Westfield began Hoosier Crossroads Conference play in 2022 the same way it did the past two years: With a win.
The Class 6A No. 7 Shamrocks beat Zionsville 23-16 in a hard-fought game at Riverview Health Stadium on Friday. The victory was the 16th straight conference contest win for Westfield, and as coach Jake Gilbert pointed out, it was the team’s 21st straight win over HCC opponents, including post-season games, “which I think is the most amazing thing we’ve done here as a program because our conference is so good,” said Gilbert.
The Shamrocks also won the Shining Star trophy, a traveling trophy between the two schools. This is the 10th consecutive year that Westfield has beaten Zionsville, although it wasn’t easy.
The ‘Rocks scored first when Kendall Garnett took the ball in 15 yards to score early in the first quarter. Zionsville tied the game in the second period with back-to-back field goals, but Westfield’s Brody Boehm nailed a 32-yard field goal to put the Shamrocks in front 9-6 at halftime.
Westfield got the lead back early in the third quarter after Cole Ballard took a 12-yard run into the end zone. Again, the Eagles came back with a Eugene Hilton touchdown reception late in the third, and another field goal tied it up early in the fourth.
Ballard stepped up again for the ‘Rocks, making a three-yard touchdown run to put Westfield in front for good with 7:40 left in the game. Westfield’s defense held on from there, and a Sam Toney interception with 1:05 on the clock sealed the win.
“Zionsville really outplayed us in the second and third quarter in a lot of ways, but the fourth quarter was definitely way better,” said Gilbert, who also called the Shamrocks’ defense “awesome.”
Garnett led the Westfield rushing with 113 yards, while Ballard had a solid night, going 11-of-16 for 128 yards.
The Shamrocks are 2-1 overall and play at Noblesville next Friday.
WESTFIELD 23, ZIONSVILLE 16
Score by Quarters
Zionsville 0 6 7 3 – 16
Westfield 6 3 7 7 – 23
Team Stats ZVL WFLD
First Downs 13 15
By Rush 3 12
By Pass 10 3
By Penalty 0 0
Rushes-Yards 23-51 40-218
Yards Passing 237 128
Comp-Att-Int-TD 18-37-1-0 11-16-0-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-Yards 6-45 5-137
Punts-Average 5-30.8 5-27.4
Westfield Scoring
First Quarter
9:54 – Kendall Garnett 15-yard run (run no good)
Second Quarter
0:01 – Brody Boehm 32-yard field goal
Third Quarter
8:56 – Cole Ballard 12-yard run (Boehm kick)
Fourth Quarter
7:40 – Ballard 3-yard run (Boehm kick)
Westfield individual stats
Rushing: Garnett 13-113, Terry Williams 13-62, Ballard 9-33, Jayden Bernavil 1-6, Ryan Craeger 1-3, Mikaeh Webster 1-1, team 2-0.
Passing: Ballard 11-16-128.
Receiving: Gabe Aramboles 4-51, Webster 3-28, Craeger 2-7, Max Nosler 1-20, Zeke Richardson 1-13.