By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Friday’s Class 6A Sectional 5 semi-final football game between Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern was throwback football at its best: A good, old-fashioned roll in the Mud…sock.
There was also much at stake, with a trip to the sectional championship game on the line. In the end, the Tigers prevailed over the host Royals 9-6 and will host Pike next Friday for the Sectional 5 title.
Unlike games in their recent past, this was a defensive showdown between the Mudsock rivals. The game was played in chilly and gloomy conditions, which added to the grittiness factor.
“Their team played well,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer. “Our defense really played well tonight. I don’t think we gave up a big play all night, except for a little bit right there at the end of the first half when they got their drive going. We did a really good job against the run, got some pressure on the quarterback at times.”
The Tigers got on the board first, with Ben Norton kicking a 24-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Southeastern had to wait almost a full period to respond, but did so with a step-by-step drive that finally got it in the end zone.
Jackson Sweeney punched the ball in from the one-yard line with 3:30 left in the second quarter. Fishers blocked the extra-point attempt, but the Royals still had the lead at halftime, 6-3.
The Tigers re-took the lead early in the third quarter. HL Lewis ran the ball into the end zone from six yards, getting his team ahead 9-6. Fishers tried to go for two, but a conversion pass fell incomplete.
After that, the defenses took over. Most of the drives for both teams ended in punts, but a big defensive stop came with 5:56 left, when the Tigers halted HSE’s drive on fourth-and-1.
That gave Fishers the ball back with around 4:30 left. The Tigers converted a fourth-and-2 to keep their drive going, then Lewis’ nine-yard run on third-and-9 with under a minute left finally clinched the game for Fishers.
Both teams’ leading rushers worked hard to get their yards, with Lewis and Sweeney carrying the ball 22 times. Lewis finished with 81 yards, while Sweeney collected 49 yards. Lewis also had two catches for the game, the most of any Fishers player. Matt Wolff finished the game 6-of-16, collecting 75 yards.
Southeastern quarterback Kody Sparks had a solid game, going 13-for-20 on 116 yards. Ben Boysen and Jackson Lantz each made four catches.
The Tigers are now 6-4 for the year, while the Royals finished their season at 3-7.
Fishers quarterback Matt Wolff (8) hands off to HL Lewis during the Tigers’ sectional semi-final football game at Hamilton Southeastern Friday. Fishers won the game 9-6 and will host Pike next Friday for the Sectional 5 championship. (Kirk Green)
Hamilton Southeastern’s Jackson Sweeney dives in to the end zone to score a touchdown for the Royals during the HSE-Fishers sectional semi-final football game Friday at Reynolds Royals Stadium. The Tigers won the game 9-6 and will host Pike next Friday for the Sectional 5 championship.
For more game images go to https://capturephotographybydkirk.smugmug.com/FHS-vs-HSE-Sec/ (Kirk Green)