Class 6A second-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral lost at third-rated Brownsburg, 42-35, in high school football Friday night. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-0 first half lead and were able to hold on for the win despite 28 points from the Fighting Irish in the second half.
Brownsburg moved the ball 80 yards in nine plays on its first possession, concluding the drive on Garrett Sherrell’s 11-yard rushing touchdown. Later in the opening quarter, the Bulldogs blocked a Cathedral punt, which led to Jayden Whitaker’s 1-yard quarterback sneak for a score three plays later.
The Irish mounted their first serious scoring drive midway through the second quarter, but quarterback Danny O’Neil fumbled on the Brownsburg 6-yard line. The Bulldogs drove 94 yards in 10 plays with Sherrell scoring on a 19-yard run to make the score 21-0.
Cathedral responded with a four-play 80-yard drive that ended when O’Neil threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Zach Meeks. The Irish closed the gap to 21-14 on the first drive of the second half as O’Neil connected with David Ayers on a 42-yard scoring strike. Two plays later, Whitaker answered by completing a 78-yard scoring pass to Corey Smith.
O’Neil’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Keith Long narrowed the margin to 28-20, but Sherrell’s third rushing TD of the game gave Brownsburg a two-score lead with less than a minute to play in the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Cathedral gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Irish 3-yard line on a fumbled punt attempt, which Brownsburg’s Caleb Marcus turned into a 1-yard rushing touchdown two plays later.
Jaron Tibbs caught touchdown passes from O’Neil and Devaughn Slaughter and a two-point conversion pass in the final period to close the margin to 42-35. A unsuccessful onside kick attempt with a minute to play ended the Irish hopes of a comeback.
O’Neil completed 26 of 44 passing attempts, both career highs, for 317 yards and rushed for 113 yards, while Tibbs caught a career high 13 passes for 121 yards. Sherrell rushed for 126 yards on 21 carries to become the first player to run for more than 100 yards against the Irish defense since Mr. Football Carson Steele of Center Grove eclipsed the 100-yard mark in week nine of the 2020 season.
Brownsburg improves its record to 2-0 this season. Cathedral, now 1-1, travels Class 6A ninth-ranked Penn Friday. The Kingsmen are unbeaten this season with wins over Valparaiso and Portage. The Irish won last season’s meeting with Penn 37-0.