More Images From State

If, like me, you find yourself curiously addicted to pictures from the State Final, here are another 250 courtesy of Michele Davis. Michele has done a terrific job capturing the Rocks this year. Take a look and thanks for all the hard work, Michele!

New Rock Helmets

It's getting close to the end of the Indianapolis Colts Helmets competition. It would be great to nominate the champs for new 5-star helmets, keeping our hard-working players safe. You can help us by nominating your Rocks, making sure we are well represented for the final drawing (we already won one of the preliminary drawings way back in week 2). You can read more about the promotion in the flyer below, or at the link HERE.

#RockReport State Final

Last night, 119 Rocks, led by 40 seniors, took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, ate, and returned as Champions. Your Rocks captured the school's first ever football State Title on the back of a gritty, physical performance against an equally solid opponent in the Columbus East Olympians. 16-13 was the final score in a game that came down to the wire.

The Shamrock offense produced big first downs when the team needed them, also punching in the lone Rock TD of the night. They protected the ball and set up the special teams for 3 crucial field goals. In the end, it was fitting that this group should be given the ball one last time, kneeling it three times to seal the victory.

This year's Rock D will go down as perhaps the best in school history, allowing just over 14 points per game and holding a potent Olympian offense to only 13 points. They slammed the door in the second half, shutting out their opponent and coming up with huge stops when called upon. No stop was bigger, perhaps, than when East was threatening the goal line near the end of the game, coming as close as the 1 yard line, only to be denied after four downs.

Shamrock Special Teams played the high scorers of the night, generating 9 points and executing perfectly when on the field. They maintained the field position advantage, drilled field goals, and kept all Olympian return efforts contained. Special recognition should be given to Will Harrison's State Finals record 52-yard field goal that was the first of the Rocks' points.

There is so much to find impressive in this group of young men. From the 40 seniors displaying selflessness on a daily basis, finding and embracing productive roles on a team in which a majority of them could not find regular playing time due to their sheer number, to the younger players who thrived beneath the leadership and offered excellent scout team preparation down the tournament stretch. This team was built upon the foundation of "Heart" and "Family," and it used those principles, attacking every day, in order to earn success on the biggest of high school stages.

We have a lot to be grateful for today. Grateful for the opportunity and support within our fantastic community. Grateful for the fans and parents that provide the fertile soil in which the seeds of success are grown. Grateful for the managers and support staff that work tirelessly behind the scenes nourishing and caring for those seeds. Grateful for the 119 young men who put in 339 days of intense effort growing the seeds. But most of all, grateful for the 40 seniors who, finally, were able to taste the fruits of their hard-earned labor.

Congratulations to the 2016 Class 5A State Champion Westfield Shamrocks. We, the coaches, hope that this has been one of the most amazing experiences of your lives, and feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to help you reach your full potential as a football family. What a great day to be a Shamrock!

#GameDay State Finals

Tonight, your Rocks will head to Lucas Oil Stadium for the IHSAA class 5A State Final, where they will face the Columbus East Olympians. The Olympians come in 13-1, representing the south, and having defeated New Pal, Martinsville, Whiteland, Zionsville,and Bloomington South to get here. Their closest game was against Zionsville, which they won by 7 points. Westfield defeated that same Eagles team early in the season by 40. Westfield and Columbus East have only faced each other one time, in 1972 during the regular season. The Shamrocks won that contest, 33-0.

The Olympians come in averaging an impressive 47 points per game on 446 yards (350 rushing). They are led by RB Jamon Hogan (#23), who averages 162 rushing yards per game. QB Josh Major (#2) doesn't throw much, but when he does, it often gains large chunks of yardage or a touchdown. The touchdown tally is split pretty evenly between the two starting wide receivers, Caleb Voelker (#10) and Cam Wilson (#18), with 4 and 3 respectively.

As has been the case in the latter half of this tournament, the Rock D will need to stop a potent running game, while staying awake on the back end to prevent the play-action pass. Look for a grind it out, nail-biter, type of game, similar to what we witnessed last week against Fort Wanye Snider. Unlike that game, though, the weather will not be a factor as there are always perfect football conditions in Lucas Oil Stadium. Look for the Shamrocks to bring their physical play to the biggest of stages, hoping to earn the school's first football state title.

Trust me, you don't want to miss this one. If you can't make it in person, check out the stream on IHSAAtv.org. Otherwise, we'll see you downtown! Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05pm.

#Thankful

Thankful for the Grand Park folks getting up with us this morning and hosting us this week. Thankful for all of the people who have supported us along the way. Thankful for the opportunity to be with this family (as well as others) on Thanksgiving.

Turkey says: "Gobble Gobble." Must be just about time to #EAT:

#RockReport - Semi-State vs Fort Wayne Snider

Photo credit: Kirk Green - VarsityViews 

On Friday night, your Rocks punched their ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium and the State Championship for class 5A. Westfield earned a 23-17 victory against the top ranked Fort Wayne Snider Panthers, winning a rain-soaked nail-biter that displayed hard-nosed football from both teams.

