By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
Carmel
The Greyhounds look to keep their winning going on their home turf this week with a matchup with the North Central Panthers (0-5). Sticking with its former Metropolitan Conference opponents, Carmel has a long-standing rivalry with North Central. Associated Press 10th-ranked Carmel owns a 26-13 series advantage, including three in a row and nine of the last 10, dating back to 2013. Head coach John Hebert holds a 7-1 record against the Panthers.
The ‘Hounds, ninth-ranked in the IFCA Coaches poll, were able to overcome a feisty Lawrence North squad last week for a come from behind win, 17-14, thanks to a late third quarter touchdown pass from Anthony Coellner to Ozzy Pollard. The defense held tight in the fourth period for Carmel to secure the win.
Coellner has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for four touchdowns, while Artemas Bryant leads the Greyhound defense with 49 tackles (31 solo) and two sacks. Dominic Shockley has two interceptions, with Christian Peterson picking off one, recovering a fumble and blocking a field goal to his credit.
Fishers
The Tigers hope to snap their two-game skid with a home date when the struggling Avon Orioles (0-5, 0-3 Hoosier Crossroads Conference) come to town on Friday. Head coach Curt Funk is 2-1 in three games against Avon, but the Orioles hold a 9-8 lead overall since 2006.
Fishers (3-2, 1-2 HCC) dropped to No. 8 in this week’s Coaches poll and No. 7 in the AP. Last week, the Tigers got behind early and couldn’t catch up on the road at Brownsburg in a tough, uphill battle before falling to the Bulldogs, 42-28.
One of the higher-powered offenses around, Fishers has individuals leading statistically in the area. Bennett Gorak crossed the 1,000-yard barrier and now has 1,096 passing yards for 63.4 percent completed and eight touchdown passes. Khobie Martin has 768 yards on 105 carries for 12 scores and JonAnthony Hall has caught 34 Gorak passes for 510 yards and a pair of TDs. Jacob Prewitt heads up the defense with 33 tackles (22 solo), with Carter Imes a solid six tackles for a loss (three sacks).
Guerin Catholic
The Golden Eagles were handed its first loss of the season to a tough Roncalli team at home, 35-21 last week. It will be a top-ranked matchup at the Eagles’ Nest on Friday when Guerin welcomes in Class 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard (5-0). Coach Tom Dilley is looking to snap GC’s eight-game losing streak overall to Chatard, including playoffs. Guerin hasn’t seen victory over the Trojans since 2016.
3A second-ranked Guerin Catholic (4-1, 1-1 Circle City Conference) didn’t move in the IFCA polls, but dropped to No. 4 in the AP, with its loss being to a top 10 4A team in No. 8 Roncalli.
Ryan Zimmerman has thrown for 822 yards and nine touchdowns and just one pick. Despite missing last week’s game, Peter Rooney still leads Guerin in rushing with 511 yards on 85 totes for three TDs. Alex Gibbs has become a dual threat offensively with 144 yards and three scores on the ground, while also grabbing 25 passes for 363 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Aaron Keller is tops on defense with 61 tackles (44 solo), four for a loss.
Hamilton Heights
The Huskies are starting to get themselves more attention every week. Having shutout its last three opponents, Heights is making its presence known. Holding its opposition scoreless in September, they have blanked Lafayette Central Catholic, Northwestern and Western in the past three games by a combined 89-0. Hosting Twin Lakes (4-1) in Hoosier Conference play on Friday, Hamilton Heights looks to get off to its best start since 2011 (6-0).
3A No. 9 in the Coaches poll this week, Heights 5-0 (3-0 HC) is getting itself geared up for the postseason a little early. One of the more stacked sectionals in 3A, sectional 28 is loaded and it won’t be easy for any of the eight to advance. Four teams (Heights, Peru, Tippecanoe Valley, Chatard) are all 5-0, Guerin is 4-1 with both Oak Hill and Maconaquah 3-2 and Northwestern sitting at 2-3.
Bodie Derrer has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 792 yards and seven TD strikes. Owen VanHaaren leads the ground game at 497 yards on 109 rushes for three touchdowns. Tyler Champion has caught 24 for 314 yards and two touchdowns, with Keaton Weaver has reeling in 12 for 245 and three scores. Defensively, Ethan Millsaps (42) and Eric Balcom (40) lead in tackles, while Dean Mason (seven sacks) and Michael Cain (six) have also made their presence known to opposing offenses.
