Fishers High School

The Fishers Tigers hosted the Brownsburg Bulldogs in a huge HCC matchup that went back-and-forth all night before the Dogs came away with a 31-30 victory. Both offenses were strong on the night as the Dogs rolled up almost 500 yards of offense including 334 through the air. The Tigers offense was just as strong as Gage Sturgill passed for 277 yards and 1 touchdown. Sturgill also ran for a touchdown as did Brady Griffitts. Jon Tangara connected on three field goals for the Tigers. The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff, but the Tigers defense was stout early and forced a quick punt. Fishers drove down the field, but a fumble was recovered by Mason Keifer for the Dogs. Brownsburg was able to capitalize as Oscar Frye found Kovon Sumpter Bey for a 17-yard touchdown reception. The Tigers would answer right back with a 56-yard pass from Sturgill to Akeem Schooley to get Fishers into the red zone. Brady Griffitts finished the drive with a 4-yard run to even the score at 7 at the end of the 1st quarter. Early in the 2nd quarter, the Bulldogs took the lead as Iosua Stephens kept from 10-yards out. The Tigers would answer right back with their own QB keeper as Sturgill tip-toed the sideline and finished a 36-yard run. An interception by Charlie Harmon gave the Tigers the ball back in Brownsburg territory, but the Dogs defense held up in the red zone and forced a 21-yard field goal from Jon Tangara to give Fishers a 17-14 lead midway through the 2nd quarter. The lead was short lived as Brownsburg put together a 3-minute drive finished by Sumpter Bey with under 30 second to play in the half. The Tigers tried to move the down the field quickly as JonAnthony Hall put together a solid return and Fishers completed two passes to get into Brownsburg territory, but the clock ran out before the Tigers could spike the ball. Brownsburg took a 21-17 lead into the locker room. The defenses were the story of the 3rd quarter. The teams combined for 4 punts and 2 turnovers on downs. Owen Folta had a big tackle on 4th down for the Tigers and also returned a punt 25 yards two drives later. After a turnover on downs by the Tigers, Jev Hutton made a jumping interception to give Fishers great field position. A 29-yard field goal by Tangara made the score 21-20 in favor of the Dogs. But Brownsburg put together a 13-play drive capped off by a 27-yard field goal by Will Orlando to push the lead back to 4 going into the 4th quarter. The Tigers defense started the quarter with a huge turnover on downs. Sturgill connected with Hudson Bell on a wheel route before he threaded the needle to Hall to give the Tigers a 27-24 lead. The Tigers defense came up with another strong stop and forced a punt by the Dogs. After a penalty and a sack, the Tigers were forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal to push their lead to 6 points with just under 4 minutes to play. The Dogs drove down the field including a conversion on 4th and 20. Frye was able to find Branden Sharpe in the corner of the end zone for a 17-yard score with 34 seconds to play and the game-winning score.