The annual Mudsock Football Game is more than just a sports event in Fishers, it is one of the biggest nights of the annual local calendar.  Sadly, the crowd was far below the usual numbers due to the unrelenting moisture from the sky throughout the evening.

Those with VIP tickets from the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation found the tent just outside the north end zone at HSE High School a welcome space to get away of the rain.

But even with the challenges from the weather, one of the game’s must important moments came when the Teachers of the Year were honored on the field at halftime.

This will be a Mudsock Game to remember because of the rain that fell all night, the fact that Adam Morris was able to notch a Mudsock win in his first year as Royals head coach and the Teachers of the Year held the spotlight at halftime.  Let us not forget that the foundation raised money through VIP ticket sales and support from commercial sponsors that will be used to fund classroom activities throughout the local school district.

by

Richie Hall

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

Mudsock football games should be memorable, and Friday’s showdown between Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers definitely will be remembered.

The Royals won a tense 14-10 game over the Tigers at Reynolds Royals Stadium in conditions that ranged from light rain to heavy rain. Southeastern trailed at halftime, but scored on a resolute third-quarter drive, then held on in the fourth period.

“I’m just happy for our kids because they work so hard,” said Royals coach Adam Morris. “We just preach to them about culture and process and work. At some point, these kids need some results, keep believing, and at HSE, this is the biggest result we can get.”

It was a thrilling game, although not a pretty one. The only score in the first quarter was a safety by Fishers, awarded when a Royals snap went into the end zone.

Southeastern got on the board at the beginning of the second quarter. A huge pass from quarterback Kody Sparks to Ben Boysen moved the ball 32 yards, to the Tigers’ 2-yard line.

Royals running back Matt Harris carried the ball into the end zone on a 1-yard run seconds later. Mitch Hebenstreit followed it with an extra point kick.

The Tigers dominated the second quarter. Starting from its own 28 with 10:54 left in the period, Fishers ground the ball into Southeastern’s red zone. Dylan Scally and HL Lewis each made several runs during the drive.

The Royals managed to stop the drive on 4th-and-1, halting the Tigers’ at the 8-yard line. But Southeastern fumbled the ball on the first play, and Fishers got the ball back at the HSE 17. Scally used a series of short runs to move the ball to the 2-yard line, and quarterback Marcus Roux took it in from there to score. Roux then made a two-point conversion run to put the Tigers up 10-7, and that would be the halftime score.

“They did a great job, they came out, they ran the football,” said Morris. “I thought they were really patient. I thought we got a little impatient, maybe try to throw it. They just kept running it and had success.”

Both teams struggled with turnovers in the first half, but HSE was able to get things together in the second half. The Royals began the third quarter with a long drive of their own, starting at the 20 and ending with a touchdown.

Harris was again the star, running the ball on all but one of the plays in that drive. The only time Harris didn’t touch the ball was on a pass from Sparks to Jackson Lantz, but that was also a big play – a 17-yard pass to get the ball to the Fishers 5-yard line.

The Royals got to the 2, then were stopped a couple times. But on 4th-and-2, Harris stepped up again, punching the ball in. Hebenstreit made the extra point kick.

Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, although Fishers threatened on the next drive, getting all the way to HSE’s 3-yard line on fourth down early in the fourth quarter. But the Royals’ defense forced a fumble and recovered the ball. Both teams traded possessions for the remainder of the game.

“We just found a way to win,” said Morris. “It’s a classic game. We easily could’ve lost this one.”

Everyone earned their yards in this game due to the conditions. Harris finished with 65 yards in 25 carries, while Lance Stephens gained 23 yards on seven rushes. As for the Tigers, Scally ran 26 times for 103 yards, with Lewis getting 43 yards on 12 carries.

“We just told our kids ‘Hey, it’s just what this game is right now,’” said Morris. “We got to go run it and win it and we did.”

The rain didn’t allow for much passing, but both quarterbacks threw the ball well. Sparks was 3-of-6 for 45 yards, while Roux went 6-of-10 for 46 yards.

The win improved Southeastern to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in Hoosier Crossroads Conference play, while the Tigers are 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the HCC. The Royals play at Westfield next Saturday, with the Tigers hosting Brownsburg.

Here are more photos from the Mudsock Game, from Kirk Green of the Hamilton County Reporter:

The heavy rain forecast Saturday has resulted in the cancellation of Safety Day, scheduled for the St. Vincent’s Hospital parking lot, near I-69 Exit 210.  The event was to be put on by the hospital and the Fishers Fire Department.  The fire department  says, “With current forecasts, we feel the safest approach for attendees, vendors, emergency responders and staff is to keep everyone out of the elements.”

A safety day in early September is becoming a tradition in Fishers.  It’s back again for 2018, at the St, Vincent Hospital parking lot, Saturday, September 8th, 10am-2pm.

Lots of activities are planned, including:

CPR demonstrations

StatFlight helicopter tours

Fishers Fire Department extrication exercise

Fire education for kids from The Kasey Program —
Kasey the dog.

