Zionsville overpowers Noblesville 28-0 with strong second half
By RYAN NAYLOR
ISL Correspondent
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Noblesville head coach Lance Scheib knew it was going to take a strong effort defensively to contain the powerful Zionsville running game. For the first half of Friday’s Hoosier Crossroads Conference match-up, the young Millers held their own against the undefeated Eagles.
Noblesville’s defense collapsed in the second half of a 28-0 loss. Zionsville finished with 230 rushing yards to Noblesville’s 37.
Zionsville was impressive on its first drive as quarterback Parker Dunshee took the Eagles to the Noblesville 1-yard line before he fumbled and the Millers recovered. Noblesville returned the favor late in the half, turning the ball over in their first trip into Zionsville territory.
When play resumed in the second half, it was all Zionsville. A 31 yard keeper from Dunshee put the Eagles on the scoreboard a little less than two minutes into the half. Zionsville struck again in the third quarter on a 2-yard TD run by senior running back Scott Penola after Eagles recovered a Noblesville fumble.
Zionsville rushed for two more touchdowns in the fourth.
Dunshee completed 15 of 21 passes for 167 yards and ran for 84 yards and two scores for Zionsville.
Scheib was encouraged by Noblesville’s improved play early in the game.
We did everything we needed to do in the first half, we were making plays and starting to establish the run until the turnover,” he said. “In the second half, we were just getting too tired. They have a great offense and it finally wore us down.
It’s been a challenging start to the season on both sides of the ball for the Millers.
“We haven’t moved the ball, but we’ve played three outstanding defenses so far,” Scheib said. “If we don’t put some points on the board in the next few weeks, I’ll be a whole lot more concerned.”
