After some tough games in the first half of the season, the Hamilton Southeastern football team was overdue for a big win.
The Royals got that win Friday, in their Homecoming game at TCU Field. Southeastern shrugged off a 10-0 first quarter deficit to take over in the remaining three periods, ultimately stunning previously unbeaten Westfield 34-10. Southeastern thus picked up its first Hoosier Crossroads Conference win of the season and is now 2-3 overall.
“We’ve endured some real tough games,” said Royals coach Adam Morris. “Losing with the field goal in overtime to North Central, the Avon game, coming back and coming up just short. We’ve had an emotional roller coaster this year, so I’m just happy for our kids to have some success, because I feel like they’ve earned it and haven’t really gotten it.”
The Class 6A No. 8 Shamrocks seemed to have control of the game after the first quarter. Eli Patchett scored the first points for Westfield on a six-yard rushing touchdown. Eduardo Beltran kicked the extra point, and seconds later kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the ‘Rocks the 10-point lead.
Southeastern began its run early in the second period, when Chris Stein pounded the ball in from the two-yard line. Alex Geroulis made the extra-point kick, the first of four he would successfully convert on the night.
The score held at 10-7 through halftime, but the Royals took control in the third quarter. Blaine Wertz made a four-yard scoring run midway through the period, Geroulis booted in a 29-yard field goal, then Wertz broke away for a 43-yard touchdown sprint with under two minutes in the quarter.
And HSE wasn’t done yet: In the fourth quarter, Geroulis nailed a 25-yard field goal, and Michael Cherry put the finishing touch on the victory by picking off a Westfield pass and returning it 45 yards for a touchdown.
Wertz had a big game for the Royals, with 225 yards on 32 carries. Quarterback Andrew Hobson was efficient by making 10 of 15 passes for 154 yards. DeAndre Rhodes led the receiving with five catches for 88 yards.
Stein had eight tackles for Southeastern, with Louden Sundling making six stops. Clayton Toner had five tackles.
Simons had a solid game for Westfield, completing 16 of 27 passes for 192 yards. Mason Piening had seven receptions totaling 123 yards. Bryson Hoover had a huge defensive game with 13 tackles. Mark McLaurin, David Frey and Owen Ogle each made seven tackles.
The Royals will travel to Zionsville next Friday, while the Shamrocks return home to Riverview Health Stadium to host Brownsburg.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 34, WESTFIELD 10
Score by Quarters
Westfield 10 0 0 0 – 10
Southeastern 0 7 17 10 – 34
Team Stats WHS HSE
First Downs 14 20
Rushes-Yards 27-107 43-259
Yards Passing 192 154
Comp-Att-Int-TD 16-27-2-0 10-15-0-0
Penalties-Yards 5-39 5-45
Punts-Average 4-35.3 n/a
Scoring
First Quarter
WHS, 9:38 – Eli Patchett 6-yard run (Eduardo Beltran kick)
WHS, 8:13 – Beltran 30-yard field goal
Second Quarter
HSE, 8:24 – Chris Stein 2-yard run (Alex Geroulis kick)
Third Quarter
HSE, 6:47 – Blaine Wertz 4-yard run (Geroulis kick)
HSE, 3:41 – Geroulis 29-yard field goal
HSE, 1:46 – Wertz 43-yard run (Geroulis kick)
Fourth Quarter
HSE, 3:53 – Geroulis 25-yard field goal
HSE, 1:36 – Michael Cherry 45-yard interception return (Geroulis kick)
Westfield individual stats
Rushing: Patchett 13-50, Jack Pfeiffer 5-30, Camden Simons 8-20, Nick Talley 1-7.
Passing: Simons 16-27-192, Talley 0-1-0.
Receiving: Mason Piening 7-123, Dane Wheeler 4-33, Patchett 2-18, Reid Schepers 2-9, Jacob Riddle 1-9.
Southeastern individual stats
Rushing: Wertz 32-225, Ben Boysen 5-31, Jace Alexander 3-4, Stein 2-3, Andrew Hobson 1-minus 4.
Passing: Hobson 10-15-154.
Receiving: DeAndre Rhodes 5-88, Nathan Wolf 2-32, Boysen 2-19, Luke Childers 1-15.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Chris Stein (with football) powers his way into the end zone to score the Royals’ first touchdown of the game. Southeastern came back from a 10-0 deficit to beat Westfield Friday in its Homecoming game, also picking up its first Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory of the season. (Bret Richardson)
Westfield’s Eli Patchett led the Shamrocks in rushing and scored a first-quarter touchdown. (Bret Richardson)