The REPORTER
Two of the best teams in Class 3A battled it out for the Hoosier Conference championship Friday, and it was a battle.
Hamilton Heights (AP No. 5/IFCA No. 8) traveled to West Lafayette (IFCA No. 10) for the conference title game, a contest that was played in rainy conditions. It was back and forth for the first half, but the Huskies were able to get ahead in the second half and eventually win 26-23 to score their first-ever Hoosier Conference title.
“I have to give credit to the entirety of the team, because at some point, we had a massive contribution, game-changing contribution from every side of the ball,” said Heights coach Jon Kirschner.
The Red Devils scored first, getting two points for a safety less than three minutes into the game. It took the Huskies until the second quarter to score, but they did in a big way: Carson Fettig grabbed a punt return and took it 80 yards to the end zone. As a result, Heights led 6-2 at halftime.
West Lafayette’s Dawson Martin punched it in from the one-yard line in the third quarter to go back up 9-6. But that lead only lasted a few seconds, as Fettig took a kickoff return 76 yards to score. Teigan Scoles made the extra-point kick, and now Heights led 13-9.
“Carson Fettig’s the man of the night,” said Kirschner.
The Huskies added another touchdown just four seconds into the fourth quarter, as Eric Balcom scored on a 10-yard run. Scoles’ kick gave Heights a 20-9 lead.
Martin scored on a two-yard run to cut that advantage to 20-15. Quarterback Bodie Derrer answered back a few minutes later, taking the ball in from the one to put the Huskies back up 26-15.
“I give Bodie Derre ra lot of credit tonight,” said Kirschner. “He threw some nice passes under very tough conditions.”
Martin later took a 10-yard run in to score, and the Red Devils made a two-point conversion to get within three points. West Lafayette tried an onside kick, but Heights’ Dre Chandler grabbed it and finished the game from there.
Nick Bichey also recovered an onside kick, which Kirschner said were “massive, massive turning points in the game.” Tyler Overton and Ryan Armstrong both had interceptions.
“It was just what championship teams do,” said Kirschner. “When we needed a facet of the game to step up, they did it.”
The Huskies finished the regular season 9-0 for the first time since 2012. They travel to Oak Hill next Friday for a first-round game in Sectional 28.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 26, WEST LAFAYETTE 23
Score by Quarters
West Lafayette 2 0 7 14 – 23
Hamilton Heights 0 6 7 13 – 26
Team stats HH WL
First Downs n/a n/a
Rushes-Yards 53-106 31-69
Passing Yards 20 155
Comp-Att-Int-TD 3-7-0-0 8-23-1-0
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-1
Penalties-Yards 5-40 7-6
Punts-Average 4-42.0 5-37.0
Heights Scoring
Second Quarter
5:32 – Carson Fettig 80-yard punt return (kick failed)
Third Quarter
8:01 – Fettig 76-yard kickoff return (Teigan Scoles kick)
Fourth Quarter
11:56 – Eric Balcom 10-yard run (Scoles kick)
5:28 – Bodie Derrer 1-yard run (kick failed)
Heights individual stats
Rushing: Balcom 16-62, Owen VanHaaren 15-43, Fettig 4-27, Derrer 15-1, Jaylyn Pugh 1-0, Tyler Champion 1-minus 2, Dean Mason 1-minus 25.
Passing: Derrer 3-7-20.
Receiving: Cam Fleming 2-12, Dre Chandler 1-8.