For the second year in a row, Westfield won a pivotal Hoosier Crossroads Conference showdown with Brownsburg.
The Class 6A No. 2 Shamrocks hosted the 6A No. 4 Bulldogs at Riverview Health Stadium on Friday. Just like last year, it was a close contest between, as Westfield coach Jake Gilbert put it, “two very even teams.”
The score was tied at 21-21 going into the fourth quarter. The difference-maker turned out to be the Shamrocks’ Caleb King, who drilled a 34-yard field goal midway through the period. Westfield then hung on for a 24-21 victory, a win that puts the ‘Rocks all by themselves on top of the HCC standings at 4-0.
“We got to feel good about winning this one,” said Gilbert.
Neither team led by more than a touchdown during the game. Brownsburg scored first at the 5:36 mark of the first quarter, but Westfield responded with a touchdown pass towards the end of the quarter. The ball was thrown to Jackson Wasserstrom, who tossed it to Ian Bruch. The senior took the ball 61 yards to the end zone, and King’s extra point tied the game up.
Micah Hauser punched the ball in from the one with 6:57 left in the second quarter, and King’s kick made the score 14-7. But the Bulldogs also scored from the one with 15 seconds left, so the halftime score was 14-14.
Westfield again took the lead in the third quarter, when Maximus Webster connected with Gabe Aramboles for a 15-yard touchdown pass. King again made the extra point kick, going 3-for-3 in the game. The ‘Rocks led 21-14, but a short Brownsburg run tied the game at 21-21 going into the fourth.
King made his big field-goal kick with 6:31 left, and that would be the game winner. Brownsburg tried to tie the game with a field goal attempt, but Vance Farrar blocked it, preserving the victory. Coleton Vondersaar also blocked a punt earlier in the game.
“The kickers did great and blocking the two kicks was enormous,” said Gilbert.
The coach had good things to say about his defense as well.
“I thought Charlie Dager and Tyler Dikos were excellent,” said Gilbert. “Micah Hauser and Dillon Thieneman were good at safety as usual. I also felt like our D-line, several guys chipped in and made big plays. It was a great group effort by them.”
As for the offense, Webster was solid, going 11-for-16 with 125 yards. Bruch made six receptions totaling 121 yards. Hauser finished with 61 yards rushing, with Trevon Hatchett gaining 55 yards.
“Maximus was awesome,” said Gilbert, who called his quarterback “poised and controlled” during the game. “Ian Bruch was excellent on offense.” Gilbert also credited Nic Depasquale with making “big-time catches.”
The win puts Westfield at 5-1 for the season. The Shamrocks play at Avon next Friday.
WESTFIELD 24, BROWNSBURG 21
Score by Quarters
Brownsburg 7 7 7 0 – 21
Westfield 7 7 7 3 – 24
Team Stats BHS WHS
First Downs 17 17
By Rush 15 10
By Pass 2 7
By Penalty 0 2
Rushes-Yards 48-203 32-141
Yards Passing 75 186
Comp-Att-Int-TD 12-15-0-0 12-18-1-2
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 2-10 2-10
Punts-Average 4-22.0 2-23.0
Westfield Scoring
First Quarter
1:28 – Ian Bruch 61-yard pass from Jackson Wasserstrom (Caleb King kick)
Second Quarter
6:57 – Micah Hauser 1-yard run (King kick)
Third Quarter
7:00 – Gabe Aramboles 15-yard pass from Maximus Webster (King kick)
Fourth Quarter
6:31 – King 34-yard field goal
Westfield individual stats
Rushing: Hauser 17-61, Trevon Hatchett 8-55, Webster 5-31, team 2-minus 6.
Passing: Webster 11-16-125, Wasserstrom 1-1-61, Hauser 0-1-0.
Receiving: Bruch 6-121, Nic Depasquale 3-36, Wasserstrom 2-14, Aramboles 1-15.