Westfield powers through second half to third consecutive sectional championship
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
WESTFIELD – From their first series, it seemed like Noblesville was ready to go toe-to-toe for four quarters with Westfield in the Class 6A Sectional 4 football championship.
If it weren’t for four extremely key plays that went the way of Westfield, Noblesville could have kept itself in the game. Instead, the ‘Rocks took advantage of those situations en route to their third consecutive sectional championship and seventh in the last 10 seasons, 42-21 over the Millers on Friday night at Riverview Health Stadium.
On Noblesville’s first drive, it got patient immediately, taking the ball 80 yards in 11 plays, which the Millers finished off by a Logan Shoffner 37-yard scamper to the end zone. Westfield blocked a low PAT at the line to keep the score 6-0 Millers.
Westfield came right back with a solid somewhat short drive of 55 yards that gave them their first lead at 7-6. Kendall Garnett scored on a four-yard touchdown run.
The ‘Rocks then forced the Millers to punt. After a punt from Jack Letourneau got a nice roll, punt returner Andrew Lieske picked it up and broke free up the middle for a 64-yard punt return TD, giving Westfield the lead at 14-6, early in the second.
The momentum shifted slightly, but not for long.
The Millers then grounded out a 22-play drive that went 65 yards and used up 11:36 of the first half clock to tie the score on Gabe Bellan’s one-yard TD plunge. Shoffner dove over the goal line for the two-point conversion to tie it 14-14 at halftime.
“That was a great play by Andrew (Lieske), but then they scored to tie it up. The second half, I thought we got all kinds of momentum,” stated Westfield head coach Jake Gilbert on Lieske’s punt return touchdown.
Westfield received the third quarter kickoff and it seemed like they came out with authority and were simply on a mission.
The Shamrocks faced a fourth down and one at their own 49 and went for it. Dillon Thieneman lined up wide left and ran into the backfield. He took the handoff on a reverse and converted the fourth down clear down to the Miller 26 for a 25-yard gain.
That eventually set up Garnett’s second TD of the night from two yards out that made it 21-14.
“The game plan was going really well until we couldn’t match the 21-14 when we had the fumble and then they were able to convert it to 28-14,” said Noblesville head coach Dave Sharpe on his game plan.
“We’re not real good when we’re down 14 points and in a hurry, kind of forcing us to get out of our comfort zone a little bit. The final score got a little lopsided. We had them where we wanted them,” said Sharpe.
A shorter kickoff gave Noblesvile the ball in great field position at its own 46. Bellan converted a 3rd-and-1 at the Westfield 46, but then another key play shifted the momentum to the ‘Rocks.
Noblesville’s Gabe Bellan scored a second-quarter touchdown for the Millers. (Kent Graham)
On the play following Bellan’s third-down run, Shoffner fumbled at the Westfield 41.
Seven plays and 59 yards later, all by Garnett, the sophomore tailback scored his third touchdown on the night that pushed the lead to double digits 28-14.
“He’s really come of age recently and has done a great job. Ball security has improved a ton. He makes really good cuts out there and runs the ball physically. I’m ecstatic with the couple weeks he had in the playoffs for sure,” said Gilbert, complimenting his tailback Garnett.
After Westfield recovered an onside kick, they were forced to punt. The punt went off of the side of Brody Boehm’s foot for just seven net yards, putting Noblesville in good position at their own 48.
A few plays later, Thieneman was back at it. The senior Purdue recruit intercepted Landon Hughes’ pass at the 13.
“I thought the interception sealed it for the most part. Obviously, Dillon made some plays on both sides of the ball, which was what we anticipated earlier in the year, but he got injured. I wish we would have had him in those losses, but I’m happy we have him now. He changes everything,” Gilbert said of his senior two-way player in Thieneman.
“We were down 14 and had a first and 10. We tried to take a shot to get one and it was close, but they made great plays,” stated Sharpe on his team trying to make a lot happen down two scores.
