Westfield football team gets their heads in the game

The REPORTER

The Westfield High School football team gathered Monday afternoon for a pep talk from Coach Josh Miracle.

“It’s our opportunity to right our wrongs,” Miracle said.

No. 3 Westfield (12-1) will take on Hoosier Crossroads Conference rivals No. 4 Brownsburg (12-1) in the Class 6A state championship at Lucas Oil Stadium Friday night at 7 p.m. Brownsburg’s 17-13 win over Westfield in September marked Westfield’s only loss of the season.

“Just one more week,” Miracle said to his players. “It’s gotta mean something to you. Everyone is going to matter. Every detail is going to matter. You don’t have time to get down after a play. You don’t have time to celebrate too long. You have to have a one-play mentality and stay in the moment. We are looking for your absolute best version of yourself.”

This is Miracle’s first year as head coach at WHS, having taken over the position from former coach Jake Gilbert who returned this year to coach at his alma mater, Wabash College.

Westfield previously won the state championship in Class 5A in 2016, and this year marks the third year Westfield has played in the state finals since 2020.

They’re hoping for a win as Brownsburg hasn’t seen a state title since the mid-1980s.

“I just think we’re extremely blessed,” Miracle said. “This is our fifth trip to finals in 12 years which is a testament to the program Jake Gilbert built at Westfield. I’m so excited for this group of seniors, and we’re just trying to soak it up. That’s what’s bittersweet about it. This is the last week with this group of seniors.”