Hamilton Southeastern
The Royals hope to get back on the winning side of things after dropping a heartbreaker at home to Westfield last week on a last-second touchdown, 30-28. It won’t be an easy one, heading west into Boone County to face the Zionsville Eagles (3-2, 1-2 HCC). This is the third straight year HSE has started 4-0.
Southeastern 4-1 (2-1 HCC) is No. 6 in both the AP and IFCA polls this week. Winners of the last five in the series and nine of the last 10, HSE looks for its sixth in a row on Friday against Zionsville. The Royals also lead the all-time meetings between the two with 22 wins to just five losses to the Eagles.
Quarterback Chandler Weston is leading the charge on offense, completing 63.6 percent of his pass attempts for 722 yards and nine touchdowns. Jalen Alexander provides most of the rushing with 644 yards on 74 carries and eight TDs. Donovan Hamilton continues to be one of the leading receivers in the county with 476 yards on 25 pass catches with five touchdowns. Judah Parker leads the defense with 48 tackles (36 assists), along with Jack Osiecki tallying five sacks and 35 tackles. Mason Alexander has also intercepted three passes.
Noblesville
The Millers were able to halt their two-game losing skid last week with a big homecoming victory over Zionsville, 24-7. Noblesville hits the road this Friday for the first of their final two regular season road games. They head to Franklin Township to face the Franklin Central Flashes (3-2, 1-2 HCC).
Noblesville (3-2, 1-2 HCC) earned themselves a 6A No. 15 ranking from the IFCA following their win last week. The Millers are 3-2 against the Flashes since Franklin Central joined the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, but FC has won the last two meetings with the Millers.
Logan Shoffner leads the ground game with 580 yards on 56 runs and six touchdowns, while also leading in receptions with 11 for 259 yards and another two scores. Gage Gulley (295) and Gabe Bellan (204) help carry the load in the busy backfield and have both scored four times. Aiden Brewer also has 185 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Austin Hastings leads the Miller defense with 56 stops (25 solo).
Sheridan
The Blackhawks are one of the hotter teams in 1A currently and it could be going unnoticed. This week they hit the road to face Taylor (1-4, 0-3 HHC). Sheridan leads the all-time series between the conference foes with an 8-0 mark. Playing the Titans must bring out the best in Bud Wright’s offense as they have outscored Taylor in those eight games by a whopping 447-101 for an average win of 56-12.
1A No. 7 Sheridan (4-1, 3-0 HHC) celebrated its 100th football homecoming last Saturday night with a 44-34 victory over Clinton Prairie. The Blackhawks took the lead early and never relinquished it on their way to Wright’s 451st career win and 450th as Sheridan’s head coach.
Eli Kolb has stayed in the top five for rushing in the county. He now has 538 yards on 70 carries and is second with 10 touchdowns.
Westfield
This week’s home game for Westfield is probably one of the better games around the state of Indiana on Friday. Brownsburg (5-0, 3-0 HCC) comes in ranked No. 1 in the AP and No. 2 in the IFCA poll. The host Shamrocks (5-0, 3-0 HCC) have risen to No. 4 in both polls. The Bulldogs lead the overall series 16-7, but Jake Gilbert is hoping to change the tide with his record being 4-8 versus Brownsburg.
Last week, the ‘Rocks escaped a crucial road game at Hamilton Southeastern with a last-second, 30-28 win over the Royals. Kendall Garnett caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Gilbert that helped Westfield outlast HSE in a battle for the ages.
Jackson Gilbert leads county quarterbacks in passing, completing 63.7 percent of his passes for 947 yards and nine touchdowns. Gabe Aramboles has caught 22 of those for 314 yards and a pair of scores. Kendall Garnett leads the team in rushing with 488 yards on 102 carries and has four TDs. Gilbert leads the team in touchdowns with eight in his 43 rushes. Mikeah Webster is the leader on defense with 56 tackles (46 assists) and five tackles for a loss. Anthony Feltrinelli also has 48 tackles (42 assists).
