The two ranked football teams in Hendricks County will be taking on two of the ranked teams in Hamilton County on Friday.
Avon, which moved up to No. 1 in the IFCA Class 6A poll and has been No. 1 in the AP poll, will be 6A No. 9 Fishers’ guest for Week 6 of the Indiana high school football season. Meanwhile, 6A No. 10 Westfield is hosting 6A No. 7 Brownsburg in another big Hoosier Crossroads Conference clash. Those are among the highlights of this week’s eight Hamilton County games.
AVON-FISHERS
The Orioles are the only unbeaten team left in the HCC, with a 3-0 league record. Avon is 5-0 overall, starting its season with victories over Columbus North 48-14 and Ben Davis 41-17. In conference play, the Orioles have wins over Hamilton Southeastern 35-27, Brownsburg 7-3 and Franklin Central 42-7.
Junior Henry Hesson is Avon’s quarterback, and he has thrown for 886 yards (on 61-of-103 passing) and 14 touchdowns. The Orioles have three receivers that have caught at least 10 passes: Junior Carmelo Mitchell has 17 receptions, senior Cohen Murrell has 16 and junior Remington Gall has 12. Mitchell and Gall have each caught four touchdown throws, with Murrell making three.
Sophomore Chrishon McCray is Avon’s leading rusher with 230 yards and three scores. Junior Clayton Peters leads the defense with 40 tackles.
Fishers was dealt its first loss of the year last week, falling to Brownsburg 42-17. That puts the Tigers at 2-1 in the conference and 4-1 overall.
“Our focus is really more about us this week, just playing with more emotion on defense, continuing to reduce our mistakes and getting to the football, tackling better,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer. “We just have to play better, play more physical.”
Tigers quarterback Marcus Roux has thrown for 604 yards, making 57 of 108 completions, and has eight touchdown passes to his credit. Sophomore Jeffrey Simmons leads the reception count with 15 (and four TDs), followed by senior Nick Leath with 14 and senior Reece Boland with 10.
On the ground, senior Dylan Scally has 424 rushing yards to his credit, with three TDs, while Roux has run for four touchdowns. Senior Geoffrey Brown is dominating on defense with 50 tackles, including seven for a loss.
WESTFIELD-BROWNSBURG
Brownsburg will come into Riverview Health Stadium with a 3-2 record and is 2-1 in HCC play. The Bulldogs have wins over Ben Davis 29-24, Franklin Central 41-14 and Fishers 42-17, and losses to Cincinnati St. Xavier 38-17 and Avon 7-3.
“Brownsburg’s amazing,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “Great skill on the offensive side for sure. Quarterback, wide receiver, tailback are all Division I commits. Defensively they have a couple great linemen. A three-year starting middle linebacker. They’re really good.”
Junior Ben Easters is the Bulldogs’ quarterback, and has 963 yards (on 55-of-106 passing) and 13 touchdowns to his credit. Junior Preston Terrell has made 23 of those catches, including five touchdowns, while junior Luke Lacey has 14 receptions, with seven of those TDs.
Senior Donny Marcus has had an outstanding season on the ground, gaining 576 yards and scoring four times. Brownsburg’s defense is also solid, with six players over 20 tackles for the year. Senior Cade Shupperd has 27 stops.
The Shamrocks will come into the game 4-1, having also lost for the first time last week to Southeastern 34-10. Westfield is 2-1 in HCC play, part of a three-way tie for second place.
Senior Camden Simons has had a great year at the quarterback position, completing 63 of 91 attempts on 1,015 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Mason Piening leads the receptions with 20, followed by senior Dane Wheeler with 16. Both have three touchdown catches.
Senior Eli Patchett has been solid on the ground with 411 yards rushing and seven scores. Westfield’s defense has four players with at least 30 tackles, led by sophomore Micah Hauser’s 39 and Patchett with 38.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-BISHOP CHATARD
Guerin Catholic will play its Homecoming game this week, taking on Bishop Chatard in a Circle City Conference match-up. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Both teams are ranked in Class 3A: The Trojans are No. 2 and the Golden Eagles are No. 7. Chatard comes into the game 4-1, including both of its CCC games, 49-14 over Brebeuf Jesuit and 53-7 over Roncalli – if the Trojans win, they will clinch an undefeated conference championship.
