By CRAIG ADKINS
sports@readthereporter.com
NOBLESVILLE – It was assumed before the kickoff that the Week 1 Noblesville-Mount Vernon could turn into a game like it did last season in Fortville that saw 93 points scored (57-36) in a win for the Millers.
This game had slightly less scoring and both offenses showed just how potent they can be. It was Noblesville who came out with the season-opening win, 43-35.
Playing a team like Mount Vernon is what helps the Millers compete like they do in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. The Marauders took losing their opener in 2021 to heart and rattled off 14 wins in a row to win the Class 4A state championship.
Mount Vernon wasted no time at all on the opening drive. On the second play, quarterback Eli Bridenthal sprinted 68 yards up the sideline to put the visitors up quick, 7-0.
The Millers got the home crowd to their feet for the first TD of the season on a 23-yard touchdown run by junior Logan Shoffner, tying it 7-7.
“Bridenthal and Burhenn are two of the best players in the state and they definitely shined,” said Noblesville head coach Dave Sharpe on two of Mount Vernon’s explosive weapons.
“Moving Bridenthal back and forth from QB to receiver is just amazing. The other quarterback (Luke Ertel) is going to be a good one and he’s also a freshman,” continued Sharpe, complimenting the Marauders’ ability to play two quarterbacks seamlessly.
“Two freshman quarterbacks playing in front of six or seven thousand people, that’s crazy,” stated Sharpe, speaking of Mount Vernon’s Ertel and his own starting quarterback Landon Hughes.
The Marauders answered quickly on their next drive, going seven plays when Bridenthal launched a 44-yard touchdown pass to George Burhenn. The two-point pass fell incomplete, putting Mount Vernon up 13-7.
Noblesville took their first lead with 1:32 left in the first. Gage Gulley ran in his first touchdown from two-yards out. Kent State commit, tight end Andrew Page caught the two-point pass from Hughes for a 15-13 Noblesville lead.
On the ensuing drive, Miller linebacker Gavin Kinyon intercepted Bridenthal’s pass on the second play.
The Millers used just two plays to go 40 yards, both carries from Logan Shoffner, the second going 27-yards to paydirt. That gave Noblesville a 22-13 lead with less than a minute in the first.
The Marauders were on a mission to close the gap and they did just that.
Quarterback Landon Hughes fumbled and that gave Mount Vernon the opportunity they were looking for. The Marauders went 90 yards in 11 plays and Bridenthal got his second score on the ground, this time from 20 yards. He ran in the two-point try to cut it to 22-21.
Blake Widget gave the Millers a little breathing room, running in a touchdown from six yards to push it to an eight-point lead, 29-21, but they knew Mount Vernon would come right back.
“I was not very happy with our defense. Obviously, we couldn’t get off the field. The one fourth and 10, they got 10.01 yards and that was a huge play in the game,” said Sharpe on how Mount Vernon just kept at it and didn’t go away.
Bridenthal notched his third rushing score of the night on a two-yard run. His two-point pass failed and Noblesville clung to a 29-27 lead at halftime.
“The last sequence right before half. Us fumbling with two minutes left on the 10-yard line, them going 90 and scoring with one second left is so deflating,” stated Sharpe on his displeasure of how his defense played in spots.
Widget was able to get his second score of the night on the Millers’ first drive in the third. The junior ran this one in from five yards. The kick by Jack Letourneau was no good, but that still left Noblesville up 35-27. They were able to chunk off 7:41 off the clock, going 18 plays and 75 yards to put some wear and tear on Mount Vernon’s defense.
Noblesville’s Ransom McDermott drive off the offensive line during the Millers’
victory over Mount Vernon Friday. (Kent Graham)
Bridenthal had the notion to take his team on his back and did everything he could in search of the win.
He scored his fourth rushing touchdown on a nine-yard scamper to the left corner of the end zone. Bridenthal also converted the two-point run, tying the game at 35-35 for the second time in the game since it was 7-7.
Then, the Millers regained the lead with just over seven minutes left. Gage Gulley scored again for his second TD. He was successful on the two-point run, giving Noblesville a 43-35 lead that wound up being the final score, securing the win in the first game at the new Beaver Stadium.
Bridenthal and Gulley each fumbled in the fourth. Mount Vernon had a chance for the tying score again, but turned the ball over on downs on a 4th and 17 at the Miller 39 with under two minutes left.
“I’m so glad that it worked out this way. I’m so glad that we didn’t have a comfortable win,” said Sharpe on the way his team won.
“We faced incredible adversity with such raw emotion all over the field. The kids know this is what it takes to win close games,” state Sharpe on how proud he is of his team and how they finished off the win.
“I’m just proud of everybody. I absolutely love this team,” continued Sharpe praising his team, naming numerous players that stepped up, propelling the Millers to victory.
“It takes all of us and we used every single one of us to get the victory and I’m a happy Miller,” said Sharpe as he continued to compliment his team with a smile on his face.
Mount Vernon (0-1) drops its season opener for the second consecutive season to Noblesville. The Marauders will head to Franklin (1-0) to face the Grizzly Cubs next week.
The Marauders were led by Eli Bridenthal’s 153 yards rushing on 13 carries with four scores. He also ran in a pair of two-point conversions. He was decent through the air, going 9-for-15 for 174 yards with a TD and an interception. Not to mention, the versatile Bridenthal caught three passes from Ertel for 67 yards.
Tre Jones also had six catches for 90 yards, while Burhenn reeled in 87 on five grabs.
It was a big night on the ground for Noblesville, as they ran the ball 63 times for 388 yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Logan Shoffner led the attack with 20 rushes for 181 yards. Gage Gulley was not far behind with 25 carries and 129 yards, while Blake Widget added 62 yards on 15 totes. All three running backs each had two touchdowns.
The Millers (1-0) hit the road to face Benet Academy of Lisle, Ill., which is in suburban Chicago. The game is to be played at the College of DuPage. This will be the Redwings’ season opener.
NOBLESVILLE 43, MOUNT VERNON 35
Score by Quarters (center)
Mount Vernon 13 14 8 0 – 35
Noblesville 15 14 6 8 – 43
Team Stats MV NHS
First Downs 22 31
By Rush 8 27
By Pass 14 1
By Penalty 0 3
Rushes-Yards 26-211 66-389
Yards Passing 265 24
Comp-Att-Int-TD 16-25-1-1 2-4-0-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 12-65 3-15
Punts-Average 0-0.0 0-0.0
Noblesville Scoring (center)
First Quarter
7:44 – Logan Shoffner 23-yard run (Jack Letourneau kick)
1:32 – Gage Gulley 2-yard run (Gulley run)
Second Quarter
11:17 – Shoffner 27-yard run (Letourneau kick)
4:19 – Blake Widget 6-yard run (Letourneau kick)
Third Quarter
4:19 – Widget 5-yard run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
7:18 – Gulley 1-yard run (Gulley run)
Noblesville individual stats (center)
Rushing: Shoffner 21-186, Gulley 24-114, Widget 17-72, Hughes 2-17.
Passing: Hughes 2-4-24.
Receiving: Gulley 1-17, Shoffner 1-7.