By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Hamilton Southeastern ran its unbeaten record to 7-0 Friday night, as the Royals pulled away from Noblesville 38-14 in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at Beaver Field.
Southeastern scored one touchdown in each of the first three quarters. Both of the Royals’ first-half touchdowns came late in their respective periods: Jalen Alexander made a 47-yard run into the end zone with just under three minutes to go in the first quarter for Southeastern’s first score.
Then with just over a minute left in the second period, Donovan Hamilton made a big catch for HSE’s second touchdown. It was a 21-yard throw from Ty Bradle, and it gave the Royals a two-score lead. Carter Gutt made both extra-point kicks, giving Southeastern a 14-0 lead at halftime.
“We didn’t start real quick,” said Royals coach Michael Kelly. “We’re still trying to find a way to get after it offensively. And at the end of the day, we got to be able to start fast. I’m proud of our team, how they continue to fight and battle through some adversity there.”
Alexander picked up another touchdown in the third quarter, making a two-yard push into the end zone midway through the period. The Millers answered with their first touchdown late in the quarter, when Gabe Bellan punched the ball in from the two-yard line.
The Royals got going in the fourth quarter. Clayton Wilke scored after catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from Bradle. Gutt later kicked a 43-yard field goal. Southeastern completed the scoring with one more passing touchdown: Chandler Weston threw a pass to Jack Osiecki near the sideline, and he ran it in for a one-yard score. Gutt made the extra-point kick, giving him a 5-for-5 mark for the night.
Alexander finished with 142 rushing yards, while Eli Brantman totaled 107 yards.
Noblesville got one more score late in the fourth period, as Gage Gulley ran the ball in from the one.
Noblesville’s
Gage Gulley made a one-yard touchdown run for the Millers. (Kent Graham)
“Very proud of our kids,” said Noblesville coach Dave Sharpe. “They fight to the very end.”
Logan Shoffner led the Millers’ rushing with 108 yards.
“Offensively, we knew this is a tremendous defense we’re going up against, and it’s just very hard to continue to sustain success either on the ground or through the air,” said Sharpe. “They’re very good and it was great to see us play hard to the very end.”
The Royals are 5-0 in conference play and travel to Franklin Central next Friday. Noblesville is 0-5 in HCC play and 2-5 overall, and plays at Brownsburg next Friday
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 38, NOBLESVILLE 14
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 7 7 7 17 – 38
Noblesville 0 0 7 7 – 14
Team Stats HSE NOB
First Downs 122 13
By Rush 13 9
By Pass 6 1
By Penalty 3 3
Rushes-Yards 42-320 42-10
Yards Passing 113 18
Comp-Att-Int-TD 12-19-0-3 4-13-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 3-2
Penalties-Yards 11-101 7-80
Punts-Average 2-38.0 6-35.2
Scoring
First Quarter
HSE, 2:56 – Jalen Alexander 47-yard run (Carter Gutt kick)
Second Quarter
HSE, 1:04, HSE – Donovan Hamilton 21-yard pass from Ty Bradle (Gutt kick)
Third Quarter
HSE, 6:56 – Alexander 2-yard run (Gutt kick)
N, 2:41 – Gabe Bellan 2-yard run (Jack Letourneau kick)
Fourth Quarter
HSE, 10:30 – Clayton Wilke 8-yard pass from Bradle (Gutt kick)
HSE, 7:23 – Gutt 43-yard field goal
HSE, 3:43 – Jack Osiecki 1-yard pass from Chandler Weston (Gutt kick)
N, 0:28 – Gage Gulley 1-yard run (Letourneau kick)
Southeastern individual stats
Rushing: Alexander 13-142, Eli Brantman 15-107, Azariah Wallace 6-38, Wilke 1-12, Bradle 2-11, Sam Forrest 1-6, Osiecki 1-4, Weston 2-0, team 1-0.
Passing: Bradle 11-18-112, Weston 1-1-1.
Receiving: Wilke 6-21, Hamilton 4-76, Silas Newton 1-15, Osiecki 1-1.
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Logan Shoffner 15-108, Blake Widget 12-30, Gulley 7-19, Bellan 4-19, Landon Hughes 4-4.
Passing: Hughes 4-13-18.
Receiving: Aiden Brewer 2-14, Widget 1-4, Bellan 1-0.