HSE digs deep to beat Franklin Central, sets up HCC title showdown for next week

FISHERS – Class 6A fifth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern was in dire need of a spark Friday night.

A big play. A momentum-shifting stop. Anything to unleash the Royals' potential after an unproductive first half to keep them entrenched in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference title chase.

Fortunately for the defending HCC champions, 6-2 senior Jack Seyferth rose to the occasion with a clutch blocked field goal in the third quarter, as HSE clung to a 6-3 lead against Franklin Central.

“In that moment, they could have used that field goal to tie the game. I was looking at the kid in front of me, and we’d been going through all week how we were going to drive through them,” Seyferth said. “Sometimes, you just have to make a play, and I think that’s what happened in that moment.”

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Seyferth bull-rushed through the line and knocked down Franklin Central’s Zachary Naessens’ 44-yard attempt with 5 minutes, 9 seconds left in the third, energizing the host Royals (7-1, 5-1 HCC), who charged ahead with a 13-point fourth quarter to beat the Flashes, 19-3.

“It was hard tonight. It was difficult. At half, it was very solemn, even though we were up 6-3. There was a sense that we were better than these guys, and we really showed it in the second half,” Seyferth said. “Defense really did a great job of pushing through and keeping them out of the end zone. I’m very proud of my team tonight.”

Defense, special teams and an offense that capitalized on 4 of 5 short fields have the Royals in position to potentially share the HCC championship, if they beat top-ranked 6A Brownsburg (8-0, 6-0 HCC) next week.

However, perseverance and patience were required for the Royals, who entered Friday averaging 35.0 points per game but could only muster a pair of field goals by junior Hugo Belmonte in the first half, measuring 28 and 32 yards.

Seyferth’s heroics in the third quarter and an impassioned halftime speech by senior running back Jalen Alexander propelled a Royals’ program with everything to lose back on course.

“At halftime, we were in the locker room and Jalen was in there going wild. We just felt like we didn’t play to our potential until that fourth quarter,” quarterback Chandler Weston said. “We didn’t have a great start in the first half, and his talk in the locker room really helped us come together.”

Alexander’s words were welcomed, as HSE rushed for a mere 68 yards on 19 carries in the first half, went 4 of 9 on third down, punted twice and failed to convert on their first drive of the night that began on Franklin Central’s 43-yard line.

A fumble recovery by Seyferth on 2nd-and-9 at Franklin Central’s 26 late in the second quarter led to Belmonte’s first field goal seven plays later, but the Flashes tied the score with 2:38 remaining behind a 34-yard field goal by Naessens.

The Flashes produced 137 yards in total offense in the first half and finished with 199, as HSE clamped down to force four punts and two turnovers in the last 24 minutes.

HSE rushed for 190 yards on 44 carries and two touchdowns overall, while Weston completed 5 of 15 pass attempts for 30 yards.

“In the first half, we were struggling a little bit, which is OK because I’m very confident in my O-line, and I knew coming out in the second half, we would get things rolling,” Alexander said. “I just kept faith and stayed patient and trusted my five guys up front. I think I have the best in the state.”

Held without a first down through the third quarter (and 10 overall), HSE found its offensive rhythm following a pair of short fields provided by two consecutive high snaps on Franklin Central punt attempts in the fourth.

The first mishap positioned HSE at Franklin Central’s 33 and the second at the Flashes’ 11.

Weston capped the first, four-play drive with an 8-yard rushing touchdown to give him 39 yards on eight carries and HSE a 12-3 advantage early in the fourth.

The second went to Alexander for 10 yards and hammered down a two-play scoring drive to make it 19-3 midway through the fourth. Alexander led all rushers with 117 yards on 24 carries.

“On that touchdown, I was like finally!,” Weston said. “We touched the end zone. It was just a relief. After that, I was thinking next play. We can score again because it was way too close for me.”

Nevan Tutterow completed 14 of 31 passes for 151 yards and drove the Flashes to midfield on their final series before the Royals’ defense secured possession and their regular-season finale home victory.

“The defense played phenomenal. Four takeaways,” HSE coach Michael Kelly said. “They have a great defense as well, and they challenged us. They have a good run defense, and they were stuffing us, and our challenge was to set the tone and come off the ball like we can. Credit to them because they made it really challenging.

“We had to fight some adversity early and overcome some challenges, and I’m proud of our kids for keeping in the fight.”

The Royals have one more round to go at Brownsburg next week before the IHSAA state tournament begins.

“Coming into this game, we were obviously knowledgeable of (the HHC race). We will play a very good team next week in Brownsburg. Great program. Great coaching. Great players. It’s going to be a fun game. I can’t wait,” Alexander said. “I live for moments like these. I know the state is going to think otherwise, but I’m very confident in this team and what we can do. I can’t wait to go to war with my brothers.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football: Hamilton Southeastern beats Franklin Central