Staff Report
Tri-West Dominates Western Boone 35-7 to Capture Class 3A Sectional Championship
LIZTON, Ind. — Tri-West Hendricks opened its season with a convincing victory over Western Boone. Nearly three months later, with a sectional championship on the line, the Bruins delivered another decisive performance against the Stars.
Behind a dynamic rushing effort from quarterback Jack Sorgi and a defense that held Western Boone to its lowest point total of the season, Tri-West rolled to a 35-7 victory Friday night, capturing the Class 3A Sectional 29 championship and advancing to regional competition.
Sorgi was the catalyst for the Bruins, rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries while completing 7 of 12 passes for 113 yards. Running back Wanson Hall provided another explosive dimension, gaining 101 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries as Tri-West repeatedly found success on the ground.
The victory completed a season sweep of Western Boone. Tri-West had defeated the Stars 42-20 in the Aug. 21 season opener, but Friday’s rematch carried considerably greater significance. With a sectional title at stake, the Bruins were even more effective defensively, limiting Western Boone to just one touchdown.
The matchup featured two teams that had enjoyed productive seasons and entered the championship with contrasting offensive strengths. Western Boone had relied heavily on its rushing attack, averaging nearly 230 yards per game on the ground, while Tri-West brought a more balanced offense capable of producing through both the running and passing games.
Sorgi’s performance gave Western Boone a particularly difficult challenge. The Bruins’ quarterback was efficient throwing the football, but his ability to turn running opportunities into touchdowns proved especially damaging. Three of Tri-West’s five touchdowns came from Sorgi, who averaged nearly 10 yards per carry.
Hall complemented that production with an even more explosive rushing average, gaining 10.1 yards per attempt. Together, Sorgi and Hall accounted for 189 rushing yards and four touchdowns on just 19 carries, giving the Bruins a powerful combination that Western Boone struggled to contain.
For the Stars, the challenge was keeping pace with a Tri-West offense that had been among the most productive in Class 3A throughout the season. Western Boone entered the contest averaging more than 34 points per game and had scored at least 35 points in each of its previous three outings, but the Bruins’ defense prevented the Stars from establishing their usual offensive rhythm.
That defensive performance represented a significant improvement over the first meeting. Western Boone had managed 20 points against Tri-West in August, but Friday night the Stars were held to seven, leaving little margin for error against an opponent capable of producing touchdowns in bunches.
The Bruins’ ability to combine an explosive ground attack with effective defense made the difference. While Sorgi and Hall supplied the offensive production, Tri-West’s defense kept Western Boone from generating the sustained scoring response it needed to remain competitive.
The result was particularly disappointing for a Western Boone team that had entered the championship riding momentum from consecutive postseason victories. The Stars opened sectional play with a 42-7 win over Indianapolis Washington before shutting out North Montgomery 35-0 in the semifinal round.
That shutout had demonstrated Western Boone’s defensive capabilities, but Tri-West presented a much more difficult challenge. The Bruins entered the championship having scored at least 42 points in each of their first two playoff games, defeating Crawfordsville 42-21 and Speedway 43-21.
Friday’s victory was another example of the Bruins’ ability to produce decisive results against quality competition. Tri-West has now recorded eight victories by more than 20 points this season, with its offensive balance and defensive pressure proving difficult for opponents to overcome.
For Western Boone, the loss ended a successful campaign that included eight victories and a 6-1 conference record. The Stars had built their season around a productive rushing attack and a defense capable of controlling games, but Tri-West proved to be their most difficult matchup.
Across two meetings this season, the Bruins outscored Western Boone 77-27, demonstrating their ability to win the matchup both in the regular season and when the stakes were highest.
Tri-West now advances to face Lawrenceburg at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 3A regional round. Lawrenceburg earned its regional berth with a 28-14 victory over Batesville.
The Bruins entered the postseason with championship aspirations and have continued to deliver, combining Sorgi’s playmaking ability with Hall’s explosiveness and a defense capable of shutting down productive offenses.
Western Boone had enjoyed a strong season, but Friday night belonged to Tri-West. The Bruins captured the sectional championship with a 28-point victory and moved one step closer to a deeper run in the Class 3A state tournament.
