Noblesville had yet another tough assignment on Friday, as the Millers hosted Brownsburg in the last regular-season and Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at Beaver Materials Field.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 7 in Class 6A, won the game 42-21. Noblesville coach Dave Sharpe, however, said that the score is “not indicative whatsoever” of how the Millers’ defense played, saying that Noblesville’s defense “played by far its best game.”
The main difference in the game, Sharpe said, was the play of Brownsburg’s special teams. The Bulldogs scored their first touchdown off a 64-yard punt return, then would also score on a kickoff return in the third quarter.
“First and foremost, their special teams played absolutely tremendous, and it’s been a weakness all season long and we have to stop the bleeding on special teams,” said Sharpe.
Brownsburg led 14-0 after the first quarter. The Millers got on the board early in the second period after Alairic Rogers-Walton scored a touchdown on a five-yard run. Brownsburg scored again with 1:11 left on a short pass-play touchdown, and led 21-7 at halftime.
Both teams scored the remainder of their points in the third quarter. Noblesville held firm with the Bulldogs by getting two touchdowns, the first one a three-yard run by Gage Gulley, and the second one a 24-yard pass from Connor “Doc” Meinerding to Aiden Brewer. Jack Letourneau kicked all three extra points.
Sharpe said that on defense, the Millers “were able to get a lot of stops against that high-powered offense, and I coulnd’t be more proud of our seniors that fight so hard.”
Sharpe credited Sam Steinhofer, Sam Stone, Cesar Sierra, Ben McDaniel, Patrick O’Rourke, Josh “Snacks” Rogers, Rogers-Walton and Jake Hoffmann for all playing well on defense.”
“Those guys on defense, they played their hearts out and they gave us the ball back many, many times,” said Sharpe.
Meinerding finished the game 8-of-16 for 101 yards, with Logan Shoffner making five receptions and Brewer the other three. Parker Bell led the rushing with 116 yards.
The Millers are 2-6 and travel to Avon next Friday to complete the regular and HCC season.
BROWNSBURG 42, NOBLESVILLE 21
Score by Quarters
Brownsburg 14 7 21 0 – 42
Noblesville 0 7 14 0 – 21
Team Stats BHS NHS
First Downs 14 17
By Rush 9 13
By Pass 5 4
By Penalty 0 0
Rushes-Yards 34-174 47-210
Yards Passing 71 101
Comp-Att-Int-TD 6-12-0-2 8-16-0-1
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 7-55 6-31
Punts-Average 3-40.3 5-33.8
Noblesville Scoring
Second Quarter
8:40 – Alairic Rogers-Walton 5-yard run (Jack Letourneau kick)
Third Quarter
5:08 – Gage Gulley 3-yard run (Letourneau kick)
1:27 – Aiden Brewer 24-yard pass from Connor Meinerding (Letourneau kick)
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Parker Bell 10-116, Gulley 8-30, Logan Shoffner 7-25, Rogers-Walton 5-19, Meinerding 14-17, Brayan Goméz Sánchez 2-5, Blake Widget 1-minus 2.
Passing: Meinerding 8-16-101.
Receiving: Shoffner 5-17, Brewer 3-84.