By JIM BELSER
Noblesville couldn’t get on track offensively against Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Zionsville Friday night and fell 24-0 to the Eagles at their homecoming.
The Millers stay in a four-way tie for second at 2-1 in the conference. Brownsburg stays on top at 3-0 and 5-0 overall after defeating Fishers 27-20.
Noblesville coach Justin Roden felt his team didn’t respond well to their recent success, having won the last two outings over tough competition.
“We have not won two football games in quite awhile at Noblesville. We are immature and don’t know how to handle success,” he said. “A few kids have been sick, we didn’t have a good bus ride. We just came out flat. I told the kids it was my fault, I should have picked up on it and maybe did something a little different to prepare this week.”
Zionsville held a 10-0 lead going into the fourth quarter after an evenly played third quarter. The Eagles added 14 unanswered points in the fourth to take the win.
“I thought we won the third quarter, I thought we were the more physical team, we were able to run the ball a little bit,” Roden said.
Early in the fourth, the Millers went for it on fourth down but were stopped short at their own 39. Five plays later, Zionsville was at Noblesville eight-yard line on fourth and two. Josh Wagner for Zionsville connected with Tommy Fossett for the touchdown and a 17-0 lead with eight minutes left.
“That fourth down call, I thought I had to go for it, we needed a spark, we were just so bad offensively that I had to do something,” Roden said.
Noblesville’s next possession started with a completion to Zach Gruver. But two plays later, Noblesville quarterback Grant Gremel endured his second sack of the series on fourth down, giving the ball to Zionsville. Gruver, however, intercepted it for the Millers in the endzone, wiping away the bad series.
Just as quickly, Gremel was intercepted and Zionsville returned it to the eight-yard line. The Eagles score for the final time two plays later.
“We got some timely touchdowns and good field possession, so it was an ultimate team win for us,” Zionsville coach Pat Echeverria said. “It is a good conference win for us and will give us some good momentum going forward in the conference.”
The first half was a defensive showcase for both teams. However, Zionsville found some rhythm in the second quarter on offense. Enough to go up 3-0 on a 36-yard field goal with 10:38 of the second quarter.
Both quarterbacks in the first half were continually flushed out of the pocket on pass attempts and both displayed good mobility in avoiding sacks. In the second quarter, Zionsville’s Josh Wagner picked up five yards on a scramble, spinning his way to the Millers 11-yard line. A play later, the Eagle’s quarterback located Jordan Hull in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead with 3:23 left in the half.
Noblesville’s last offensive possession of the half ended with Grant Gremel’s dropping back on third down and being sacked by Zionsville’s Evan Price. Zionsville accumulated 166 total yards on offense in the half compared to 50 for Noblesville.
Gremel of Noblesville led the Millers in rushing with 67 yards on 18 attempts and added 45 yards passing. The Millers’ next opponent is Franklin Central at home next week.
Noblesville quarterback Grant Gremel (14) talks things over with Miller coaches and player during Noblesville’s Friday night game at Zionsville. The Millers fell 24-0, and are in a four-way tie for second in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. (Richie Hall)