On offense, the Shamrocks were led by Andy Sweet, who led the team and took care of the football in terrible conditions. Chad Reeh and Matthew Robinson added consistent play on the line, while the big play of the night came when Sweet hit Evan Manley down the sideline shortly before half time.

The Rock D rose to the challenge and, after a shaky start, held a potent Panther offense to only 7 points in the second half, sealing the game with big stops in the closing minutes. They were led by Collin Caldwell's fantastic play, as well as the consistent play of Jackson Garrett. The D recovered a big fumble in the second half, forced by Caldwell and scooped by Garrett.

The real start of the night, however, was the Shamrock Special Teams. On a night when the other phases were pretty neck and neck with the opponent, special teams really came through and shined. Will Harrison had a stellar game, booting both a 53 yard field goal and a key 58 yard punt into the wind. Jackson Garrett also contributed here with solid holds for the kicker, and a blocked punt.

Special mention should be given to Michael Delaney, Matt Meyer, Tanner Nichols, and Matthew Noyes. These Rocks made significant contributions in preparing the team for the Friday contest. They attacked each day during the week, providing the best possible look for their fellow teammates.

The Shamrocks will return to the field one final time on Saturday, this time playing in Lucas Oil for the State Championship. They will face the Columbus East Olympians. Kickoff will follow the preceding game, and is tentatively scheduled for 7:05pm.

#GameDay Semi-State vs Snider

Tonight, your Rocks will host the Fort Wayne Snider Panthers in a Semi-State contest that promises to be a clash of titans. Both teams have dominated their brackets in the tournament so far, and are hoping to secure a berth to the State Title game with a win tonight. Snider comes into the contest with spotless 12-0 record, having demolished Mishawaka, Goshen, and Concord so far in the tournament.

Snider averages 42 points per game on 397 yards (292 rushing). They are led by RB Money Woods (#3), who averages 108 yards per game and has found the end zone 15 times. Junior QB Michael Haupert (#10) helms the offense, hooking up often with WR Mac Hippenhammer (#2) for 608 yards and 7 touchdowns through the air.

The Rock D will have their work cut out for them tonight, attempting to limit one of the best offenses in the state. Hippenhammer is a special athlete, and the Snider run game parallels the Rocks own in terms of potency. On offense, the Shamrocks will need to protect the ball and take care of business. Expect a bruising chess match of a game tonight, where each team looks to check the other team's myriad of weapons, limit mistakes, and pound their way to victory.

Obviously, with a trip to state on the line, we need to pack Riverview Health Stadium tonight. It's looking like the nice weather will turn on us, so dress warm, and bring your outdoor voices. It's time to rock the Rock. No directions needed for this one. Kickoff has been pushed back slightly due to travel time, and is scheduled for 7:30pm.

What a great day to be a Shamrock!

Semi-State Kickoff Time

Kickoff has officially been moved back to 7:30pm for the Semi-State contest this Friday. There are only four 5A teams still alive, that means only two 5A games in the entire state! One of them will be just down the road in Riverview Health Stadium. Come out and cheer on your Rocks.

#RockReport

Photo credit: Kirk Wolff / VarsityViews.com

Last night, your Rocks captured the Regional Championship by defeating Kokomo 45-7. The win sets up a pivotal contest against Fort Wayne Snider next Friday for the Semi-State contest.

Offensively, the Shamrocks had some new names step up to lead the way. Josue Gonzalez turned in an impressive game, providing a huge catch and score before the half that put the Rocks up by 10. Hayden Russell and Kyle Pepiot also tacked on consistent play, stepping up against a physical Wildkat team that challenged the offense.

The Rock D dominated last night. They held a unique and potent Wildkat offense to only 7 points. Chris Zolto lead the way with physical play, putting the icing on the cake with an interception late in the game that he returned for a touchdown. Collin Caldwell and Josh Tuffnell also stepped up for the D, stonewalling the Wildkat running attack. The big play of the night was a huge fourth down stop early, where the Rock D refused to grant a yard when Kokomo attempted a Quarterback Sneak.

Shamrock Special Teams provide a few key plays as well. Early in the game, they blocked a punt that was scooped and returned to the one yard line, setting up the offense for an easy score. Will Harrison drilled a field goal in the first half, and Josh Tuffnell had a key, momentum-gaining return when Kokomo tried a chip kick to him to start the second half.

Special mention should be given to Eli Ross and the entire Scout Offense. These Rocks made significant contributions in preparing the team for the Friday contest, especially when you face the sort of unqiue look that Kokomo presents. They attacked each day during the week, providing the best possible look for their fellow teammates. A good look from the scout teams absolutely translated to on-field domination this week.

The Rocks will host the Semi-State contest next week, where they will face the Fort Wayne Snider Panthers. Kickoff is typically scheduled for 7pm, but may be pushed back due to the length of travel for the visitors. Stay tuned for updates later in the week.

