HSE edges out Noblesville with last-second touchdown

By JAMES SEAY

For The Reporter

NOBLESVILLE – Noblesville’s Beaver Stadium was rocking on Friday night as the Millers’ cross-county rival, Hamilton Southeastern, won a 28-21 game with a go-ahead touchdown in the final seconds of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference showdown.

The game featured all the drama that one looks for in October High School Football: long plays, lead changes, touchdowns, and crucial fourth-down conversions. In the end, the Class 6A No. 8 Royals were able to seal their fifth win of the season.

The game started with a bang as Noblesville senior halfback Brody Gump took off for an 80-yard TD run on the game’s opening play. With momentum on the Millers’ side, head coach Dave Sharpe dialed up a surprise onside kick, which caught HSE by surprise and slipped through the fingers of a Miller football player.

Coach Sharpe said, “The Millers were seeking to execute well, like one of the state’s top teams.”

The Royals quickly responded with some big runs by sophomore HB Carter Reed, who finished the night with 156 yards on the ground, setting Hamilton Southeastern in Miller territory three minutes after the opening touchdown. In the drive, HSE could convert a crucial fourth down after a significant gain negated by a penalty. Junior quarterback Chandler Weston found his favorite target, junior wide receiver Kendrick Pennybaker, on a screen pass for their night’s first score. The drive was symbolic of how the game would unfold throughout the night.

The team exchanged defensive efforts during the following drives, but each offense was stymied as the Millers punted and the Royals were turned over on downs. After the HSE defense rose to the occasion at the beginning of the second quarter, senior punter Mason Presits delivered a punting highlight, as one of his punts pinned the Royals onto their own two-yard line. The NHS defense regained the ball after stellar play from the two-way player and Boston College commit, senior Israel Oladipupo. The ensuing drive ended with a touchdown run from sophomore running back Ty Holmes, who had two scores on the night, after the Millers methodically marched downfield on a 13-play, 75-yard march, which consumed nearly all the second quarter.

In the second half, Hamilton Southeastern responded with a long drive, moving its offense 80 yards and controlling the clock. With the score tied at 14 in the waning moments of the third quarter, Weston was able to convert a crucial third down in a run that saw him run from one sideline to the opposite sideline in a spectacular team effort to give the Royals a first down which led to the first of senior RB Vaughn Johnson’s two touchdowns of the night.

“We had trouble getting Weston off of the field. He’s a special player, but we will be better,” said Sharpe.

The Millers would tie the game again at 21 in the latter part of the fourth quarter, but Weston had other plans. He made plays with his feet and within the air to move HSE into scoring position with eight seconds left in the game.

“The only thing on my mind during the last drive was ball security, ball security, ball security,” Weston said. “I just wanted to ensure we secured that ball and got into the end zone.”

Johnson delivered with his second run over the goal line to put HSE ahead 28-21 in front of the stunned Noblesville crowd.

“Our coach always says our last practice must be our worst. We look forward to taking that next step next week,” Weston said.

Royals coach Michael Kelly said, “[Noblesville] is a team you hate to see because they’re so well coached and can grind the ball down. We told our kids at the beginning of the year that we will grow this year, and despite missing a slew of players, our coaches prepared our team for the game.”

The win opens the door for Hamilton Southeastern to compete for the Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship. This was Noblesville’s fifth straight loss, but the team continued to compete as all games were within a score.

The Millers will travel to Brownsburg next Friday to face the Bulldogs, the state’s top football team and fellow conference foe. The Royals will travel south to play conference rival Franklin Central. Both games will begin at 7 p.m.