Four receptions. 151 yards. A 99-yard kick return. Two total touchdowns. A two-point conversion pass. 

Junior receiver Branden Sharpe was doing it all en route to breaking the 6A receiving yards record and the all-class record for kick return distance as the Bulldogs weathered a Westfield comeback attempt, 38-31.

“I’m sure some people thought [last year] was a bit of a fluke,” Sharpe said. “[So], just going out here, dominating all season and playoffs — that’s what I was looking forward to.”

Aside from Sharpe’s heroics, junior gunslinger Oscar Frye tossed for 178 yards and rushed for 30 more in the winning effort.

Sharpe and Frye did not take long to find rhythm, connecting on a 28-yard reception on the first drive to set up the first of three touchdowns by senior running back AJ Jobe before linking up once again for a 63-yard score. 

“Everything has started with the relationship that we have off the field,” Frye said. “He’s one of my best friends. Whether we’re in the classroom, in the weight room or on the football field, the relationship we have is something that’s special to me.” 

As that connection grew throughout the night, so did the Brownsburg lead. 

Down 14-3 in the second quarter, Westfield would not be going down without a fight. Sophomore quarterback Cooper Melvin connected with sophomore Andrew Noble for a 38-yard pass, setting up senior ATH Deacon King for the first of his two touchdowns. 

As Sharpe weaved through the Shamrock kickoff unit for his record-setting 99-yard return, a short field goal from senior Will Orlando put the Bulldogs up 30-17 going into the locker room. 

A 42-yard rush by junior Brady Lewis promptly set up Jobe’s third score of the night to go up 38-17 late in the third quarter; however, that would be the last of the Brownsburg scoring. 

Down 21 entering the final quarter, the Shamrocks buckled down and scored twice to give themselves an onside kick opportunity late. Yet, the comeback effort was too little too late as Westfield ultimately comes up short for the fourth time since 2020. 

“They didn’t quit,” Sharpe said. “We knew what type of team they were. They’re not going to give up … Shout out Coach [Josh] Miracle, he’s a great coach.” 

In the comeback effort sophomore quarterback Cooper Melvin shined, rushing for 75 yards and touchdown while throwing for a career-high 265 yards.

For the Bulldogs, although the passing attack catches the eyes, it was the ground game led by a veteran group of lineman and a savvy running backs room led by Jobe that put this game away with 226 yards on the ground. 

“This is what made our offense so special this year,” Frye said. “By land or by air, we were going to get it done. We had some studs surrounding me, so having those guys made everything really enjoyable.”