Brownsburg still celebrating first football title in nearly 40 years

WRTV's Taj Simmons shows us how the community of Brownsburg is rallying around its football team after it won its first state championship in nearly 40 years.

Brownsburg rallies around Bulldogs State Championship

By: Taj Simmons

BROWNSBURG — The Brownsburg Bulldogs have school spirit, but they had not brought home a state title since 1985. Their wait to get back to the future has finally ended.

Brownsburg defeated Westfield 22-17 under the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium for the Indiana High School Athletic Association class 6A title last week. Signs supporting the team's championship are now a common sight in the team's hometown.

Tom Weaver commissioned a painting on his restaurant, Green Street Pub, commemorating the title and the team's fans. The restaurant also has a plaque celebrating the 1985 Brownsburg football team and a helmet signed by this year's champions.

"For them to win it all and know that the 2024 team signatures are up there, it's great," Weaver said. "I had a lot of people ask if they could buy it off of me and I told them no."

Rose Promos on Main Street sells all types of Brownsburg High School merchandise, but the store has struggled to keep up with the demand for championship t-shirts.

"The rush after they won was intense," said Amanda Reising of Rose Promos. "It's a little stressful. We're trying to get fully stocked. We know people are waiting for those championship shirts. They're on the way, we promise."

The championship signifies a new era for Brownsburg itself. Main Street is currently under reconstruction, new high-rise apartments line Green Street, and the high school itself is expanding.

"It has grown a lot," Weaver said. "A lot of new businesses are coming in and a lot of mom-and-pop businesses still around."

More than 3,300 students attend Brownsburg High School, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. It is the 10th-largest high school in the state, according to the IHSAA.