FISHERS, Ind. — The 2024 edition of the Mudsock rivalry game between the Fishers Tigers and Hamilton Southeastern Royals will go down in history as one of the series' wildest.
The last time these two teams met, they were competing for a spot in the IHSAA football regional championship. The Royals won that game, but this time, Fishers had their number from the kickoff.
In fact, Fishers got off to a hot start, scoring first on a 3-yard run from Ryan Thembulembu. HSE returned the favor not long after with Carter Reed scoring on a 14-yard run. Thembulembu then broke through again for his second rushing TD of the day to make it 14-7 Fishers at the end of one.
Tigers quarterback Gabe Sturgill then found Thembulembu, who made it 21-7, quickly scoring both rushing and receiving touchdowns. After a quick score by Brady Grifftts, Fishers led HSE 27-7.
Coming out of the half, the Royals finally scored again when Carter Reed broke free for an 81-yard rushing touchdown. HSE then backed that touchdown up with an 8-yard scoring run from Vaughn Johnson to make it 27-21 and put the Royals within one score of tying it.
Fishers, however, responded with a 9-yard touchdown run from quarterback Sturgill. As the fourth quarter began, Fishers had a 34-21 lead over the Royals.
Needing big plays fast, Chandler Weston scored for HSE to make it 34-27 early in the final quarter. Fishers kicker Jon Tangara then knocked through a 29-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 9-point lead midway through the final quarter.
The Royals responded not long after with a huge play. Chandler Weston hurled a 73-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Pennybacker to make it 37-35. However, the Royals could not score again, dropping their first game this season to an unranked Fishers team.
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