By JIM BELSER
Westfield allowed Class 5A No. 4-ranked Decatur Central to break away midway through the fourth quarter after a tight game, falling 35-21 at home Friday night.
Tied at 21 through three quarters, Decatur Central’s Kenny Tracy burst through the right side of the Westfield defense for a 69-yard touchdown run and a 28-21 Hawks lead with 4:42 to play.
Westfield went four and out on its last possession and the Hawks tallied one last score in the waning seconds, taking advantage of favorable field position.
“We had plenty of opportunity to win but we had too many big errors happen,” Westfield coach Jake Gilbert said. “A turnover margin like that isn’t going to win us games.”
The Hawks capitalized twice on turnovers for touchdowns, while Westfield came up empty apart from a two-point safety from a blocked punt in the end zone.
Camden Simons was 11 for 24 for 146 yards and one touchdown. Pat Beam had three of those receptions for 40 yards. On defense for the Shamrocks, senior Colin Caldwell led with six solo tackles and four assists. Field goal kicker Alex Bales made two field goals, including a 47 yarder against the wind.
On third down at Westfield’s own 15, cornerback Owen McGraw of Westfield broke up a potential TD, stretching out to knock down a pass in the endzone. Still tied 21-21, Decatur Central went for it on fourth down but a mishandled snap forced quarterback Harrington Parker to run out of the pocket for a small gain to finish out the third quarter.
Ian Watson of Westfield intercepted Harrington at the 50 seconds earlier. But in an unlikely play, Watson was stripped of the ball on the runback by the Hawks who returned it to the Shamrocks 14, setting up Owen’s touch down saving defensive play.
Two turnovers by Westfield turned into quick scores for Decatur in the first half. Both came in the second quarter as the Shamrocks gave up a fumble to the Hawks with 8:17 left in the half. And quarterback Camden Simons was picked off for a 52-yard touchdown return by Hawks cornerback Jason Allen.
Before the pick off, Decatur scored from four yards out following a Hawks offensive drive which included a Westfield penalty and the fumble, allowing the Hawks to take a 14-10 lead with 7:25 to go.
Westfield put the first points on the board at 6:50 in the first quarter. Dane Wheeler pulled in a 16-yard reception from Simons after the Shamrocks struggled in the early going against the Hawks defense. The gain was close enough to allow Westfield kicker Alex Bales to put it in through the uprights from 47 yards against a strong breeze.
Decatur countered with a 22-yard TD pass hauled in by the Hawks Allen, giving the visitors a 7-3 lead. The Shamrocks recaptured the lead 10-7 on a Simons to Eli Patchett 11-yard touchdown pass coming out of the backfield to start the second quarter.
“We blocked a punt, had an interception, all in all I am happy with where we are at, we just need to get better fundamentally. But kudos to them, they are a good team and deserved the win,” Gilbert said.
After the Decatur touchdown interception that stretched the Hawks’ lead 21-10, the Shamrocks were able to take advantage of a shanked Hawks punt to move closer to the goal as the first half ended. Bales once again came through, adding some much-needed points with a 23-yard field goal with 47 seconds left.
Westfield is 1-1 and next faces Zionsville at home after opening the season with a 28-16 win over Harrison.
Westfield’s Nathan Nguyen (26) looks for an opening during the Shamrocks’ game with Decatur Central Friday at Riverview Health Stadium. The Hawks scored two late touchdowns to beat Westfield 35-21. (Richie Hall)