The REPORTER
Another year, another memorable Mudsock football game.
This season’s showdown between Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern kept everyone guessing until the end, when the Tigers escaped the Royals’ stadium with a 37-35 victory. It was the first time Fishers had won the annual contest since 2019.
Fishers’ Ryan Thembulembu rushed for 163 yards and scored three touchdowns – two by run and one by reception. (Joshua Herd)
“I’m just so proud of this team,” said Tigers coach Curt Funk. The coach said this year’s team has a mix of kids that have played varsity before and quite a few players who are in their first year of varsity football. But the players came together and showed “true grit when the game is on the line,” he said.
“I’m just so proud of how they fight and they battle and how they just keep improving in each game and each practice,” said Funk.
The Tigers blasted off to a 27-7 halftime lead. Ryan Thembulembu began his outstanding game with a two-yard run into the end zone. Thembulembu earlier ran 42 yards to get into the Southeastern red zone and kept going from there. Jon Tangara finished it with an extra-point kick.
Carter Reed answered for the Royals, as he took off into the end zone from the 14-yard line. Hugo Belmonte kicked the extra point, and the score was 7-7.
Fishers got back on top quickly. Gage Sturgill made a pair of long passes, one each to Carsen Eloms and JonAnthony Hall, which set up a six-yard TD run for Thembulembu. The Tigers led 14-7 after one.
Thembulembu scored another touchdown early in the second quarter. This one was a reception, as Sturgill found him for an 11-yard pass play score. Fishers completed its first-half scoring with another rushing TD: Thembulembu made six rushes to get the Tigers to the 20. Brady Griffits then rushed 19 yards to get to the one and punched the ball in on the next play.
“He was real warrior tonight and got us some really tough yards in crucial moments,” said Funk of Thembulembu.
Southeastern began its comeback right away: Carter Reed scored on the first play of the second half, streaking 82 yards into the end zone. Later, Vaughn Johnson took a seven-yard trip for a touchdown, and the Royals were within 27-21.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Carter Reed scored two touchdowns for the Royals.
As the third quarter progressed, Fishers found itself starting a drive on its four-yard line. Sturgill took care of that, throwing a 68-yard pass to JonAnthony Hall. Seconds later, Sturgill ran the ball in from the nine for a touchdown.
“Gage did a great job tonight,” said Funk, who spotlighted Sturgill’s. “tremendous composure” during the game. “His touchdown run, that was a big moment in the game. He just wasn’t going to be denied.”
The Royals began the fourth quarter with a two-yard TD run by Chandler Weston, and Belmonte’s kick got HSE within 34-28. Fishers got down to the 12 on its next drive – including a 34-yard run from Thembulembu – and Tangara kicked a 28-yard field goal to give Fishers a 37-28 lead, which Funk called “huge.”
The Royals kept the pressure on, as Weston connected with Kendrick Pennybaker for a 73-yard touchdown pass. Belmonte kicked the extra point, and the Fishers lead was two points.
The Tigers got the ball back with 6:25 left. They found themselves at fourth-and-1 on their 28, but decided to go for the first down. Thembulembu stepped up again, making a two-yard run to get the first down. That kept the drive going, and the Tigers made two more first downs to run out the clock.
“The kids, I could see it in their eyes, they wanted to stay on the field,” said Funk. “We put the trust in the kids and they got it done.”
Thembulembu totaled 163 yards rushing for the game. Both quarterbacks played well: Sturgill was 12 of 17 for 197 yards and Weston went 10 of 18 for 176 yards. Hall had five catches for Fishers.
“We made enough plays to win and it was a true team effort,” said Funk.
The Tigers are 2-0 in Hoosier Crossroads Conference play and 3-1 overall; they host Brownsburg next Friday. Southeastern is 1-1 in the HCC and 3-1 overall; the Royals travel to Westfield next Friday.
