Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern gave North Central, the No. 7-ranked team in Class 6A, a tough test on Friday before the Panthers came back to force overtime, then make a two-point conversion in the extra period to get past the Royals 36-35.

Southeastern got on the board first, with John McCall taking the ball in from the two-yard line. North Central responded with a touchdown later in the quarter, but the Royals began the second period with Blaine Wertz punching the ball in from the two. Alex Geroulis made both extra-point kicks, and HSE led 14-6.

The Panthers went ahead 17-14, but a huge play from Martice Taylor got Southeastern back in front. Taylor caught a pass from McCall, and took it 91 yards to the end zone. That put the Royals up 21-17, and that score would stand at halftime.

A field goal got NC within 21-20, but Jack Wafford pushed Southeastern ahead
28-20 with 35.4 seconds left in the third.

Midway through the fourth, North Central blocked a Royals field goal attempt and took it in for a touchdown. The Panthers went for two, and were successful, tying the game at 28-28.

Neither team scored again in the fourth quarter, so it was on to overtime.

Southeastern went first, and Wertz got his team the lead with a two-yard run. Geroulis made the extra-point kick to put the Royals up 35-28. But the Panthers scored on fourth-and-1, then once again made a two-point conversion.

“They ran a nice little play on the goal line,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly.
Kelly said he was “really proud” of how his players responded and that his
team played “really well.”

“I thought they fought,” said Kelly.

McCall finished the game 11-of-16, totaling 190 yards. Taylor made three of those catches for 113 yards. Wertz led the rushing with 48 yards. On defense, Nate Haas made eight tackles (six solo, two assists), with Mikah Phillips and Seth Wilson both getting four solo stops; Wilson also had two assists.

The Royals are 1-1 and open Hoosier Crossroads Conference play next Friday
at Avon.