BY RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Westfield’s historic football run came to an end Friday night, but in terms of the long run, the Shamrocks may still be at the beginning.
Playing in its third state championship game since 2013, Westfield fell to Center Grove 38-14 in the Class 6A title game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Trojans were ranked No. 1 for most of the season and solidified that rating on Friday night, getting an early jump on the ‘Rocks to take control of the game. But Westfield played hard to the end, never giving up and proving that the future is bright for the Shamrocks program.
“Tremendous character by our kids,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “I think the gratitude of just hoping we’d have a season, period, just really manifested itself with tremendous unselfishness and care for each other. Every day we just had a great attitude to just be out here at all. I was so happy that we got to play an entire season and then on top of that to have a season like this. It was amazing.”
The ‘Rocks signaled they were here to play from the start of the game. Center Grove received the opening kickoff, but had its first drive interrupted when Micah Hauser intercepted a Trojans pass.
But CG forced Westfield to a three-and-out, and was more successful on its second drive. The Trojans’ workhorse running back Carson Steele scored the game’s first touchdowns, grinding it in from the two-yard line.
That was the first of five consecutive touchdown drives by Center Grove. The Trojans next scored in the last play of the first quarter, with Drew Wheat taking the ball in to the end zone from four yards out. Austin Watson hit both extra-point kicks to give the Trojans a 14-0 lead.
After halting a promising drive by the ‘Rocks, Center Grove used a big pass play to score its third touchdown. Tayven Jackson threw a pass to Trent Veith, who took off and didn’t stop until he scored. It was a 73-yard pass play.
Westfield tried again, but had another drive stopped by an interception. That led to a fourth Trojans touchdown, with Steele punching it in from the one.
“I give them all the credit,” said Gilbert. “They’re an amazing football team. They’re very physical. We wore down defensively. We couldn’t really manufacture any drives, so our defense was out there a long time. It’s just tough. That’s what they do to teams. They give you an onslaught, you have to survive it. We didn’t quite do that.”
The Shamrocks got on the board in the second quarter with their own big pass play. Maximus Webster connected with Mason Piening for a 38-yard touchdown reception, and Sean Sullivan followed that up with the extra-point kick.
Center Grove answered right away, however. Jackson teamed up with Veith again, this time on a 10-yard touchdown throw. The Trojans held Westfield to a three-and-out, got down to the nine-yard line, and on the last play of the half, Watson kicked a 28-yard field goal, giving him three more points in addition to his five extra-point kicks. That made the halftime score 38-7.
Westfield showed resolve in the second half, holding Center Grove scoreless while adding a touchdown of its own. That was courtesy Webster, who ran the ball in from the four-yard line midway through the third quarter. Sullivan again kicked the extra point. The drive was set up when Kyle Pape caught an interception to end Center Grove’s first drive of the second half.
Neither team scored again. The Trojans allowed the Shamrocks two more drives after their third-quarter touchdown. Meanwhile, Center Grove relied on its run game for most of the second half, but Westfield’s defense stiffened up, only allowing the Trojans one long rush in the half.
“Now in the second half, we came out and we tackled better,” said Gilbert. “We managed to run the football. I just thought we showed tremendous toughness and I was very, very happy and proud of the effort that our kids played with in the second half.”
Hauser was playing on an injured ankle that will require surgery next week. He showed remarkable toughness, leading the Westfield rushing with 118 yards and making eight tackles (two solo, six assists) during the game. Webster completed 16 of 28 passes for 155 yards, with Piening making seven of those receptions, totaling 111 yards.
David Frey led the tackling list with 10, five solo and five assists. Popeye Williams had eight stops, with four solo and four assists. Bryson Hoover, Charles Dager, Seth Martin and Seth Poriah each had one-half a tackle for a loss.
Westfield received an honor after the game, when Benji Welch won the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award. Welch, the son of Kirk and Corrie Welch, will attend Taylor University and study Ministry.
