Fifth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern completely flipped field position late in the fourth quarter to prevail with a 17-14 win over sixth-ranked Avon in Friday’s Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener.
Avon had a chance to win with under five minutes left once HSE was forced to punt on fourth-and-39, pinned back at its own 29-yard line. But the next sequence of events turned disastrous for the visitors when senior Alex Jenkins’ punt was misplayed by Avon’s T.J. Stewart, who controversially touched the football while trying to dive on it, which allowed HSE’s Tristian Christopherson to recover the muff inside Orioles territory.
An unsportsmanlike penalty by the Avon sideline tacked on another 15 yards after the play, which flipped the field for a total of 56 yards and allowed the Royals to bring their offense back onto the field set up inside the red zone. HSE sophomore kicker Luke Marchionni drilled the eventual game-winner from 27 yards out with 3:13 left in the final frame.
The Royals used Jenkins to cut the field into thirds when their opening drive stalled out as his precision punt rolled out of bounds at the Orioles’ 4-yard-line. HSE’s defensive unit allowed less than a yard to force a three-and-out, then the ensuing botched punt from Avon gifted HSE possession inside the 30-yard line. Avon’s tough defensive front didn’t make it easy, but three consecutive carries for HSE junior running back Carter Reed just barely reached the line to gain on third down.
The Royals sent in senior Drew Babb at wildcat on fourth-and-goal to cap off the bruising 10-play drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. Bapp terminated Avon’s 10-play drive with a fumble recovery just outside of the red zone and senior Kyle Jenkins later caught an interception on a deep shot in front of the end zone.
Avon answered late in the second quarter as quarterback Jace Cameron connected with receiver Sean Curry over the middle for 35 yards on third down. Cameron used play-action to find fellow senior MacKaven Tislow wide open in the flat, who ran 10 yards and flipped his way into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7 with just one minute before halftime.
It took only one play for the home faithful at HSE to feel the Royals response once Duke commit Terry Walker III dropped back and launched a missile down the seam to senior receiver Kendrick Pennybacker, who broke free behind Avon’s secondary and caught it in stride for a 76-yard touchdown to retake the lead.
Avon clawed back in the second half and opened the fourth quarter by converting a fourth-and-1 from near midfield as Cameron executed the run-pass-option to perfection and found tight end Rayvon Martin for a 7-yard gain to move the sticks. Cameron’s routine would continue three plays later when the senior QB rolled left and hit Tislow on an out route for another 11 yards to march deep inside Royals territory. The Orioles would not be denied as Cameron kept it himself for another clutch six yards on third-and-short to set up near the goal line. Avon deployed its heavy-set goal line formation to finish the 13-play retaliation drive with a 2-yard rushing TD by junior Collin Stewart and tied the score at 14 a piece with under 10 minutes left to play.
The final threat from the Orioles ultimately stalled out at the Royals 40-yard line after HSE senior standouts Matthew Ruiz and Bapp met Avon’s Rayvon Martin in the backfield to force 4th-and-6. Cameron’s slant pass intended for Sean Curry fell incomplete for a turnover on downs to allow the Royals to kneel out the clock and secure a statement win against a ranked rival. A red-zone fumble in the first half, an interception in front of the goal line, plus the critical muffed punt proved costly once the Orioles final drive fell short.
With the victory over a ranked HCC opponent, fifth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern (3-0) stays on track before the Mudsock rivalry matchup at Fishers next Friday. Avon (2-1) will not have much time to look back at missed chances before the team prepares for its toughest matchup at home next week against top-ranked Brownsburg.