The Fishers Tigers traveled to Southeastern to face the Royals in the opening round of IHSAA Sectional 3. The game went back-and-forth all night before the Royals were finally able to pull away to secure the 23-14 victory. Quarterback Roman Wessell threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Darian Girton was Wessells favorite target, hauling in 5 catches for 130 yards and both scores. The defense worked hard all night including seven tackles for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble. The Tigers won the toss and received the opening kickoff. Fishers ran a hurry up offense and was able to get a good drive going. However, a sack on 3rd down forced a punt. The Royals controlled the clock as they essentially ran out the 1st quarter. Southeastern put together a 15-play drive that covered 88 yards in just under 8 minutes resulting in a touchdown run by Carter Reed. The Tigers evened up the scored early in the 2nd quarter. Wessell connected with Girton for 67 yards to get the Tigers into the red zone. Wessell scrambled on 3rd down to give the Tigers first and goal inside the 5 before finding Girton a couple plays later. Fishers got the ball right back with an onside kick by George LeBlance that was recovered by Gavin Guio. The Tigers had one 4th down conversion on the drive but could not convert on another and turned the ball over on downs. On the subsequent Royals drive, a forced fumble by Parker Congdon bounced forward to give the Royals a 3rd down conversion. Deaken Johnson pitched the ball forward to Bennett Foster who broke through the left side for a 41-yard score to give Southeastern the lead. After a Tigers punt, an interception by Jayden Bogan gave the Tigers the ball back at the Royals 35. Wessell connected with Girton again with a perfect throw and catch to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead with just over a minute to go in the half. The Royals were able to use the sideline and their timeouts and drive down the field connecting on a 26-yard field goal as time expired to take the 16-14 lead into the locker room. The Royals received the opening kickoff and took almost 6 minutes off the clock. A 4th down conversion allowed the drive to continue, but a sack by Girton put the Royals in bad down and distance. Southeastern was eventually forced to attempt a field goal which was pushed wide right. Trying to take advantage of the empty possession, the Tigers attempted a deep pass down the right side which was intercepted to give the Royals the ball in their own territory. The teams traded punts to end the 3rd quarter. The teams again traded punts in each of their first two possessions of the 4th quarter as the score remained 16-14 in favor of the Royals. Southeastern ate up yards on the ground including a 32-yard run by Cam Kern. Reed finished off the drive with a 11-yard run to push the score to 23-14 for the Royals. With just under 6 minutes to go in the game, the Tigers attempted a comeback drive, but a sack on 4th down gave the ball back to the Royals. A huge defensive stand by the Tigers including a tackle for loss by Josh Jenkins on 4th down gave Fishers the ball. The Tigers drove down the field, but the wide receiver fell and Wessell’s pass was intercepted for a touchback for the Royals. Southeastern was able to take two knees to secure the 23-14 victory.