Over the Hump? How Westfield Can Get Back to Lucas Oil – And Win

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Westfield Shamrocks have been painfully close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the third time in five years, Westfield reached the Class 6A State Championship and came up short in Josh Miracle's first year as head coach, losing to pesky Brownsburg 22-17 (who also narrowly beat them in the regular season by a 17-13 margin, which was their only regular season loss). Similar to 2021, the Shamrocks lost the final Class 6A game by six or fewer points. This excludes, of course, a 2023 season where they lost to Crown Point in semi-state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will the Shamrocks get over the hump and finally win it all this year? We're about to find out. Here are three reasons they can make it happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283964' first='Deacon' last='King'].</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='283964' first='Deacon' last='King'] is coming back, and he's the engine of the offense and arguably the best running back in the state. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound tailback rushed for 1,440 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. He is a legitimate playmaker who can completely take over a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>They are strong up-front.</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westfield may have one of the best offensive lines in Class 6A. [player_tooltip player_id='1685769' first='Malachi' last='Mills'], a Kansas commit, returns at offensive left tackle. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman as well as offensive guard [player_tooltip player_id='1347215' first='Job' last='Mavrick'] return for the Shamrocks. Keep an eye on senior Cash Ballard, who had a strong summer camp showing and picked up an offer from Austin Peay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":3} --> <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Key playmakers coming back on defense.</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cate June Jr., son of the former Indianapolis Colt linebacker, will be a key returning piece on defense, as will rising junior Caleb Terrell. Outside linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1201946' first='Alex' last='Aramboles'] - the younger brother of incoming Ball State freshman Gabe Aramboles - will step up on defense, as will linebacker Isaac Weingart, a very underrated linebacker with a chance to have a breakout senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->