ZIONSVILLE — What started as a celebratory occasion for the Zionsville Eagles Friday night ended in dejection and defeat as Brownsburg spoiled the Eagles’ senior night with its 20-15 win.
However, the close margin of victory at the end did not display how the game was truly played as Brownsburg struggled with turnovers, including a botched snap on special teams play that resulted in a safety for the Eagles.
“Our conversation at halftime was the fact that we were our own worse enemy with the fumble, with the bad snap, it wasn’t just one phase. It was offense, it was defense, it was special teams. But it was also offense, defense and special teams that helped us win it,” Brownsburg coach Brett Comer said. “We got contributions from everybody, I mean that was a great team victory on the road and at a tough place to win.”
One of the biggest contributors for Brownsburg was junior Chase Dutra.
Dutra played on both sides of the ball and even some special teams for the Bulldogs and was responsible for two scoring plays on the night. Dutra ran the first score in from 15 yards out and then scored the second touchdown on a passing play from junior quarterback Ian Good.
“He’s everywhere for us,” Comer said of Dutra. “He’s pretty good. He’s pretty darn good.”
Dutra also recovered the onside kick at the end of the game—effectively sealing a victory for Brownsburg.
For Zionsville, Dutra brought the Eagles a loss on a night where they honored all of the seniors on the football team, and several other fall sports. But no matter the night, the loss feels the same to Zionsville coach Larry McWhorter.
“Its tough losing any night, I don’t care what night it is,” McWhorter said.
The Eagles were however, able to come back from a 14-0 halftime deficit with the help of the several Bulldog miscues.
Zionsville junior Steven Wisnewski ran in a touchdown early in the third quarter, bringing the Eagles back into the game.
A late touchdown in the waning moments of the fourth quarter by junior Reece Scope gave the Eagles some chance at squeaking by, but the Bulldogs’ special team play helped squash the onside kick.
The Eagles were also able to benefit from an injury to Isaac Beverstock in the third quarter. Beverstock finished the game with 80 yards on 10 carries.
The Eagles struggled the whole game with the pass as well, and more than just the Bulldog’s stout pass defense caused the incompletions.
“Early it was pressure,” McWhorter said. “In the first half, protection was the struggle. In the second half, our quarterback didn’t read as well as he probably should have and had a few dropped passes. He didn’t necessarily get all the help.”
But, it was not all negative for the Eagles.
“For the first time this year we played well in a big game,” McWhorter said. “We played two big games early this year, last week would be one of them and we didn’t play well at all. So that’s good. The effort was good.”
Zionsville falls to 5-3, while Brownsburg moves to 7-1 with the win.
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