Last Friday, your Rocks hosted the Avon Orioles. With both teams sitting at 5-1 (3-1 HCC), the contest represented an opportunity for one team to separate itself from the middle of the pack in the conference. Westfield seized that opportunity with a dominant 49-16 victory. The Shamrocks kicked off to start the contest, but didn’t waste long in taking the ball back. Avon fumbled on their first offensive play, and Westfield recovered deep in Oriole territory. A couple plays later and Cooper Melvin found Caiden Snow for the opening score (Diego Herrera kick). The ball continued to bounce Westfield’s way in the first when the Rock D forced a punt that Maddox Novotney returned for 56 yards and the second Shamrock score of the quarter (Herrera kick). The Shamrocks continued to stymie the Orioles on their next possession, forcing a punt, and the offense went to work with a full field for the first time. Westfield ate up the field with hard runs from Elliot Clevenger who capped of the drive with the third Shamrock score of the quarter (Herrera kick). Westfield took its 21-0 lead into the second before Avon finally answered with a score of their own. Clevenger and the Shamrock offense responded quickly, however, with a 53 yard run that preserved the three score lead. Avon converted a long field goal on their next drive to trim things by 3, and then intercepted a Westfield pass to take the ball back. With some momentum starting to shift, the Rock D held firm and forced an Oriole punt. Shamrock special teams came up big for a second time when they blocked the punt and recovered at the one yard line. Clevenger punched it in for a score as time expired in the half (Herrera kick) and Rocks went into the break with a comfortable 35-10 lead. Westfield received the ball to start the second half and put together another strong scoring drive. This time it was Melvin finding Baylor Conner who broke free for a 37 yard score (Herrera kick). Avon attempted to respond, but an errant pitch was scooped up by Conner returned 49 yards for a defensive score (Nick Beam kick). The 49-10 lead initiated a running clock at around the 8 minute mark in the third quarter. Avon made one last push to try to turn the tide, but the Rock D held through four downs, forcing another punt, and then teams began to make substitutions. The 49-10 score held into the fourth as the teams traded a few punts. The Orioles were able to break free for a long score midway through the fourth, though the Shamrocks blocked the extra point. Westfield’s second unit put together a few solid runs to eat up clock, eventually running things out and locking in the 49-16 victory. Next Friday, your Rocks will travel to Fishers to face the Tigers. Fishers is currently winless on the season, and Westfield will look to preserve its second place HCC standing. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.