Chatard’s other games have been wins over NorthWood 48-31 and Southport 35-9, and a loss to Cathedral 31-21. Senior Kyle Cheek is the Trojans’ quarterback, who brings in a 62-of-98 completion rate with 865 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Senior Andrew Sowinski has 22 catches (including nine TDs), with sophomore Jack Annee and junior Thomas Coleman both making 11 receptions; Coleman has two scores. Senior Daylen Taylor leads the Chatard rushing with 590 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Our kids are excited about it. We’ll prepare as best we can this week and put our best performance out there and see if it’s good enough,” said Guerin Catholic coach Tom Dilley.
The Golden Eagles are 4-1 for the season, with their only loss to Brebeuf in GC’s lone conference game two weeks ago. Guerin rebounded last week, beating Columbus North 21-7 on the road.
Senior Christian Gelov is having a nice year at quarterback, completing 53 of 79 passes for 707 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Bernie McGuinness has 22 of those receptions, including five scores.
Another senior, Gus Baumgartner, has been sensational on the run, with 699 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Tom Hokanson leads the Guerin Catholic defense with 52 tackles.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-TWIN LAKES
Hamilton Heights also has its Homecoming game on Friday, welcoming Twin Lakes for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Indians are 2-3 for the year. Twin Lakes has victories over Northwestern 10-3 and Benton Central 61-7, and losses to Western 35-21, Tipton 19-14 and Rensselaer Central 35-0.
Senior Danny Bennett is the Indians’ quarterback, and he has thrown for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Two more seniors, Anthony Pulliam and Jace Stoops, both have six catches, including two TDs for Stoops and one for Pulliam.
Senior Jase Greear is Twin Lakes’ leading rusher, gaining 260 yards and scoring a touchdown. Senior Zach Keesling is on top of the defense with 42 tackles.
The Huskies are 1-4 for the season and will look to rebound after a 51-13 loss to Western last week. Heights has two quarterbacks that have been playing well: Junior Ian Wilson has thrown for 497 yards and four touchdowns, with sophomore Guy Griffey compiling 353 yards and two TDs.
Senior Camron Knott leads the receptions with 21, including five scores. Senior Brent Pennington has 13 catches, including two scores, with another senior, Collin Denham, making 12 receptions.
Senior Deshawn King leads Heights’ rushing with 50 yards, and has been dominant on defense with 70 tackles. Sophomore Harrison Hochstedler has 59 stops.
CARMEL-NORTH CENTRAL
Carmel will host North Central for its Homecoming game, which kicks off at 7 p.m.
The Panthers are 3-2, but are winners of their last two games, over Metropolitan Conference opponents Lawrence North 42-27 and Center Grove 24-20. North Central’s other win was over Hamilton Southeastern 17-16. The Panthers have lost to Fishers 26-0 and Warren Central 28-7, making them 2-1 in the MIC.
Senior Harry Abell has thrown for 796 yards as the NC quarterback, including nine touchdowns. Senior Richard Hamilton has made 25 receptions, including seven scores, with senior Jadon Martin getting 10 catches, and one TD.
Junior David Smith leads the Panthers’ rushing with 244 yards and a touchdown. Junior Micah Green is on top of the defense with 51 tackles.
The 6A No. 2 Greyhounds are 4-1, and currently lead the MIC standings at 3-0. Carmel remained perfect in the conference with a 23-20 overtime win against Lawrence North last week.
Sophomore Zach Osborne has thrown for 354 yards this season, while senior Zach Gish is Carmel’s leading receiver with 11 catches, including a touchdown. Senior Dylan Downing has had a great rushing season, with 549 yards and six scores. Junior Dominic Padhen leads the Greyhounds’ defense with 47 tackles.
NOBLESVILLE-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Noblesville will make a trip to Indianapolis’ southeast side to take on Franklin Central Friday in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.
The Flashes are 3-2 for the season, with wins over Decatur Central 30-13, Roncalli 31-19 and Zionsville 17-14. Franklin Central lost to Brownsburg 41-14 and Avon 42-7, making it 1-2 in HCC play, but Millers coach Justin Roden noted the Flashes’ wins during the HCTV coaches show on Monday.
