Hamilton Southeastern kept its unbeaten season intact on Friday, cruising past Zionsville 31-13 at TCU Field for a Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory.
The Eagles got on the board first early in the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal. But after that, the Royals took over, pouring in 17 points to take a 17-3 halftime lead. Carter Gutt tied the game with a 36-yard field goal, then Azariah Wallace pushed Southeastern in front with a two-yard touchdown run.
“Once we got on top of them, it just took care of everything else,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly. “Defense held up on their own. Just able to play off of them.”
The Royals got one more score before halftime. Donovan Hamilton caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Ty Bradle with exactly one minute left in the second quarter.
Jalen Alexander started the second half with a big run, rushing in from 47 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. Hamilton and Bradle stepped up again late in the third, teaming up for a 59-yard touchdown. Gutt made all four extra-point kicks.
Kelly credited his defensive line – “Evan Sherrill, Dom Burgett, Jack Siefert, they were dominant up front for us, so that kept them in check,” he said.
Bradle was 13-of-19 for 278 yards, with Clayton Wilke making five catches and Hamilton getting four receptions. Alexander led the rushing with 126 yards.
The Royals are 4-0 in conference play and 6-0 for the season, their best start since the 2008 season.
“It feels great,” said Kelly. “First time I’ve ever been 6-0.”
Southeastern plays at Noblesville next Friday.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 31, ZIONSVILLE 13
Score by Quarters
Zionsville 0 3 3 7 – 13
Southeastern 0 17 14 0 – 31
Team Stats ZV HSE
First Downs 10 15
By Rush 2 5
By Pass 7 8
By Penalty 1 2
Rushes-Yards 23-47 34-166
Yards Passing 218 278
Comp-Att-Int-TD 13-25-1-1 13-19-0-2
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 3-40 4-25
Punts-Average 6-30.7 3-40.3
Southeastern Scoring
Second Quarter
5:21 – Carter Gutt 36-yard field goal
3:28 – Azariah Wallace 2-yard run (Gutt kick)
1:00 – Donovan Hamilton 27-yard pass from Ty Bradle (Gutt kick)
Third Quarter
10:22 – Jalen Alexander 47-yard run (Gutt kick)
1:20 – Hamilton 59-yard pass from Bradle (Gutt kick)
Southeastern individual stats
Rushing: Alexander 13-126, Wallace 9-22, Eli Brantman 7-14, Clayton Wilke 4-4, Chandler Weston 1-0.
Passing: Bradle 13-19-278.
Receiving: Wilke 5-116, Hamilton 4-133, Silas Newton 2-10, Jack Osiecki 1-17, John McCoy 1-2.