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Class 6A Recap: Brownsburg completes 14-0 season, repeats as 6A state champion
INDIANAPOLIS - This time, Brownsburg coach John Hart was going to make sure junior receiver Brandon Sharpe was a factor against Westfield.
And, because Sharpe proved to be the biggest factor in the Class 6A state championship game, the Bulldogs left Lucas Oil Stadium as back-to-back state champions – this time finishing undefeated at 14-0.
Sharpe scored on a 63-yard pass and a 99-yard kickoff return and even threw a pass on a successful two-point conversion play to lift Brownsburg to a 38-31 victory over the Shamrocks in a rematch of last year’s title game.
IHSAA Class 6A State Championship
Brownsburg 38, Westfield 31
In fact, the game was the fourth time in the last two seasons the two teams have met, but the previous three games were much-lower scoring. In the earlier meeting this season, Brownsburg won, 14-10. Last year’s title game ended 22-17.
“I would have bet a million dollars and taken the under,” Hart said, referring to the point total. “I knew this game would be close but (quarterback) Oscar (Frye) and Brandon (Sharpe) accounted for the explosiveness of the offense.”
“It was an explosive offensive game,” Westfield coach Josh Miracle said. “Our offense hung in there, but we just came up short. We made too many mistakes early.”
Brownsburg built a 14-3 lead after one quarter, with Sharpe’s 63-yard TD coming with just :01 left in the quarter.
Westfield (11-3) roared back, however, behind two rushing touchdowns by Deacon King – the second a 2-yard burst to bring the Shamrocks within 20-17.
Then came the backbreaker.
On the ensuing kickoff, Sharpe fielded it at the 1, cut to the right side, broke a tackle near the 20-yard line, and went the rest of the way to halt Westfield’s momentum. The return is the longest in IHSAA state finals history.
“A kickoff return is more fun because you can’t do it by yourself,” Sharpe said. “I had great blocks ahead of me and it set up perfectly.”
“He’s pretty good, huh?” Hart quipped. “We made a commitment to make sure Brandon was involved in everything we did. They took him away the first time we played.”
All told, Sharpe finished with 250 all-purpose yards, including four receptions for 151 yards.
“Brandon is arguably the best football player in the state of Indiana and he’s only a junior,” Hart said.
“We wanted to get that kickoff into the end zone and we didn’t,” Miracle said. “(Sharpe) is a great player who made an explosive play.”
Will Orlando booted a 26-yard field goal on the final play of the half to give the Bulldogs a 30-17 lead. Brownsburg eventually led, 38-17, after Aiden Jobe ran for his third touchdown (a 1-yard blast) and Sharpe threw to Avin Robinson for the two points late in the third quarter.
Westfield fought gamely, adding a 20-yard scoring run by Cooper Melvin and a 1-yard pass on a gadget play from tight end Baylor Connor to Henry Everts in the fourth quarter.
For the game, the teams combined for 811 total yards (split almost evenly), which is a 6A game record. Also, the teams combined for 44 first downs.
Frye completed 7-of-14 passes for 178 yards, while Jobe ran for 120 yards on 29 carries.
Melvin, Westfield’s sophomore quarterback, ran for a team-high 75 yards and completed 19-of-35 passes for 244 yards.
Brownsburg has now won four state titles in program history, with the first two coming back-to-back in 1984 and 1985. The Bulldogs became the second Hendricks County champion after Cascade won the 3A title earlier.
Westfield was making its seventh finals appearance, with its only title coming in Class 5A in 2016.
Class 6A State Championship Records
Team (7)
Most Passing Attempts: 37 by Westfield
Total Offensive Play: 75 by Westfield
Total Combined Offensive Yards: 811 by Westfield (407) and Brownsburg (404)
Most First Downs: 25 by Westfield
Highest Punting Average: 46.7 by Brownsburg
Most Penalties: 12 by Brownsburg
Most Penalty Yards: 114 by Brownsburg
Individual (8)
Most Points (Tied): 18 by Aiden Jobe, Westfield
Most TDs (Tied): 3 by Aiden Jobe, Westfield
Most Rushing TD (Tied): 3 by Aiden Jobe, Westfield
Most Passes Completed (Tied): 19 by Cooper Melvin, Westfield
Most Passes Attempted: 35 by Cooper Melvin, Westfield
Most Receiving Yards: 151 by Branden Sharpe, Brownsburg
Highest Punting Average: 46.7 yards by Will Orlando, Brownsburg
Longest Kickoff Return (Overall): 99 by Branden Sharpe, Brownsburg
Westfield’s Cash Ballard named Mental Attitude Award recipient
During the awards ceremony, Cash Ballard of Westfield High School was announced by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 6A Football.
The award is annually presented to a senior who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
Cash ranks among the best students in his senior class. He is a member of the Westfield High School Football Leadership Council, Best Buddies, the school’s senior mentor program, and has helped lead drills and activities at the Rocks Football Camp. Cash is also a member of Westfield’s boys golf team that won the state championship last June at Prairie View Golf Club.
The son of Chris and Kristin Ballard of Westfield, Cash is currently deciding between Yale and Stanford and is planning on studying finance and accounting.
The award is named in honor of Commissioner Phil N. Eskew, who served as the IHSAA’s third commissioner from 1962-76. Under his leadership, the IHSAA football state tournament was initiated in 1973.
The Indianapolis Colts, the presenting sponsor of the state tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Westfield High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Cash Ballard.
IHSAA’s Champion of Education Award, presented by Ivy Tech Community College
This award recognizes teachers and faculty who go above and beyond to challenge students to reach their full potential. As an organization that emphasizes keeping education at the forefront of high school athletics, the IHSAA is proud to shine a light on two honorees in this year’s class. On behalf of Ivy Tech Community College, presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Champion of Education Award, the IHSAA will award $250 to the classroom of each recipient.
Tavio Henson serves as Strength and Conditioning Coach at Westfield High School and has dedicated his career to helping student athletes focus on the principles of fitness, nutrition, and wellness. He goes above and beyond each day to help each student athlete reach his or her full potential. He is the personification of the Outwork and Outlove culture and is a true pillar of the Westfield Community!
Dan Schwanekamp is a PreCal and AP Calculus teacher at Brownsburg High School. Coach Schwanekamp sets the tone for excellence in academics and athletics. His commitment to hard work, discipline, and teamwork inspires students in the classroom and on the field, creating a culture of respect and perseverance. Coach Schwanekamp is a valued member of the Bulldog family!
