Crown Point’s season ends with semistate loss to Westfield

WESTFIELD — Craig Buzea urged his players to keep their heads up as Crown Point’s undefeated season ended Friday night in Westfield.

“I’m so proud of what they’ve done,” he said. “Even though the result wasn’t what we wanted, they fought. They fought all the way to the end.”

Redemption was no doubt on Shamrock’s mind after the Bulldogs ended their season last November 38-31 in double overtime.

No. 2 Westfield turned the tables and defeated no. 3 Crown Point 30-7 for the Class 6A Northern Semistate title and a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Bulldogs trailed early in the first quarter after Westfield’s quarterback carried the ball 4 yards into the end zone. With approximately 1:36 left in the first, junior Logan Urbaniak caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Noah Ehrlich to tie the game.

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Westfield’s offense rocked Crown Point, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal for a 24-7 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs defense buckled down in the second half, allowing just two field goals from Shamrocks kicker Owen Wright. Wright was 5-for-6 on field goal attempts.

Ehrlich ran for 25 yards on 12 carries and completed 6-of-12 passes for 95 yards and the touchdown. Westfield outgained Crown Point 354 yards to 144 yards for the game.

Although Crown Point finished one game short of a second straight trip to Indianapolis, Buzea said it doesn’t take away from what his program has accomplished.

“I don’t know if there’s another team in the state of Indiana that could come here on semistate weekend and beat these guys the way they played,” he said. “We had our chances, it’s just a slightly different brand of football we’ve played up to this point.”

He added: “It adds credit to them. That’s where we have to look back and that’s where we have to get our program.”

In 13 games this fall, Crown Point had 11 running clocks.

On average, the Bulldogs outscored their opponents by more than 30 points a game leading up to regionals and scored at least 35 points in every game before Friday.

“We will continue to strive to not only get back here, but take one more step,” Buzea said.

Crown Point finished its season 12-1.

“They will go down in history as one of the best teams ever at Crown Point and in the region,” he said. “What they’ve done on the road to get here is incredible. I’m disappointed, but tonight the best team won.”

Indianapolis-area rivals Westfield (12-1) and Brownsburg (12-1) will play for the state title next weekend. The Shamrocks lost to Brownsburg 17-13 in September.