Cole Ballard showed why he’s the leader of the offense under center. The senior signal caller bolted 12 yards to score, lengthening the lead to 35-14.
“I thought our quarterback (Ballard) made several clutch runs that just moved the chains and set up scores. I thought he was great,” said Gilbert of his senior QB Cole Ballard.
The Millers couldn’t find answers on their next drive, turning the ball over on downs at their own 27.
On the next play for Westfield, speedy sophomore wide receiver Gabe Aramboles caught a screen pass to the left from Ballard. Aramboles then sprinted across the field, evading defenders and found his way to the front right corner of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown catch for a four score lead at 42-14.
The Millers had one last ditch effort to score in the second half and made their way down the field quickly and scored on a four-yard TD run by Blake Widget for the final score of 42-21.
Noblesville ends its season with a 4-7 record, having won two of its last three games.
Logan Shoffner led the Millers on the ground with 21 carries and 146 yards and a TD. Blake Widget and Gabe Bellan also scored touchdowns.
“I’m really pleased with our staff. This is our seventh sectional championship in 10 years and third in a row. I couldn’t be prouder of our program,” stated Gilbert on his happiness about the success he and his staff have brought to Westfield.
It was another solid ground effort for Westfield, mostly in the second half. Kendall Garnett rushed 20 times for 114 yards and three scores. Cole Ballard also managed a good night running, gaining 82 yards on 11 carries and a TD.
Westfield (8-3) advances in the Class 6A state tournament and will face yet another HCC foe, but this time on the road. Next Friday, they will pay a visit to No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern (11-0). The Royals ousted Fishers on the road last night, 35-13.
“They’re extraordinary and ranked number one for a reason. We’ll have to watch the film to see what we need to do differently,” stated Gilbert on Westfield preparation for their Regional 2 road matchup with Hamilton Southeastern.
The winner of that Regional 2 matchup will meet up in the semi-state on November 18 against the other northern game, Regional 1, which pits Carroll (Fort Wayne) (11-0) at Lafayette Jeff (9-2).
WESTFIELD 42, NOBLESVILLE 21
Score by Quarters
Noblesville 6 8 0 7 – 21
Westfield 7 7 14 14 – 42
Team Stats NOB WFLD
First Downs 22 22
By Rush 21 18
By Pass 1 2
By Penalty 0 2
Rushes-Yards 59-294 35-226
Yards Passing 12 63
Comp-Att-Int-TD 3-8-1-0 7-11-0-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-65 5-20
Punts-Average 1-38.0 2-7.0
Scoring
First Quarter
N, 6:04 – Logan Shoffner 38-yard run (kick blocked)
W, 2:40 – Kendall Garnett 4-yard run (Brody Boehm kick)
Second Quarter
W, 11:37 – Garnett 65-yard punt return (Boehm kick)
N, 0:45 – Gabe Bellan 1-yard run (Shoffner run)
Third Quarter
W, 7:11 – Cole Ballard 2-yard run (Boehm kick)
W, 3:16 – Ballard 1-yard run (Boehm kick)
Fourth Quarter
W, 5:28 – Ballard 10-yard run (Boehm kick)
W, 3:58 – Gabe Aramboles 27-yard pass from Ballard (Boehm kick)
N, 0:11 – Blake Widget 4-yard run (Jack Letourneau kick)
Noblesville individual stats
Rushing: Shoffner 22-151, Bellan 14-56, Gage Gulley 11-45, Widget 8-31, Landon Hughes 4-11.
Passing: Hughes 3-8-12.
Receiving: Shoffner 2-10, Aiden Brewer 1-2.
Westfield individual stats
Rushing: Garnett 20-109, Ballard 12-87, Dillon Thieneman 1-25, Ryan Creager 2-5.
Passing: Ballard 7-11-63.
Receiving: Garnett 4-27, Thieneman 2-9, Aramboles 1-27.