“So they are a vastly improved team from last year,” said Roden. “They are really physical. They got a great linebacker in the middle and they will hit you in the mouth.”
Junior Peyton Viewegh has thrown for 496 yards and three touchdowns this season as FC’s quarterback. Two seniors lead the Flashes’ receiving: Jacob Whitney has 15 catches and one score, while Peyton McClendon has 12 receptions and two touchdowns.
Junior Josh Ruley has 109 yards rushing and has scored five TDs. Senior Nate Talhelm leads the defense with 75 tackles, including five for a loss.
The Millers are 0-5 for the season, but showed promise last week in their Homecoming game with Zionsville. The Eagles won 20-0, but Noblesville allowed them only three points in the second half.
Senior Jayden Barrett has 109 yards passing for the Millers, including a touchdown. Barrett also has 44 yards rushing. Senior Carson Sanders leads the receptions with six, including a TD. Noblesville has three players with 40 tackles this season, led by junior Zach Blevins’ 44 stops.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN-ZIONSVILLE
Hamilton Southeastern goes on the road Friday to Zionsville, continuing HCC play.
The Eagles are 3-2 for the season, and picked up their first conference win of the year last week at Noblesville 20-0. Zionsville started the season with victories over Pike 17-7 and Lebanon 47-33, then fell to Westfield 51-24 and Franklin Central 17-14.
Senior Cole Wiseman is the Eagles’ quarterback, and has thrown for 737 yards and four touchdowns. Royals coach Adam Morris said that Wiseman “is really experienced,” having also played as a sophomore and a junior.
“They have the best running back in the area right now,” said Morris. “They’re big up front, they’ve always been big up front. They’re physical again this year. Defensively, they’re really aggressive.”
Sophomore Colin Price is that running back, and he has gained 985 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Sophomore Trey Firestone leads the receptions with 20, including a touchdown, with senior Brody Whitesell making 16 catches, including two scores. Senior Garrett Williamson is on top of the defense with 78 tackles.
Southeastern is 2-3 and got its first HCC win last week by beating Westfield 34-10. Senior Andrew Hobson is having an outstanding year as quarterback, with 1,121 yards and six touchdowns.
Three seniors are leading the receptions list: Senior DeAndre Rhoades has 30 catches (four TDs), Ben Boysen has 25 and Nathan Wolf has 12 (one TD). Sophomore Blaine Wertz has compiled 260 yards rushing and has two touchdowns. Senior Seth Smarelli leads the defense with 51 tackles, while senior Chris Stein has made six tackles for a loss.
SHERIDAN-TAYLOR
Sheridan heads to Taylor Friday for a Hoosier Heartland Conference game.
The Titans are 1-4. Taylor began its season with a 63-50 win over North White, then fell to North Miami 42-14, Carroll 34-6, Eastern 49-0 and Clinton Central 41-27.
Blackhawks coach Bud Wright said that the Titans “are playing better all the time, plus they got some speed.” Junior Riley Gilbert leads Taylor’s rushing with 527 yards and five touchdowns. Two other players are over 100 yards rushing for the season.
“They’re a dangerous school right now because they’ve got three kids that can really run,” said Wright.
Junior Jaylen Harris is the Titans’ quarterback, with 140 total yards passing and one touchdown. Senior Alex Kropczynski has made seven receptions and has two scores, and also leads the defense with 31 tackles.
Class 1A No. 9 Sheridan is 4-1, and leads the HHC standings at 4-0, beating Clinton Prairie 47-38 last week to stay perfect in the conference.
Junior Cameron Hovey is by far the county’s leading rusher, with 1,210 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sophomore Silas DeVaney has 391 yards passing and one score as quarterback, with junior Keenan Warren the leading receiver with six receptions and one TD. Hovey also leads the defense with 46 tackles, while senior Chris Starks has nine tackles for a loss.
Westfield’s Dane Wheeler, shown leaping into the end zone during the Shamrocks’ game last week at Hamilton Southeastern, has 16 receptions, including three touchdowns, for Westfield. The Shamrocks host Brownsburg on Friday at Riverview Health Stadium. (Bret Richardson/File photo)