By RICH TORRES
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville Millers were hoping to end their opening night losing streak, but the Class 5A fifth-ranked Cathedral Fighting Irish had other ideas.
Unable to match the Irish’s offensive efficiency, the Millers (0-1) lost 42-14 at home on Friday night as Cathedral ran out to a 27-0 advantage before initiating the IHSAA’s Mercy Rule by the third quarter.
Cathedral (1-0) produced 509 yards of total offense compared to Noblesville’s 90 overall and pushed their margin to 35 points to force a running clock following a decisive 11-play, 60-yard drive that spanned 4 minutes, 16 seconds.
The loss extended Noblesville’s season opening woes to four consecutive years, but the Millers’ offense proved opportunistic, especially late in the second quarter.
Down 27-0, the Millers’ defense came up with a key fumble recovery to give the offense a chance, and fullback Elijah Butler delivered. Butler, who finished with 18 yards on 11 carries, erased Cathedral’s shutout bid with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 20 points.
The Millers’ 6-play scoring drive that covered 23 yards in 2:51 was sparked by junior Luke DeaKyne, who scooped up a lost fumble by Cathedral quarterback Orin Edwards on a keeper play. The fumble recovery setup the Millers at the Irish 23, and the series was prolonged with two dead ball personal fouls by the Cathedral defense that moved Noblesville inside the 10-yard line.
Butler scored on the ensuing play after the double penalty against Cathedral, but a holding call against the Millers pushed them back to the 18. Butler got another shot at paydirt four plays later on fourth-and-goal, and he converted with 1:36 remaining in the half.
The Millers defense halted the Irish’s second offense drive with a slick interception by junior Zach Blevins on an overthrown pass from Edwards, but Cathedral’s mistakes were minimal, especially on offense.
The Irish rushed for 249 yards on 20 carries with senior Daylen Hall carrying the load with 184 yards on 9 rushing attempts for three touchdowns. The speedy back put Cathedral ahead 7-0 with a 7-yard run. His second score unfolded on a 45-yard burst, and his third went 72 yards to increase the Irish’s lead 34-7 in the second quarter.
Hall, a first-year starter, averaged 20.4 yards per carry and sat out once the mercy rule took effect.
Edwards overcame his mishaps to pass for 256 yards on 13 of 18 completions and two touchdowns. His first travel 28 yards as he connected with David Perry to supply Cathedral with a 13-0 lead.
The second strike went 87 yards to Camden Jordan, who cut up field on the short route completion to give Cathedral a 20-0 cushion. The Irish produced 18 first downs while losing the time of possession battle 19:27 to 28:33.
Noblesville quarterback Alex Zavac rushed for 20 yards and passed for 29, including a 17-yard dart near the end zone to Carson Sanders, who scored from 17 yards out late in the fourth quarter.
Sanders hauled in two passes for 30 yards, but punter Grayden Addison earned the respect of his opponents with seven kicks totaling 352 yards and an average of 50.3 yards per kick. Two of his kicks settled inside the 20-yard line with one touchback.
The Millers’ offense, however, struggled by only converting 1 of 10 conversions on third down.
The Millers travel to Carmel next week as they try to avoid an 0-2 start for a fourth straight season.
CATHEDRAL 42, NOBLESVILLE 14
Score by Quarters
Cathedral 14 20 8 0 – 42
Noblesville 0 7 0 7 – 14
Team Stats CHS NHS
First Downs 18 5
Rushes-Yards 20-249 30-61
Yards Passing 260 29
Comp-Att-Int-TD 14-19-1-2 4-8-0-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 11-102 6-57
Punts-Average 1-31.0 7-50.3
Noblesville Scoring
Second Quarter
Elijah Butler 1-yard run (Grayden Addison kick)
Fourth Quarter
Carson Sanders 17-yard pass from Alex Zavac (Addison kick)
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Jayden Barrett 8-23, Butler 11-18, Zavac 11-20.
Passing: Zavac 4-8-29.
Receiving: Sanders 2-30, Butler 2-minus 1.
Noblesville’s Elijah Butler takes the handoff from quarterback Alex Zavac during the Millers’ game with Cathedral Friday at Beaver Materials Field. Noblesville fell to the Irish 42-14. (Kent Graham)