Westfield’s offense was in high gear in the first half, and that led the Shamrocks to a stunning sectional semi-final win Friday night.
Westfield beat No. 7-ranked Fishers 42-14 in a Class 6A Sectional 4 semi-final game at Riverview Health Stadium. The ‘Rocks jumped ahead 28-0 by halftime and sailed through the second half to set up a sectional championship clash at Carmel next Friday.
The Shamrocks scored their first touchdown in the first quarter, with Mason Piening catching a pass from Camden Simons, then running it 64 yards into the end zone. That was merely a preview of the second period, where Westfield exploded for 21 points.
Patchett punched the ball in from the one-yard line just two minutes into the quarter. Micah Hauser was next, streaking 51 yards into the end zone with 7:47 left. Finally, Dane Wheeler grabbed a 22-yard pass from Simons and took it in for a touchdown. Sean Sullivan made all four extra-point kicks, and Westfield had its big halftime lead.
The Tigers got on the board with 3:55 left in the third quarter. Geoffrey Brown blocked a Shamrocks punt, and Joey Slimak recovered it, then blasted off 95 yards for the touchdown.
Westfield responded 41 seconds into the fourth quarter, as Patchett scored on a four-yard run. But Fishers got that one back just as quickly, with Marcus Roux tossing a three-yard TD pass to Jeffrey Simmons. Jack Phillips successfully kicked the extra points after both scores.
The Tigers would get no closer, however. Hauser finished the scoring late in the fourth quarter with a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown. Sullivan kicked the extra points for both of Westfield’s second-half touchdowns, making him a perfect 6-of-6 for the game.
Simons had an efficient game, connecting on 8 of 14 passes for 156 yards. Wheeler caught five receptions, and Piening had the other three catches. Patchett led the rushing with 85 yards. David Frey led Westfield’s defense with nine tackles, while Benji Welch and Carson Voorhis both had seven stops.
Roux completed 16 of 31 passes for 171 yards. Dylan Scally led the Tigers’ rushing with 88 yards.
Westfield improved to 6-4 for the season, while Fishers finished the year 7-3.
ABOVE: Westfield’s Mason Piening (left, with football) scored the first touchdown of the Shamrocks’ Sectional 4 semi-final game with Fishers Friday at Riverview Health Stadium. That would be the first of many touchdowns for Westfield, who beat the Tigers 42-14 to advance to next Friday’s sectional championship game.
BELOW: Fishers’ Marcus Roux makes a run during the Tigers’ Friday sectional game with Westfield on Friday. Roux finished the game with 171 yards passing. (Richie Hall)
