Page 40 - 2017-18 Football State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Westfield Defense, Kicking Game Lifts Shamrocks to First State Title
Westfield came into the 5A state final allowing just 14.8 points East then mounted another impressive drive, moving 61 yards
per game. Facing a high-powered Columbus East offense, the in 11 plays to set up a third down at the Westfield 14 with two
Shamrocks were actually able to lower that average. seconds left.
The fifth-ranked Shamrocks (12-2) got two crucial second-half As the first half ran out, Jamon Hogan took a handoff and was
defensive stops – the last coming with 55 seconds left – to engulfed by defenders. He lateraled back to Voelker, who briefly
knock off the No. 4 Olympians 16-13 for their first football state bobbled the ball, regained control, rolled to his right and passed
title. to a wide-open Tyler Thomas in the end zone for the score.
Sam Thomasson’s extra point gave the Olympians a 13-9 lead
Columbus East (13-2) had been averaging 46.8 points per at the break.
game but was held to just 283 yards – 110 in the second half
– by the Shamrocks. Westfield’s defense had eight tackles for The Shamrocks, led by sixth-year coach Jake Gilbert, opened
loss and four sacks. Byron Hubbard had 1.5 of those sacks and the third quarter with their best drive of the day, moving 68
was in on nine tackles. yards in nine plays. Nate Froelich’s 37-yard run on the second
play pushed the ball into Olympian territory, and his 4-yard carry
The Olympians had the ball and a chance to tie or take the seven plays later gave Westfield a 16-13 lead with 6:56 left in
lead, getting possession at its own 18 with 3:06 left. But on the quarter.
fourth down and 7, quarterback Josh Major was forced to
scramble and was tackled by Caleb Sanburn after a 2-yard The Olympians drove to the Westfield 1 on their ensuing pos-
gain. The Shamrocks then ran out the clock. session, but a false start penalty moved them back to the 6 and
forced a field goal try. But after a high snap Jonah Wichman ran
Westfield took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a state-finals to his right instead, where he was tackled by Justin Frey for a
record 52-yard field goal from Will Harrison. The Olympians 2-yard loss.
countered with an impressive 13-play, 93-yard drive that was
capped by Josh Major’s 32-yard pass to Caleb Voelker for the Froelich finished with 96 yards rushing, while quarterback
score. Andrew Sweet threw for 57 yards and ran for 44.
Harrison added field goals of 44 and 42 yards, the latter giving For the Olympians and Head Coach Bob Gaddis, Hogan ran for
the Shamrocks a 9-6 lead with 3:32 left in the half. Columbus 145 yards and Major for 90 more.
Carmel’s Conner Coghlan Hits Game-Winning FG in OT

Carmel had trouble hanging onto the football all night against Center Laque forced a fumble that Logan Bontrager pounced on at the
Grove, turning the ball over six times. But the Greyhounds came up Carmel 25. Yeast carried the ball three times for 20 yards, setting up
with the biggest turnover of the game, and it set up their first state Titus McCoy’s 1-yard scoring dive that gave the Trojans a 10-0 lead
championship since 2011 and eighth overall. with 2:52 left in the half.
The No. 7 Greyhounds (10-4) forced and recovered a Center Grove But Carmel quarterback Jake McDonald found his rhythm, hitting on
fumble on the first possession of overtime, and Carmel’s Connor 5-7 passes for 47 yards while leading the Greyhounds to the Trojan 25
Coghlan then kicked a 27-yard field goal to give his team a 16-13 win with :02 left on the clock. As the half ended, Coghlan was good on a
over the defending Class 6A champs. 42-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 10-3.
On second and goal from the 1, Carmel’s Ben Leary knocked the Coghlan was good again from 22 yards out with 7:43 left in the third
ball from Trojan standout Russ Yeast. Teammate Austin Newland quarter to bring his team closer.
recovered, giving the Greyhounds the ball and setting up Coghlan’s
winning kick. The win came despite six turnovers by the Greyhounds,
including a 6A title game-record four lost fumbles. But Carmel’s
defense held the Trojans – who had been averaging 35.5 points and
359.8 yards per game – to just 217 total yards.
Carmel had taken a 13-10 lead, thanks to a 16-play, 87-yard drive
that consumed 5:51 of clock and saw the Greyhounds convert four
third downs. Jerome Halsell capped the drive with an 11-yard scoring
run up the middle with :46 left in the game, giving the running back a
game-high 142 yards on the ground.
But the No. 3 Trojans (12-2) weren’t done. Quarterback Jack Kellams
completed four passes for 35 yards – the final 11 to Yeast that gave
Center Grove the ball at the Carmel 33 with :01 left on the clock. Luke
Eckert’s 50-yard field, also a 6A record, cleared the crossbar as time
ran out to set up the overtime.
Neither team mustered much offense in the opening half, combining
for just 252 total yards. But the Trojans were able to build a 10-0 lead
because of an opportunistic defense that forced three Greyhound
fumbles. The first came when Bailey Bennett knocked the ball loose
and teammate Brett Boswell picked it up at the Center Grove 46 and
returned it 21 yards to the Carmel 33. The Trojans were able to drive
25 yards, setting up Eckert’s 25-yard field goal with 2:14 left in the
first quarter.
With 4:28 left in the half the Trojan defense came up big again. Corbin
40 45th Annual IHSAA State Football Tournament is proudly presented by the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.