The REPORTER
Hamilton Southeastern recovered from a second-quarter deficit at Zionsville on Friday and went on to beat the Eagles 34-24 in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Zionsville took a quick 14-0 lead with two touchdown passes from Eli Showalter.
But the Royals responded by outscoring the Eagles 17-0 in the remainder of the quarter. Chandler Weston and Donovan Hamilton were a force in that period, first combining for a 64-yard touchdown pass play to get Southeastern on the board with 7:57 left in the half.
The two Royals teamed up again with 1:43 remaining, this time on a 34-yard scoring reception. Hugo Belmonte made both extra-point kicks, and he booted HSE into the lead at the halftime horn by making a 37-yard field goal.
Southeastern never trailed in the second half. AZ Wallace made sure of that when he made a two-yard run into the end zone just three minutes into the half, with Belmonte making the extra-point kick.
Zionsville added points in the third quarter on a Trevor Henkle field goal, but Belmonte matched him with a 26-yard field goal with 4:52 to go in the fourth period. The Royals got the ball back seconds later, and Weston and Hamilton teamed up for one more touchdown, a 26-yard score. Belmonte finished that off with his fourth extra point of the night.
Weston had an outstanding game, going 13 of 18 for 285 yards. Hamilton grabbed eight catches for 225 yards. Jalen Alexander led the rushing with 47 yards.
Southeastern is 3-1 in conference play and 5-1 overall. The Royals return home next Friday to host Noblesville.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 34, ZIONSVILLE 24
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 0 17 7 10 – 34
Zionsville 0 14 3 7 – 24
Team stats HSE ZV
First Downs 16 24
Rushes-Yards 29-137 28-68
Passing Yards 285 260
Comp-Att-Int-TD 13-19-0-3 14-22-1-3
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-40 3-25
Punts-Average 2-42.0 3-45.0
Southeastern Scoring
Second Quarter
7:57 – Donovan Hamilton 64-yard pass from Chandler Weston (Hugo Belmonte kick)
1:43 – Hamilton 34-yard pass from Weston (Belmonte kick)
0:00 – Belmonte 37-yard field goal
Third Quarter
9:15 – AZ Wallace 2-yard run (Belmonte kick)
Fourth Quarter
4:52 – Belmonte 26-yard field goal
4:28 – Hamilton 26-yard pass from Weston (Belmonte kick)
Southeastern individual stats
Rushing: Jalen Alexander 16-47, Wallace 8-43, Braeden Totten 1-42, Weston 3-4, Brennan Baker 1-1.
Passing: Weston 13-18-285.
Receiving: Hamilton 8-225, Liam Boyd 4-51, Silas Newton 1-9.