It’s the last week of the regular season for Indiana high school football, which for many teams means one more conference game.
The Hoosier Crossroads Conference has already decided its champion. Brownsburg is 6-0 in the HCC, and the next two schools behind it are 4-2, so the Bulldogs already have the conference title wrapped up. The more interesting scenario is who will finish where in the top half of the league.
The two 4-2 teams are Noblesville and Avon, and they will play each other Friday at the Millers’ Beaver Materials Field. The winner of this game will get second place in the conference all to itself.
The Orioles were surprised by Zionsville last week, losing 32-29. The only other team to beat Avon is Brownsburg, which took care of its rival 21-7 in Week 4 of the season. The two HCC losses are also the Orioles’ only overall losses; they began the year with non-conference wins over Plainfield 44-13 and Ben Davis 41-36. Avon’s overall record is 6-2.
Avon’s HCC victories have come over Hamilton Southeastern 29-6, Franklin Central 48-0, Fishers 33-0 and Westfield 20-13. Sophomore Henry Hesson is the Orioles’ quarterback, having completed 99 of 175 passes for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Senior running back Sampson James made news this week by decommitting from Ohio State; instead he will play at Indiana University. He has gained 1,011 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Senior Jalen Peterson has 30 receptions, including five touchdowns. The Orioles’ defense is led by seniors also, with Nathan Conley making 67 tackles and Alex Griffith getting 66 stops. Junior Brevon Gude has 63 tackles, eight of them for a loss.
Noblesville is 4-4 overall. Senior quarterback Grant Gremel had a solid game against the Bulldogs, going 16-for-27 and 165 yards. For the season Gremel is 56-of-122 for 598 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior Luke Blevins is the leading Noblesville rusher with 533 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Jayden Barrett’s 13 catches lead the receivers. Senior Eddie Dziennik has been a force on defense with 98 total tackles, with junior Jacob Hamm making 87 stops. Senior Dalton Davis has 7.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Even against a tough schedule, the Millers are allowing only 15.5 points per game.
SOUTHEASTERN-BROWNSBURG
Southeastern will host conference champion Brownsburg tonight at Reynolds Royals Stadium.
The Bulldogs are 8-0 for the season, with wins over Bloomington South 44-13, Cathedral 37-26, Franklin Central 37-7, Avon 21-7, Fishers 27-20, Westfield 30-28, Zionsville 70-52 and Noblesville 17-7. Sophomore Ben Easters has thrown for 1,483 yards on 95-of-181 passing, with 18 touchdowns to his credit. Senior Bryce Kirtz has 45 of those catches, including nine scores.
Senior Donny Marcus is Brownsburg’s leading rusher, with 1,348 yards and 12 touchdowns. Cade Shupperd’s 54 tackles leads the Bulldog defense, with 15 for a loss. Senior Lawson Aiken has 16 tackles for a loss.
Senior Matt Harris is the leading rusher for the Royals (3-5), with 902 yards and nine touchdowns. Ben Boysen has 40 catches for the year. Sophomore Andrew Hobson had a great game as quarterback last week, going 12-for-17 with 206 yards and two touchdowns.
FISHERS-ZIONSVILLE
Fishers will wrap up its HCC schedule on the road, traveling to Zionsville on Friday.
The Eagles are 4-4 for the year, with wins over Lebanon 56-6, Franklin Central 44-19, Noblesville 24-0 and Avon 32-29. Zionsville has lost to Pike 27-19, Westfield 41-28, Southeastern 30-14 and Brownsburg 70-52.
Senior quarterback Josh Wagner has put together some impressive numbers, throwing for 1,863 yards and seven touchdowns on 140-of-236 passing. Junior Gus Baumgartner has rushed for 634 yards and four touchdowns. Tommy Fossett has 66 receptions, including seven TDs, while senior Jordan Hull has caught the most touchdown passes with 15.
Junior Garrett Williamson leads the Eagles defense with 127 total tackles. Senior Deuce Thomas has 124 stops, nine of them for a loss.
Fishers is 3-5 overall. Sophomore Lucas Prewitt stepped into the quarterback role and was 7-of-23 for 150 yards. Tigers coach Rick Wimmer credited him last week with making some big plays in Fishers’ win over Westfield.
Senior HL Lewis is Fishers’ leading rusher with 557 yards and four touchdowns, while senior Collin Statz has 21 receptions, including one TD. Junior Geoffrey Brown’s 89 tackles and 13 for a loss leads the defense.
WESTFIELD-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Westfield hosts Franklin Central for its HCC finale. The Flashes are 2-6 for the season, with their wins against Roncalli 14-7 and Southeastern 37-28. FC has lost to Decatur Central 14-0, Brownsburg 37-7, Zionsville 44-19, Avon 48-0, Noblesville 10-0 and Fishers 17-12.
Senior quarterback Dylan Bishop is passing right at .500, 77-of-154 for 824 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Johnnie Mickle leads the Flashes’ rushing with 519 yards and seven scores, with senior Sam Diehl making 26 receptions. Junior Nate Talhelm has 72 tackles, with senior Steven Edwards making 10 tackles for a loss.
The Shamrocks are 3-5 for the season. Junior Camden Simons has had a solid passing season, going 113-of-186 for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior Eli Patchettleads the rushing with 502 yards and six scores, with junior Dane Wheeler leading in receptions with 31.
Senior Colin Caldwell leads the Westfield defense with 65 total tackles. Senior Ryan Mahoneyhas eight tackles for a loss and three sacks.
HEIGHTS-TWIN LAKES
Hamilton Heights will host Twin Lakes Friday in the Hoosier Conference seventh-place game.
The Indians finished play in the conference’s West Division 2-2, beating Benton Central 56-0 and Lafayette Central Catholic 38-31 in overtime, and losing to Rensselaer Central 56-14 and West Lafayette 56-13. Twin Lakes hosted the Huskies on Sept. 21, winning 35-33.
In other games, the Indians beat Northwestern 45-6 while falling to Western 48-6 and Tipton 56-35. Quarterback Danny Bennett has completed 30 of 47 passes for 279 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior Zion Cosgray leads the Twin Lakes rushing with 887 yards and six TDs, while senior Grahm Howe has 12 receptions, including four touchdowns. Howe is also the defensive leader with 70 tackles.
Heights is 1-7. Sophomore Ian Wilson has been stepping up with the quarterback duties, completing 48 of 103 passes for 606 yards and six touchdowns. Junior DeShawn King has 404 rushing yards, while senior Tad Defoe’s 21 receptions leads that category. Defoe has two touchdown catches, while junior Camron Knott has five. Senior Kray Leininger’s 65 tackles leads the Huskies’ defense, while junior Cole Portwood has five tackles for a loss.
CARMEL-LAWRENCE CENTRAL
Carmel will host Lawrence Central for its Metropolitan Conference finale.
The Bears are 3-3 in the MIC and 3-5 overall. LC has victories over Lawrence North 20-14, Pike 34-7 and Ben Davis 31-24, with losses coming from Southeastern 21-20, Bishop Chatard 34-20, Warren Central 47-0, Center Grove 33-10 and North Central 26-7.
Carmel is 4-2 in the MIC and can still finish in a tie for second should it win on Friday. The ‘Hounds are 6-2 overall. Dylan Downing has rushed for 590 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Tyler Trent has completed 59 of 136 passes for 837 yards and 10 TDs. Christian Williams has 22 catches and five scores, with Sam Rogers making 19 receptions, including four touchdowns.
SHERIDAN-HERITAGE CHRISTIAN
Fresh off of an undefeated Hoosier Conference champion, Sheridan finishes its regular season at Heritage Christian on Friday.
The Eagles are 4-4, having beaten Indianapolis Manual 44-14, Eastern Hancock 33-6, Shortridge 21-18 and Indianapolis Howe 38-20. Heritage has lost to Shenandoah 63-10, Guerin Catholic 48-7, Covenant Christian 12-10 and Lapel 35-14.
Junior quarterback Sam Azbell has passed for 1,196 yards on a 90-of-177 clip, including 13 touchdowns. Freshman Colton Brown is the Eagles’ leading rusher with 256 yards and three scores. Junior Harrison Eckel is far and away Heritage’s top receiver with 51 catches, including eight TDs. Junior Ethan Lowry has 84 tackles, eight for a loss.
Sheridan holds a 7-1 record. Senior quarterback Drake Delph is passing the ball well, going 30-of-56 for 627 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior James Manis has topped 1,000 yards rushing; he is at 1,018 yards, including 14 scores. Senior Jesse Kolb has 16 catches, nine for a touchdown. Sophomore Cameron Hovey has 82 tackles, with junior Chris Starks making 12 tackles for a loss. Manis has nine sacks.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-RONCALLI
Guerin Catholic will host Roncalli in its final Circle City Conference game of the season.
The Rebels are 0-2 in the conference and 2-6 overall. Roncalli has beaten Scecina 38-28 and Bloomington North 31-14, and lost to Southport 36-28, Franklin Central 14-7, Bishop Chatard 21-13, Columbus North 9-7, Brebeuf Jesuit 44-12 and Bloomington South 36-21.
The Golden Eagles are also 0-2 in the conference, and 5-3 overall. Quarterback Christian Gelov is 71-of-158 passing, with 820 yards and seven touchdowns to his credit. Dylan Crossen has 884 yards rushing and 11 scores, while Bernie McGuinness has made 20 receptions, including one touchdown.
