Sectional 5: HSE 31, Warren Central 10

INDIANAPOLIS – After Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference powers Ben Davis and Center Grove bowed out last week, many experts (including myself) thought that Warren Central’s path to a fifth consecutive Class 5A state championship got much easier.

Well, someone forgot to tell that to Hamilton Southeastern. Senior tailback Matt Ripp slashed his way to 170 yards rushing and four touchdowns as the 16^th-ranked visiting Royals used a massive edge in time of possession and a stellar defensive effort to thoroughly dominate the kings of 5A football, 31-10, in Sectional 5 championship victory Nov. 2.

After forcing a Hamilton Southeastern punt, the Warriors went to work early. They used two huge running plays, a 29-yarder from senior Jewel Hampton and a 28-yarder from classmate George Cheesebourough, to set the Warriors up deep in Royal territory.

After a five-yard loss and a fumble, however, Warren was faced with third and goal from the HSE 28. Warren quarterback Logan Worley spread the Southeastern defense and threw a miraculous fade pass to the back corner of the end zone.

It appeared to be overthrown, but Warren junior Eric Williams tracked it down and dragged his feet to give Warren Central an apparent 6-0 lead.

Not so fast, my friends.

As has been the story for much of the season – and this night would be no different – the Warriors shot themselves in the foot with a penalty. A holding call negated the play and Warren could not move the ball, turning it over on downs.

A now-confident group from Hamilton County trotted out on to the field looking to break the scoreless tie. Running the ball was Southeastern’s plan, but the Royals were doing it with little success early on.

After converting a 3^rd-and-short, HSE got a bit greedy and put the ball in the air. An incomplete pass from quarterback Brandon Kiel brought up a 4th-and-short situation in Warren territory. Kiel, who ironically is also the Royals’ punter, lined up for what appeared to be a basic punt back to the home team.

Once again, not so fast!

Kiel dropped back, rolled to his left, and found teammate Zach Heiniger at Warren’s 21-yard line to set up a first down. The Royals moved the pigskin a little deeper but could not convert another third down, so Southeastern lined up for a 32-yard field goal attempt.

It was a low kick, and a Warren defensive lineman got his paw on it. Warren senior Doron Sharpe was the recipient of the deflection, and he weaved 95 yards through the Royals’ special teams unit to put the hosts on top 7-0 after the extra point.

Hamilton Southeastern (10-2), however, would not be rattled.

Ripp took the kickoff out to the 43, and a facemask penalty (surprised?) added five yards to the runback. Ripp wasted no time in making that return count as he took the very next play 53 yards up the left side to knot the score at 7 apiece.

The following kickoff was botched by a Warren returner, and Hamilton Southeastern pounced on it. The Royals turned that into a 31-yard field goal by kicker Eric Malm, and the visitors led 10-7.

Warren drove deep into Royal territory on its next possession but was also forced into a field goal attempt. When Tommy Martin’s 31-yard attempt sailed through with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, it was a 10-10 contest.

Many teams would be ecstatic heading into the locker room knotted up with the four-time defending state champions on the road. But not Hamilton Southeastern.

First-year coach Scott May and his aggressive play-calling paid off. The Royals quickly moved into Warrior territory, and Ripp eventually swept around the right side from six yards out.

Although Hamilton Southeastern went into the locker room with a 17-10 lead in front of a stunned house at Warrior Stadium, many in the crowd thought it was just a matter of time before the Warren juggernaut flexed its muscle and reclaimed charge of the contest.

Surely Hampton (the state’s leading rusher at 204.2 yards per game), Cheesebourough, Worley, and Williams would break out of their funk and send Warren to an eighth consecutive sectional title, right? This team seems to always find a way to win, be it pretty or ugly.

But it was not to be.

The Royals frustrated Warren Central’s option attack all evening as they stuffed the middle and matched Warren’s speed on the outside – a task that few, if any, teams have been able to do over the years.

Not only did Southeastern’s defense step up to the challenge, but their offense punched the Warriors (8-4) right in the mouth.

After a Warren fumble set Southeastern up on the Warriors’ 2 midway through the third period, Ripp plunged in from a yard out on the Royals’ second play. That score put the visitors on top by two TDs, 24-10.

Another Warren possession, another punt. Warren’s offense was not used to a team shutting down its rushing attack, and the frustration was mounting. But the Warriors were unable to channel that frustration into a defensive stop as Southeastern continued to gain chunks of yardage on the ground in beating Warren at its own game.

A last-gasp attempt by the Warren Central defense also turned sour. Hamilton Southeastern drove into Warren territory and was faced with a 4^th and 4. A fake dive to Ripp turned into a bootleg by quarterback Kiel and, 15 yards and another first down later, Hamilton Southeastern simply had to run out the clock.

Ripp twisted the knife a little deeper as he scored his fourth touchdown with just over five minutes remaining, and Hamilton Southeastern had done the unthinkable in defeating Warren Central, 31-10.

End of dynasty.

Southeastern outgained the Warriors 284-194, a dominance that included holding Hampton to just 62 yards.

Everyone in attendance seemed surprised – except Southeastern coach May.

“We thought we could have some success if we forced them to pitch the ball, which we did,” May said. “Maybe I should go play the lottery.”

It will be interesting to see if Hamilton Southeastern can top this one as the Royals get no rest. Next up? Second-ranked and undefeated Pike (12-0) in a home tilt next Friday.