Fishers will play in the very first football game of the 2019 Indiana high school season.
The Tigers will start an hour ahead of everyone else, as they will be playing North Central at 6 p.m. Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. It will be a re-match of last year’s Class 6A Sectional 5 championship game, which the Panthers won for their first sectional title in over 20 years.
Fishers last won a sectional title in 2017, so it knows how to play in the post-season. The Tigers have many of their players back from last season, so they have the experience to get back in the winner’s circle.
“My expectation is that we are an improved team who will play hard to the final seconds, competing hard against all opponents,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer.
Leading the way is senior Geoffrey Brown, a defensive linebacker who led the Tigers in total tackles with 112, including 16 for a loss. Brown also had five sacks last year.
The defensive linebacker group will be intact from last year, as juniors Matt Hohlt and Billy Reiter will join Brown in returning. Defensive backs who are returning are senior free safety Collin Shelton and senior cornerback Jackson Dunn. Two more seniors are back in the defensive end slots: Josh Ibey and Alex Lemaich.
All of the above players are listed as probable starters for Fishers. Other starters include senior Collin Worley on defensive tackle, with junior David Dilley and sophomore Andre Glover splitting time in the other DT slot. Rounding out the defense are junior Shane Cole in the second cornerback position and senior Grant Whetsel at strong safety.
On the offensive side, seniors Dylan Scally and Matt Noble will handle the running back duties. The Tigers also have two quarterbacks returning, senior Marcus Roux and junior Lucas Prewitt. Both have started games for Fishers. Senior Jack Phillips is back as kicker and punter.
The offensive line will be experienced. Returning starters are senior Ethan Dye (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) at left tackle, junior Jonah VanDer Kamp (6-6, 302) at right guard and senior Hayden Tobias (6-3, 276) at center.
Other offensive linemen on the starting list are junior Max Kohn (6-3, 278) at left guard and senior Wyatt Puff (6-4, 250) at right tackle. Juniors Silas Martin and Caleb Gates are slated in the tight end positions. Four players will handle wide receiver duties: Seniors Nick Leath and Reece Boland, junior Reggie Cook-Graham and sophomore Jeffrey Simmons.
After playing the Panthers, Fishers travels to Pike for its Week 2 game, then plays at Noblesville in Week 3 to start Hoosier Crossroads Conference play. The Tigers will compete in Sectional 4 this year, with Carmel, Westfield and city rival Hamilton Southeastern, whom Fishers will host in Week 4 for the Mudsock game.
“They are familiar opponents,” said Wimmer. “Carmel is always a tough opponent to get by in the sectional but all of the sectional opponents are excellent programs and will be tough games.”