Regional Stream

Also of note, if you are not able to make it to the stadium, it looks like the IHSAA is streaming our game live here: http://www.ihsaatv.com/

Go Rocks!

Green Out T-Shirts!

By the way, tonight is a "green out," and up until 6pm, our friends at My Logo Shop have a sale on playoff Tshirts. Snag a free third down rally rag with purchase. Might as well pick one up on the way to the game, right? Check it out:

It's sort of off the beaten path, so I thought a map was in order:

#GameDay Regional Championship - Kokomo

Tonight, your Rocks will host the Kokomo Wildkats for the Regional Championship. Kokomo is looking to defend their title from last year, when they beat Westfield 21-19. The Rocks will be looking for revenge.

Kokomo comes into the game with an 8-2 record, and on a 7 game winning streak. They defeated Muncie Central last week in the Sectional Championship. In terms of common opponents, the Wildkats defeated Harrison (by 3) and Jeff (by 6), losing to McCutcheon (by 7). They run a unique scrum-style offense that really focuses on pounding the football, sprinkling in just enough passes to keep a defense honest. They average 30 points per game on 371 yards (301 on the ground). In their last game, they passed only three times, but all three were for touchdowns. RB Keenen Wheeler (#31) is the focal point of their offense, averaging 178 all purpose yards per game.

Offensively, the Rocks will need to put points up against a team that really likes to grind out victories against good teams. The Rock D will need to limit Wheeler and stop the run, staying alert for those dangerous passes. This will be a grit it out, physical game that could again come down to the wire.

As such, we would love to pack the stands and rock the Rock. High school sports don't get much better than Friday Night Lights in November (especially with the great weather we've been having). No directions needed for this one. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.

#RockReport Sectional Championship - McCutcheon

Photocredit: Hamilton County Reporter

Last night, your Rocks secured their fourth Sectional Championship in four years with a 34-7 victory over the Lafayette McCutcheon Mavericks. The win propels Westfield into a rematch from last years Regional against the Kokomo Wildkats.

Offensively, the Shamrocks refused to be tackled for most of the night. This mentality was most evident on an early Nate Froelich run, during which he carried several defensive players en route to a score. Matt Robinson and Drew Johnson added consistent play.

The Rock D frustrated the Maverick offense all night, allowing only a late touchdown with the game well in hand. Colin Caldwell led the defensive line dominance, with the added consistent play of Brian Skelton. Josh Tuffnell anchored the linebacking corps, while the big play of the night came on a Justin Frey interception.

The Shamrock Special Teams executed perfectly, refusing to allow the Mavericks to gain any moment in this phase of the game. Jackson Garrett provided solid holds, with Will Harrison splitting the uprights on several kicks, the biggest of which was a 50 yard field goal that added to the Shamrock lead.

Special mention should be given to Trevor Lickfeldt, Mark McClaurin, Zach Allen, Ryan Mahoney, and Devin McGinnis. These Rocks made significant contributions in preparing the team for the Friday contest. They attacked each day during the week, providing the best possible look for their fellow teammates.

Next week's Regional Championship will be at beautiful Riverview Health Stadium, as the Rocks look to avenge themselves against Kokomo. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.

#GameDay Sectional Championship vs McCutcheon

Tonight, the Lafayette McCutcheon Mavericks roll into Riverview Health Stadium, looking to spoil Westfield's stranglehold on the Sectional. Your Rocks have won the last three Sectional Championships, and will look to add a fourth tonight. The Mavericks, however, will not make it easy. They come in with an 8-2 record, having beaten Harrison 29-12 last week in order to advance.

During the regular season, the Mavs lost to Harrison 23-20, and beat Lafayette Jeff 45-3, rounding out the only opponents that they have in common with the Rocks. Their offense is a grind it out, time of possession style running attack that will challenge the Rock D physically. The score 30 points per game on 313 yards (205 on the ground). RB Darren Lathrop (#30) leads the team in rushing with 723 yards, while Drew Retherford (#23) has punched it in for the Mavs 8 times. RB Austin Bennett (#21) has come on late in the year when injuries put him in the starting role, and has racked up 501 yards, coming alive for the Mavs down the stretch. QB Peyton Williams (#2) will look to find WR Gavin Dunbar (#7) when the Mavs do throw the ball, as Dunbar leads the team with 501 yards on 28 receptions. Isaac Angstadt (#6) is a close second, with 327 yards on 23 receptions.

The Shamrock Offense will need to stay hot, capitalizing on its chances as the Mavs will look to limit the Rocks by not allowing many offensive touches. Look for a tough, physical game. Both teams will need to play physical and limit mistakes to come away with the win.

No directions needed for this one. The Rock should be rockin' tonight, so come on out for some vintage Indiana playoff football, and cheer on your Rocks. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.

Good Bet, Mr. Russel...

Clipped the following from the Hamilton County Reporter. Green is always a good choice: