By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – A strong offense and a stellar defensive effort drove the Westfield football team to a historic win on Friday.
The Shamrocks beat Carmel 28-9 in a Class 6A Sectional 4 semi-final game at Carmel Stadium. There was a bit of back-and-forth between the No. 6-ranked Greyhounds and the No. 9-ranked ‘Rocks in the first quarter, but Westfield used its running game to steadily distance itself from Carmel as the game went on.
It was the first time the Shamrocks had beaten the Greyhounds since 1956 – “I just assumed it was never,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert – and sent them into the Sectional 4 championship game. The ‘Rocks will host Noblesville next Friday.
“We talk a lot about, hey, we don’t want to just have had a good team,” said Gilbert. “We want to be a great program. Not a great team, a great program that every single year, you have to count on us to be a factor in 6A. That’s what we’re trying to become. We have our own standards. I’m really proud of how we’re building our team. Our kids worked very hard. I thought they were fearless tonight and really wanted it, and I was really proud of the effort, just the relentless effort.”
Carmel got on the board first, with a 36-yard field goal by Ben Sponsler midway through the first quarter. Westfield answered in its next series, using short runs and a handful of passes by quarterback Cole Ballard to get down to the 15-yard line. Maximus Nosler took it from there with back-to-back runs, the latter of which was an eight-yard jog into the end zone.
The Shamrocks would score a touchdown in each of the four quarters, and never trailed again after Nosler’s score. Sponsler kicked a 31-yard field goal midway through the second period to cut the lead to 7-6, and the ‘Hounds got the ball back after a three-and-out.
But Westfield’s defense stopped the drive when Andrew Lieske caught an interception in the end zone. That gave the ‘Rocks the ball at their 20, and they moved quickly down the field. Sophomore Kendall Garnett finished the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run.
Westfield’s Kendall Garnett scored two touchdowns for the Shamrocks
during their Sectional 4 semi-final victory at Carmel on Friday. (Kirk Green)
“For me it’s big,” said Garnett. “I’m a sophomore playing varsity. Me and my team, we just went out there today and we just told ourselves that hey, we’re going to go out there and fight this battle hard, and we’re going to execute every play and we’re going to dominate on defense. And that’s what we did.”
Westfield led 14-6 at halftime. The third quarter followed the same pattern: Carmel made a drive down to the red zone, and Sponsler kicked a 29-yard field goal. The Shamrocks answered with a long drive that resulted in a touchdown, with Garnett and Ballard trading runs. Ballard got the score this time, on a five-yard rush.
Carmel’s Ben Sponsler kicked three field goals for the Greyhounds. (Kirk Green)
Ballard said the victory was “a testament to our coaches.” He and the other Shamrocks knew Carmel would be fired up to start the second half.
“Coach Gilbert said the next four or five minutes will be the best football they can give you,” said Ballard. “And they definitely gave it to us.” Carmel held the ‘Rocks to a three-and-out to start the half, and Ballard said the ‘Hounds were giving the Westfield defense trouble.
“We knew that was going to be the hardest part,” said Ballard. “But once we got rolling again, we were ready.”
Westfield’s final drive of the game started with 24.3 seconds left in the third period, and finished with 7:32 left in the fourth, when Garnett made a four-yard run for his second score of the game. Brody Boehm made all four extra-point kicks.
Garnett totaled 147 yards rushing for the game, while Ballard had 52 yards on the ground. Ballard had a fine passing game, going 7-of-14 for 92 yards.
Carmel quarterback Jack Kazmierczak played well for the ‘Hounds, with a 16-of-25 effort totaling 151 yards. Alijah Alfayyad was Carmel’s top rusher compiling 71 yards.
“Hats off to Westfield,” said Hebert. “They played really well and they did a good job preparing. They earned this victory.”
Westfield improved to 7-3 with the victory.
WESTFIELD 28, CARMEL 9
Score by Quarters
Westfield 7 7 7 7 – 28
Carmel 3 3 3 0 – 9
Team Stats WFLD CAR
First Downs 21 17
By Rush 11 9
By Pass 7 6
By Penalty 3 2
Rushes-Yards 44-237 36-141
Yards Passing 92 151
Comp-Att-Int-TD 7-14-1-0 16-25-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 6-45 10-93
Punts-Average 3-28.7 1-49.0
Scoring
First Quarter
C, 5:22 – Ben Sponsler 36-yard field goal
W, 1:02 – Maximus Nosler 8-yard run (Brody Boehm kick)
Second Quarter
C, 6:56 – Sponsler 31-yard field goal
W, 0:57 – Kendall Garnett 16-yard run (Boehm kick)
Third Quarter
C, 6:53 – Sponsler 28-yard field goal
W, 3:51 – Cole Ballard 5-yard run (Boehm kick)
Fourth Quarter
W, 7:32 – Garnett 4-yard run (Boehm kick)
Westfield individual stats
Rushing: Garnett 24-147, Ballard 11-52, Ryan Creager 5-24, Nosler 2-15, Jackson Gilbert 1-0, Zach Lunsford 1-minus 1.
Passing: Ballard 7-14-92.
Receiving: Mikaeh Webster 3-51, Dillon Thieneman 2-23, Gabe Aramboles 2-18.
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Alijah Alfayyad 18-71, Nicholas Beidl 6-46, Jack Kazmierczak 10-53, Levell Stewart 2-6.
Passing: Kazmierczak 16-25-151.
Receiving: Blake Matthews 4-70, Reece Bellin 4-26, Aydrian Caldwell 3-27, Nathan Rodgers 3-23, Cade Williams 1-3, Alfayyad 1-2.