fishers Tigers sealing their victory with a prolonged drive following Johnson’s interception. Pruitt pounded through the Zionsville defense for a touchdown, extending Fishers’ lead to 34-14.
Despite the unrelenting rain, the Fishers High School Tigers emerged victorious in their regular-season finale. Coach Funk commented, “The focus for next week is to rest up and be ready to go the following week for the beginning of the tournament.”
Next on the Tigers’ agenda is a clash with Homestead High School in Fort Wayne on Oct. 27, marking the start of tournament play. Success in the tournament could potentially set the stage for a showdown with cross-town rivals, Hamilton Southeastern, in the pursuit of a sectional championship.
FISHERS 34, ZIONSVILLE 14
Score by Quarters
Zionsville 0 7 7 0 – 14
Fishers 7 14 7 6 – 31
Team Stats ZV FISH
First Downs 10 14
By Rush 3 4
By Pass 5 9
By Penalty 2 1
Rushes-Yards 26-28 33-164
Yards Passing 187 222
Comp-Att-Int-TD 13-22-1-2 14-21-0-2
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-50 8-74
Punts-Average 5-43.8 4-37.0
Fishers Scoring
First Quarter
9:02 – Ryan Thembulembu 18-yard pass from Gage Sturgill (Jonathan Tangara kick)
Second Quarter
5:36 – Grant Haworth 1-yard run (Tangara kick)
3:31 – JonAnthony Hall 69-yard pass from Sturgill (Tangara kick)
Third Quarter
11:31 – Hall 99-yard kickoff return (Tangara kick)
Fourth Quarter
8:35 – Jake Prewitt 2-yard run (kick failed)
Fishers individual stats
Rushing: Thembulembu 15-103, Sturgii 2-21, Hall 1-13, Haworth 8-8, Brady Griffits 5-6, Hudson Bell 2-4, Paxton Badua 1-3, Prewitt 1-2, Sekai Bogle 2-minus 2, team 1-0.
Passing: Sturgill 14-21-69.
Receiving: Hall 6-154, Thembulembu 3-30, Millen McCartney 2-24, Noah McPeek 2-11, Joel Gates 1-3.