The REPORTER

The Westfield High School football team gathered Monday afternoon for a pep talk from coach Josh Miracle.

“It’s our chance to right our wrongs,” Miracle said.

No. 3 Westfield (12-1) will face Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival No. 4 Brownsburg (12-1) in the Class 6A state championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m. Brownsburg’s 17-13 victory over Westfield in September marked Westfield’s only loss of the season.

“Just one more week,” Miracle told his players. “It must mean something to you. Everyone will be important. Every detail will be important. After a play you don’t have time to wind down. You don’t have too long to celebrate. You have to have a one-play mentality and stay in the moment. We are looking for the absolute best version of yourself.”

This is Miracle’s first year as head coach at WHS after taking over the position from former coach Jake Gilbert, who returned this year to coach at his alma mater, Wabash College.

Westfield won the Class 5A state championship back in 2016 and this year marks the third year Westfield has played in the state final since 2020.

They’re hoping for a win since Brownsburg hasn’t won a state title since the mid-1980s.

“I just think we are extremely blessed,” Miracle said. “This is our fifth trip to the finals in 12 years, which is a testament to the program Jake Gilbert has built at Westfield. I’m so happy for this group of seniors and we’re just trying to soak it up. That’s the bittersweet thing about it. This is the last week with this group of seniors.”