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Fishers coach Rick Wimmer
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By Jeff Hodge
Contributing Writer

BROWNSBURG – One thing is true no matter what level of football is being played: Defense wins championships. 

Fishers coach Rick Wimmer could not agree more after watching his team build an early lead of 17-0 then hang on for a 33-25 Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory that clinched a share of the HCC crown with Hamilton Southeastern for fourth-year school.

The Tigers’ defense forced five turnovers for the night, capitalizing for 10 points in the first half and a 10-0 lead in the first 6:23 of the game.

Fishers took the opening drive 77 yards, with senior running back Tommy Huser accounting for 53 yards and capping the drive off with a three-yard gash through the Bulldogs’ defense. 

Two plays later, junior Keith Johnson intercepted Brownsburg quarterback Robby Robbins. That pick set up a 37-yard field goal by senior Alex Kapsalis for a 10-0 lead with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

After a Brownsburg fumbled snap on a punt, the Tigers took over with great field position at the Bulldogs’ 15. Huser went around the left end for a five-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. 

For the host Bulldogs, it looked like “Senior Night” was going to end up like the weather: miserable and forgettable.

Robbins dashed around left end on a QB option play for 55 yards, aided by an inadvertent whistle that the referees overlooked (ooooooooops!). After getting to the Fishers 10, however, the Dawgs turned the ball over on downs and came away empty-handed.

But three plays later, senior D.J. McClain recovered Tiger quarterback Alex Hines’ fumble to set up the offense at the Fishers 19. Senior Darryl Jordan broke through the defense for a two-yard run up the middle, leaving Fishers up 17-7 at halftime. 

On Brownsburg’s second possession of the second half, Robbins made another great fake and rumbled 60 yards around the left end to cut the score to 17-14. But Fishers came back with an eight-play, 55-yard drive in 3:02 that was capped off by Hines hitting senior John Cress in the flat for a five-yard score. That put the Tigers back up by 10 at 24-14.

After Brownsburg's next drive deep into Fishers territory stalled, senior Kyle Christy connected on a 22-yard field goal to make it a one-possession game at 24-17. But Fishers capitalized on another Bulldog turnover, with Kapsalis nailing a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-17.

Then it looked like the train was going to roll through Brownsburg. On the Bulldogs’ first play from scrimmage, Robbins attempted a shovel pass that went into the belly of Fishers’ Drew Wood. Wood took the gift back 13 yards to the house, making the score 33-17 after a missed PAT.

Brownsburg’s defense gave the offense and fans another chance late in the game after forcing a fumble from Hines. Senior Gus Ervin scored from five yards out with 1:25 remaining, and Robbins hit receiver Charles Torwudzo for the two-point conversion.

Brownsburg trailed 33-25, but a failed onside kick sealed the game for the Tigers.

Fishers 17 0 7 9 – 33
Brownsburg 0 7 10 8 – 25

F – Tommy Huser 3 run (Alex Kapsalis kick)
F – Kapsalis 37 FG
F – Huser 5 run (Kapsalis kick)

B – Darryl Jordan 2 run (Kyle Christy kick)

B – Robby Robbins 60 run (Christy kick)
F – John Cress 5 pass from Alex Hines (Kapsalis kick)
B – Christy 22 FG

F – Kapsalis 34 FG
F – Drew Wood 13 fumble return (Kapsalis kick failed)
B – Gus Ervin 5 run (Charles Torwudzo pass from Robbins)

F B
First Downs 15 9
Rushes-Yards 47-146 30-182
Passing Yards 78 73
Comp-Att-Int 7-17-0 8-23-3
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 4-1
Penalties-Yards 4-51 3-25

Rushing
Fishers: Huser 33-150, Hildebrand 4-21, Team 2-[-4], Hines 8-[-21]
Brownsburg: Robbins 8-122, Jordan 13-32, Ervin 7-23, Kennedy Hill 1-5, Logan Williams 1-0

Passing
Fishers: Hines 7-17-0 78
Brownsburg: Robbins 8-23-3 73

Receiving
Fishers: Ben Taylor 3-37, Huser 2-25, Ian Kinsey 1-11, Cress 1-5
Brownsburg: Ervin 2-33, Williams 1-14, Grant Waggoner 1-12, Torwudzo 1-6, Levi Roach 2-6, Jordan 1-2