By JIM BELSER
Ben Davis lived up to the hype as the top-rated team in the state, as it took apart Fishers 50-7 Friday night in the Class 6A regional final at Fishers.
The Giants put forth a dangerous group of skilled players that can overwhelm a defense. And they did so against the Tigers, time and again. Their quickness and elusiveness often turned ordinary gains into long distance sprints with a trail of Fishers defenders in their wake.
Getting it in to their hands was Giants quarterback Reese Taylor, who passed for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Ben Davis got big plays from nearly all its receivers, but none was more lethal than Jermaine Hoskins. Hoskins pulled down receptions of 19, 25, 10 and 45 with two earning touchdowns.
“I was disappointed we didn’t give them a better ball game, but they are the number one-ranked team and they are going to be a tough team for anybody to beat,” Fishers coach Rick Wimmer said.
Defensively the Giants were good for a pair of interceptions and applied pressure to Fishers quarterback Jon Vore, sacking the junior three times on the night on blitzes. It was a dominating performance by Ben Davis that very few high school teams could have withstood.
Fishers running back Dylan Scally was the center of the Tigers offense as the Giants shut down the home team’s passing attack. The sophomore pounded his way to 65 tough yards on 20 carries. It was a difficult night for Fishers quarterback Jon Vore, but still the junior managed 104 yards passing, including a nine-yard TD pass.
“Dylan’s tough, he’s done a good job for us, he’s gotten an opportunity after a few injuries and has done well,” Wimmer said.
Vore had a terrific third quarter, passing for 76 yards and producing the Tigers only score of the night. His nine-yard toss to Gregory King notched the score at a still respectable 29-7 halfway through the third.
“I am proud of what our group accomplished, winning the conference championship and a sectional, and doing it from a start that wasn’t real positive, but I am proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish for the entire season,” Wimmer said.
Things turned quickly in Ben Davis’ direction in the first half and stayed that way through the first two quarters. Fishers quarterback Jon Vore was intercepted on the Tigers’ first possession after a few positive yard plays. A Fishers receiver fell on the play and the Ben Davis defender was there for the pick off at 9:37 left of the first quarter.
A minute later Ben Davis scored its first touchdown on a one-yard running play. The Giants produced two 15 yard plus plays on the drive, leading to the score. Fishers managed to pick up a few first downs in the first quarter, largely behind the legs of running back Dylan Scally.
While Fishers kept things on the ground in the first half, Ben Davis went through the air. Giants quarterback Reese Taylor accumulated 54 yards on 5-of-8 passing in the first quarter. The Ben Davis air attack led to the Giants second touchdown, another short yardage run. It put the visitors up 14-0 with 2:52 left in the quarter.
The second quarter saw both teams go for it on fourth down. Ben Davis was unsuccessful, but the Tigers went 2-for-2 on theirs, including short snapping the ball to a Fishers runner after lining up for a punt. Scully of Fishers basted his way up the middle for five yards on the other successful fourth down conversion.
After two quarters it was 22-0 Ben Davis. The Giants started the third quarter off with a 50-yard touchdown reception and ended with another for 45. Ben Davis added two more TD passes in the fourth.
Fishers’ Isaiah Dunnuck makes a catch during the Tigers’ regional championship football game with Ben Davis Friday at Reynolds Tigers Stadium. The No. 1-ranked Giants beat Fishers 50-7. (Kirk Green)
Dylan Scally was Fishers’ leading rusher in the Tigers’ regional championship game with Ben Davis Friday at Reynolds Tigers Stadium. Scally totaled 52 yards. (Kirk Green)