For the second straight year, there will bee food samples from eateries in the area of Exit 210 (I-69)..called the Taste of 210.

“Life experience can be guided in a preventative measure to assure the safety and well-being of our community,” says Fishers Fire Chief Steve Orusa. “This is a family event that allows the family to learn together, interact with our emergency responders, and make safer choices in their day to day activities.”

Brendan Carr, a Federal Communications Commissioner, visited Central Indiana Tuesday to tour Fishers’ Internet of Things (IoT) Lab.  He also looked at the small cell towers in Fishers.

Earlier, Carr appeared at the Indiana Statehouse to talk about how local officials are preparing the area for the implementation of a 5G wireless network, which will speed-up cell phone and other wireless connections.

Bob Kravitz will be the first to tell you he has the dream job of any sports fan….he has been a newspaper sports columnist most of his career, and now writes for WTHR’s Web site and appears on the TV station’s newscasts, talking about sports.  He will also tell you he is blessed with a wonderful wife and two outstanding daughters.  To look at him, you would think Bob Kravitz has the idyllic suburban life.

However, earlier this year, Bob Kravitz went public in a sports commentary about his struggles with depression and panic attacks.  The man with the seemingly perfect life had a hidden mental health issue no one would have imagined.

Mr. Kravitz was able to get treatment and is doing well now.  He will tell his story of overcoming his medical challenges in an event coming up Wednesday, September 5th, at the HSE High School Little Theater, starting at 6:00pm.  He and HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff will talk about the importance of mental health and how Bob overcame his dark moments and recovered.

You can hear more about his story in a podcast conversation I had with Bob Kravitz at this link.

During this Labor Day weekend, what comes to my mind is work…the work we all do.  Even retired people like myself find ways to volunteer in our local communities, and that is a form of work.  Valuing our work, whatever it may be, is what this holiday is all about.  When you see anyone working, whether it’s a waitress at a restaurant, an attorney helping you with a legal issue or someone working the counter at a convenience store, we all work.  All work has value whatever our compensation may be.  So, value work, at all levels, on this Labor Day weekend.

Here are a couple of other random thoughts this  Labor Day:

–My congratulations to Scott and Aunna Fadness.  They welcomed the newest addition to their family into the world Friday morning – Hudson Philip Fadness.  I saw one picture of the mayor and Aunna holding the new baby, and Mr. Fadness was beaming…he should be.

–My wife Jane and I took in the second night of the Fishers Blues Fest at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater Saturday, and I cannot even describe how spectacular Robert Cray’s performance was.  My compliments to the city, the Parks and Recreation Department & music act booking guru Bob McCutheon.  You have outdone yourself with this year’s Blues Fest.

–The grand opening of the new Fisher Police Headquarters is set for Tuesday, September 4th, 3-7pm.  The new HQ is right across the street from the old building.  The former Police Department digs will be transformed to city space, alleviating the tight quarters for City Hall staff.   Maybe, just maybe, Mayor Fadness will get his office back.

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend and stay cool!

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools are looking into what has been described as an racially-charged situation involving at least two high school students.

For more on this, read the WISH-TV story at this link.

Adam Aasen and I have always viewed our weekly podcast Hamilton County Goes To The Movies as a labor of love.  It is a chance for us to review current films showing in local theaters and invite local people with ties to, or interest in, films.  Adam is due to become a parent soon, he has decided to become a candidate for public office and I am preparing to travel the state for Indiana University as an instructor.  Bottom line, we are both getting very busy.  As a result, we have decided to put our film podcast on hiatus.  We expect to produce some podcasts later this year and in early 2019 about the Oscars.  We fully expect to start-up our weekly film podcasts at some point next year.  Adam & I sincerely thank all of you that have loyally listened to our weekly podcasts, we appreciate each and every one of you.  Remember, we will be back!

In our final podcast for a while, Adam & I review the film Puzzle, and welcome our guest Nikki Reed, a film lover and part of the crew producing the morning radio show, Smiley in the morning on WZPL Radio in Indianapolis, 99.5 on the FM dial.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern gave it a run at Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Avon’s field on Friday, but two late scores clinched the game for the Class 6A No. 2 Orioles, who defeated the Royals 29-6.

Southeastern scored the first points of the game, with Matt Harris making a 36-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play with 4:24 left in the first quarter. Avon responded right away, though, as Ohio State recruit Sampson James caught an 86 yard touchdown pass to put the Orioles on the board, then they led 7-6.

Avon made a field goal to go ahead 10-6, then James caught a 13-yard pass with less than a minute to go in the half, putting the Orioles up 16-6 at halftime. Southeastern held Avon scoreless in the third quarter, but the Orioles added two touchdowns in the fourth.

The loss drops Southeastern to 1-2 for the season, while Avon remains undefeated at 3-0. This was the first HCC game for both teams.

The Royals are back home next Friday for another big game, the biggest of all: The Mudsock game. Southeastern hosts Fishers, which is also 1-2 for the season after dropping its HCC opener to Noblesville Friday night.