By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – Friday night was the 74th Annual Homecoming football game for Noblesville, but this one was a little extra special. This is the first in their new stadium. The Millers were hoping to get their fourth homecoming win over Franklin Central, but the visiting Flashes had another thing on their agenda.
The Flashes took full advantage of the Millers as Noblesville turned the ball over on downs back to them five times en route to a 21-7 road win.
The two teams traded punts in the first quarter before Franklin Central figured out how they would be able to get to Noblesville’s defense.
After the Millers turned the ball over on downs at the Flashes’ 32, it took just four plays for FC to get on the scoreboard.
Braylen Gillard busted loose and sprinted to the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown run to give the Flashes a 7-0 early in the second.
The Flashes came up big and blocked Jack Letourneau’s punt at the 28. Then, the Miller defense came up with a big stop. On a 4th and 2 at the Noblesville 19, tight end Jake Newman was stopped for no gain by the combo of Mac Lynas and Jordan Sharp.
The first play of the next drive for Noblesville was an interception thrown by Landon Hughes, tipped up by a defensive back and pulled down by linebacker Shawn Hatchett.
Franklin Central had a short field, starting at the Noblesville 27 and it didn’t take long for another score.
Gillard scored again from nine yards out and that made it 14-0 late in the second.
The Millers just couldn’t get any rhythm going offensively. It became glaringly obvious that Franklin Central pinpointed exactly what it would take to stop Noblesville.
“We struggled to get a rhythm going. They’re a very good defense, big, strong, quick, and physical. What separates them is that they have tremendous defensive backs that just fly and we couldn’t quite pop one,” said Noblesville head coach Dave Sharpe on the Millers’ inability to produce offensively against the Flashes.
Noblesville was able to close the gap to just a one touchdown deficit in the final minutes of the second.
Following Gillard’s second TD run, the Flashes decided to kick it not real deep, but to the middle. Blake Widget fielded the ball at the 14. Widget found the wedge and broke through it. He found daylight and was all alone 86 yards later for a kickoff return TD that closed it to 14-7 at halftime.
Logan Shoffner (4) blocks for Gage Gulley (6). (Kent Graham)
“We knew it was going to be a slobber-knocker kind of a game, just because of how big, strong and physical their defense is,” stated Sharpe, complementing the Flashes’ defense and how tough it was to move the ball against them.
“They’ve played everybody that they’ve played well. They really shut down Roncalli’s great offensive line and Zionsville’s offense. Those are two losses. We knew this was going to be one of the best defenses on our schedule. I am disappointed that we couldn’t move the ball quite as well,” continued Sharpe on Franklin Central’s defense and what the Flashes did in games prior to Friday.
Gillard ran another in for a touchdown, this time on an eight-yard run that pushed it to 21-7.
More times than not, Franklin Central’s offense was able to produce and get the job done, thanks in big part to Braylen Gillard, who finished the night with 28 carries for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterback Nevan Tutterow was 10-of-14 passing for 78 yards, but a lot of those got FC in position for their three scores.
Noblesville just couldn’t quite muster that rushing on offense that they’re so used to. Logan Shoffner was only able to get 47 yards on 13 rushes, while Gage Gulley had 35 on 11 carries.
Franklin Central improves (3-3, 2-2 HCC) with their second win in a row and will host Fishers next week.
The Millers (2-4, 0-4 HCC) dropped their fourth straight game since starting the season 2-0. They will stay home and host 6A No. 4 Hamilton Southeastern (6-0, 4-0 HCC). The Royals won at home over Zionsville on Friday, 31-13.
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 21, NOBLESVILLE 7
Score by Quarters
Franklin Central 0 14 7 0 – 21
Noblesville 0 7 0 0 – 7
Team Stats FC NOB
First Downs 14 9
By Rush 11 6
By Pass 2 0
By Penalty 1 3
Rushes-Yards 43-223 41-127
Yards Passing 78 48
Comp-Att-Int-TD 10-14-0-0 6-17-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 10-80 4-40
Punts-Average 5-37.0 4-20.8
Noblesville Scoring
Second Quarter
0:38 – Blake Widget 86-yard kickoff return (Jack Letourneau kick)
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Logan Shoffner 13-47, Gage Gulley 11-35, Landon Hughes 9-30, Gabe Bellan 3-13, Widget 5-2.
Passing: Hughes 5-16-42, Aiden Brewer 1-1-6.
Receiving: Shoffner 3-12, Widget 2-30, Hughes 1-6.