by
Jim Belser
Hamilton County Reporter
Offensive yardage heavily favored Fishers in its Friday night battle with Class 6A Noblesville but big defensive plays by the Millers banged out the win for the visitors, surprising the host Tigers 21-9.
It was the first win of the season for Noblesville after lopsided loses to Cathedral and Carmel. Fishers fell to (1-2) on the season.
Zach Gruver of Noblesville was the spoiler with his theft of two Fishers pass attempts, one for an 84-yard touchdown return. His second interception of the night gave the Millers a 13-9 lead late in the third quarter.
“I talked about having to make plays on defense because Fishers is so big, they can lean on you and just wear you down,” Noblesville coach Justin Roden said.
Fishers’ last drive of the game ended on an interception by Noblesville’s Justin Johnson-Sparks, his second pick off in the game – both his interceptions came from overthrown passes. Johnson-Sparks’ first interception gave the ball to Noblesville late in the fourth quarter as Fishers attempted to come back from a 15-9 deficit.
Noblesville scored its final touchdown with 1:55 following a 33-yard reception by Gruver that put the ball on the Fishers eight yard line.
On the ground, Fishers out-rushed Noblesville 198 yards to 71 and edged the Millers 89 yards to 77 in the air. Dylan Scally of Fishers led all rushers with 101 yards on 20 carries. Collin Statz led the night in receiving with four catches for 47 yards for Fishers.
Fishers kicker Jack Phillips put up three field goals on the night, accounting for all of Fishers’ points.
An up and down first half for Noblesville ended on a high note after the Miller’s Zach Gruver intercepted a Fishers pass at the host’s 36-yard line, returning it to the Tigers 23. Two plays later Grant Gremel of Noblesville lofted an arcing pass that found Zach Blevins in the back of an end zone. With 42 seconds to go in the half, the Millers nabbed a 7-6 lead after struggling on offense in the opening quarters.
“They are getting better, they kept battling, which is what I am proud of,” Roden said. “Noblesville teams in the past, tended to let up when things went against them.”
Turnovers inflicted both teams in the first half. Both lost fumbles to the opposition and traded interceptions. Jackson Dunn for Fishers intercepted a pass in the first quarter, returning it 21 yards to the Millers 49 with 9:00 left. A 12-play drive following Dunn’s interception ended in a 28-yard field goal for the Tiger’s Jack Phillips and a Fishers 3-0 lead.
In the Tigers’ first possession of the second quarter, Scally broke through the right side of the Miller’s defense for a 15-yard gain. The drive stalled at the Tiger’s 19-yard line however, leaving it up to the field goal unit. Phillips for the Tigers put it through the uprights once again, this time for 29 yards and a 6-0 Fishers lead.
Marcus Roux came in as quarterback for the Tigers, completing eight of 22 passes for 89 yards. Collin Statz had four of those receptions, totaling 47 yards.