Football sectional draw, realignment gives different matchups to fields

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

On Sunday, the IHSAA announced the annual football sectional draw. Six classes and a total of 312 schools will be involved in this year’s football state tournament. Classes 6A and 5A have 32 in each, while Classes 4A through 1A all are at even amounts as well with 62.

The first round starts for Classes 1A through 4A on Oct. 25, with 5A and 6A starting with their semifinal matchups on Nov. 1.

Sheridan (1A) and Westfield (6A) are the two reigning sectional and regional champions in the county.

Sectional 46 will be different for Sheridan, as they have been playing in Sectional 45 for quite a while. They will be joined by Cloverdale, Indianapolis Tindley and Irvington Prep, along with Hoosier Heartland Conference foes Clinton Prairie, Clinton Central and Tri-Central.

Class 3A Sectional 29 has some newcomers to join Guerin Catholic and Hamilton Heights. With Bishop Chatard (success factor) and Brebeuf Jesuit (enrollment) bumping up to Class 4A, Cascade, Speedway, Tri-West, Crawfordsville, West Vigo and Indianapolis Washington fill out the sectional field with the Golden Eagles and Huskies.

The five larger county schools have shifted around a little bit also. Sectionals 3 and 4 will be where those handful will try to advance out of.

Sectional 3 features Westfield, Carmel, Zionsville and Harrison (West Lafayette), who is up in 6A with an enrollment increase.

Sectional 4 has Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville, Fishers and Homestead duking it out for the crown.

6A Sectional 3:

Carmel (3-5) at Zionsville (3-5)

Harrison (West Lafayette) (5-3) at Westfield (7-1)

6A Sectional 4:

Fishers (4-4) at Noblesville (2-6)

Hamilton Southeastern (5-3) at Homestead (4-4)

3A Sectional 29:

Hamilton Heights (3-5) at Speedway (4-4)

West Vigo (3-5) at Guerin Catholic (4-4)

Cascade (8-0) at Crawfordsville (2-6)

Tri-West (4-4) at Indianapolis Washington (3-4)

1A Sectional 46:

Cloverdale (4-3), drew bye, plays at Tri-Central (1-7) at Indianapolis Tindley (3-4) winner

Sheridan (4-4) at Clinton Central (3-5)

Clinton Prairie (4-4) at Irvington Prep (0-5)