Indiana High School Football Team Ends 39-Year State Championship Drought

The Brownsburg Bulldogs partied like it’s 1985 after winning the Indiana high school football Class 6A state championship. The victory over the Westfield Shamrocks ended their 39-year championship drought.

The game’s outcome hung in the balance during the final minutes of the fourth quarter. With Brownsburg leading 22-17, Westfield had a chance to take the crown with a touchdown. However, Drew Bostic’s interception of a Carsen Melvin pass secured Brownsburg’s third state championship in school history.

With Brownsburg and Westfield having ten points apiece heading into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs’ two touchdowns in the final frame guaranteed their victory in the Indiana High School Athletic Association-sanctioned tournament.

Brownsburg took the lead when quarterback Iousua Stephens found Branden Sharpe in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 12 after Jamere Pendleton returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. Westfield responded with a 10-yard touchdown run by Deacon King, but that was all they could muster when attempting a comeback.

While Stephens threw the fourth-quarter touchdown pass, Oscar Frye led all Brownsburg passers with seven completions for 161 yards and a touchdown. Frye found Shakovon Sumpterbey in the end zone for Brownsburg’s first touchdown. Meanwhile, Sumpterbey contributed to both facets of the Bulldogs’ offense, finishing with 80 rushing yards, 77 receiving yards, and a touchdown.

The Bulldogs are Indiana High School Football’s Top Team

The victory capped off a 13-1 record for Brownsburg, with their only loss coming against Hamilton Southeastern. That record includes a 17-13 win over Westfield on Sept. 28, giving the Bulldogs a season sweep against the Shamrocks.

After the elimination round, head coach John Hart’s crew manifested their grit throughout the state tournament. Their first three playoff games came to within one possession, starting with their eight-point victory over Avon (21-13) in the sectional semifinals on Nov. 1.

A week later, they defeated Ben Davis by three points, 38-35, to win the sectional championship. Brownsburg escaped Lawrence North’s challenge, 22-21, to book their spot in the Indiana high school football 6A semifinals. Before facing the Shamrocks, Brownsburg overcame Center Grove 31-27.

Winning the state championship makes Brownsburg the top-ranked team in Indiana, based on the state’s On3 Composite Team Rankings. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have a strong chance of winning back-to-back state championships with Frye and Sharpe in the fold until 2027.