The Week 9 game between Noblesville and Avon Friday was a track meet, and the Millers crossed the line first.
Noblesville won a truly back-and-forth game with the Orioles, finally prevailing 43-41 in an exciting contest at Beaver Stadium. It was the first Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory of the season for the Millers.
“We were in control the whole game,” said Noblesville coach Dave Sharpe. “We’d let the leads slip away a time or two and they would tie it, but we would respond right back, so very proud of the way our guys handled adversity.”
Noblesville never trailed in the game. Freshman quarterback Landon Hughes got the first score, sending a 43-yard touchdown pass to Gage Gulley. Later in the first quarter, Logan Shoffner streaked 79 yards into the end zone, and that put the Millers up 14-7 to end the quarter.
Blake Widget added another touchdown on a two-yard run with nine minutes left in the first half. The Orioles came back quickly to tie the game, but Widget struck again, making a five-yard run to the end zone. Noblesville led 28-21 at halftime.
Avon tied the game again in the opening seconds of the second half, but Hughes put the Millers ahead for good with a five-yard touchdown run. Jack Letourneau made all five of his extra-point kicks after each Noblesville touchdown, and the Millers led 35-28.
The Orioles scored late in the third quarter, but a two-point attempt was no good. Shoffner then blasted off on a 43-yard touchdown run to open the fourth, and Gulley made the two-point conversion run.
“It came down to the nitty-gritty plays in the second half, two-point conversions,” said Sharpe.
The coach also praised his defense during the fourth quarter. Noblesville sacked the Orioles a couple times and forced a punt.
“Very proud of our fourth quarter effort, offensive and defensively,” said Sharpe.
Avon added one more touchdown late in the fourth, then tried an onside kick. Noblesville recovered, and soon had the victory.
“We played to win and won a game and it feels great,” said Sharpe.
The Millers totaled 358 yards rushing for the game, with Shoffner gaining 212 yards. Hughes made all three of his pass attempts for 76 yards.
Noblesville is 3-6 for the season. The Millers will take next week off, then host Zionsville on Oct. 28 in the semi-finals of Class 6A Sectional 4.
NOBLESVILLE 43, AVON 41
Score by Quarters
Avon 7 14 13 7 – 41
Noblesville 14 14 7 8 – 43
Team Stats NOB
First Downs 25
By Rush 21
By Pass 3
By Penalty 1
Rushes-Yards 56-383
Yards Passing 80
Comp-Att-Int-TD 3-3-0-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-35
Punts-Average 2-29.5
Noblesville Scoring
First Quarter
9:35 – Gage Gulley 43-yard pass from Landon Hughes (Jack Letourneau kick)
5:13 – Logan Shoffner 79-yard run (Letourneau kick)
Second Quarter
9:00 – Blake Widget 2-yard run (Letourneau kick)
0:16 – Widget 5-yard run (Letourneau kick)
Third Quarter
7:57 – Hughes 5-yard run (Letourneau kick)
Fourth Quarter
11:24 – Shoffner 43-yard run (Gulley run)
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Shoffner 18-217, Widget 13-74, Gabe Bellan 10-41, Gulley 12-37, Hughes 3-14, t.
Passing: Hughes 3-3-76.
Receiving: Gulley 2-63, Aiden Brewer 1-13.