The REPORTER
Noblesville gave one of the best teams in the state a serious run for its money on Friday.
The Millers played undefeated Brownsburg, which is ranked No. 1 in the Class 6A Associated Press poll and No. 3 in the coaches poll. Noblesville held a 22-21 lead on the Bulldogs going into the fourth quarter, but Brownsburg scored a touchdown to move ahead and eventually win the Hoosier Crossroads Conference game 27-22.
The Bulldogs scored in the first quarter on a three-yard run by Garrett Sherrell, but the Millers answered that later in the period when Gage Gulley punched the ball in from the one, making the first-quarter score a 7-7 tie. Brownsburg jumped ahead 21-13 at halftime with a pair of end-zone runs, but Gage Gulley kept Noblesville within shouting distance by scoring from two yards.
The Noblesville student section was out in force for the game. (Landon Denison)
The Millers outscored the Bulldogs 9-0 in the third quarter. Jack Letourneau kicked a 31-yard field goal with just under four minutes to go, then Logan Shoffner put Noblesville ahead with a 10-yard run, scoring with 50 seconds left in the period.
With that, the Millers led by one point. But Brownsburg immediately took the lead back on the first play of the fourth quarter, with Sherrell making a 75-yard touchdown run. Neither team scored again.
Shoffner had an outstanding game, with 190 yards in 26 rushes. Quarterback Jacob Baker totaled 62 yards passing.
Noblesville is 1-5 in the conference and 3-5 overall, and plays next Friday at Avon.
BROWNSBURG 27, NOBLESVILLE 22
Score by Quarters
Brownsburg 7 14 0 6 – 27
Noblesville 7 6 9 0 – 22
Team stats BRO NOB
First Downs 21 17
Rushes-Yards 40-279 44-247
Passing Yards 128 62
Comp-Att-Int-TD 6-12-0-1 5-17-1-0
Penalties-Yards 6-48 5-39
Punts-Average 2-36.0 3-41.0
Noblesville Scoring
First Quarter
0:11 – Gage Gulley 1-yard run (Jack Letourneau kick)
Second Quarter
4:15 – Gulley 2-yard run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
3:57 – Letourneau 31-yard field goal
0:50 – Logan Shoffner 10-yard run (pass failed)
Noblesville individual stat leaders
Rushing: Shoffner 26-190, Gabe Bellan 8-30, Gulley 9-28.
Passing: Baker 5-17-62.
Receiving: Gulley 1-24, Shoffner 1-19, Aiden Brewer 1-5.