“It’s just all in all a great opportunity,” said Benji Welch. “Going into this year, especially not even knowing if we’d get more than a few games, there’s just so much uncertainty. So I praise God for the opportunity we had and all the amazing memories. It’s truly a family and I’ll hold on to it forever, so I’m just thankful to even be playing, to be here at Lucas Oil is amazing. All the glory goes to God for all of it.”
The Shamrocks finished their season with a 12-2 record. Westfield’s only other loss was at the beginning of the season to Cathedral, which plays Zionsville tonight in the 5A championship game.
“Amazing overall season,” said Shamrocks coach Jake Gilbert. The accomplishments were many for Westfield: A first-ever appearance in the 6A state championship game, as well as the first-ever appearance for a Hoosier Crossroads Conference team in a 6A final. The ‘Rocks swept the HCC at all three levels, varsity, junior varsity and freshman, with the JV and 9th-graders completing unbeaten seasons.
“We lost two games to two great teams and we won 30 others as a program,” said Gilbert. “I couldn’t be happier with the season overall.”
CENTER GROVE 38, WESTFIELD 14
Score by Quarters
Westfield 0 7 7 0 – 14
Center Grove 14 24 0 0 – 38
Team Stats WF CG
First Downs 14 21
By Rush 7 15
By Pass 6 5
By Penalty 1 1
Rushes-Yards 27-136 54-266
Yards Passing 155 180
Comp-Att-Int-TD 16-28-2-1 9-17-2-2
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0
Penalties-Yards 5-35 4-50
Punts-Average 5-26.0 1-34.0
Scoring
First Quarter
CG, 2:41 – Carson Steele 2-yard run (Austin Watson kick)
CG, 0:00 – Drew Wheat 4-yard run (Watson kick)
Second Quarter
CG, 8:43 – Trent Veith 73-yard pass from Tayven Jackson (Watson kick)
CG, 5:44 – Steele 1-yard run (Watson kick)
W, 4:06 – Mason Piening 38-yard pass from Maximus Webster (Sean Sullivan kick)
CG, 1:29 – Veith 10-yard pass from Jackson (Watson kick)
CG, 0:00 – Watson 28-yard field goal
Third Quarter
W, 6:30 – Webster 4-yard run (Sullivan kick)
Westfield individual stats
Rushing: Micah Hauser 11-118, Carson Voorhis 4-31, Piening 1-8, Webster 11-minus 21.
Passing: Webster 16-28-155.
Receiving: Piening 7-111, Voorhis 3-19, Jackson Wasserstrom 3-12, Reid Schepers 1-8, Nic Depasquale 1-6, Hauser 1-minus 1.
Center Grove individual stats
Rushing: Steele 31-138, Connor Delp 3-54, Daniel Weems 13-45, Wheat 3-29, Austin Green 1-4, Jackson 1-2.
Passing: Jackson 9-16-180.
Receiving: Veith 5-111, Delp 2-27, Garrett Keith 1-16, Weems 1-2.
Westfield defensive stats
Total tackles (solo and assists): David Frey 10 (5s, 5a), Popeye Williams 8 (4s, 4a) Hauser 8 (2s, 6a), Magwire Graybill 7 (5s, 2a), Voorhis 7 (3s, 4a), Bryson Hoover 7 (2s, 5a), Kyle Pape 7 (2s, 5a), Gabe Arvin 6 (3s, 3a), Charles Dager 5 (1s, 4a), Seth Martin 4 (2s, 2a), Benji Welch 3 (3s), Seth Poriah 3 (1s, 2a), Jonathon Frey 2 (2s), Zach Williams 1 (1s), Wasserstrom 1 (1s), Tyler Dikos 1 (1s), Alex Wolf 1 (1s).
Tackles for loss: Hoover 0.5, Dager 0.5, Martin 0.5, Poriah 0.5.
Interceptions: Hauser 1, Pape 1.