By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
The Mudsock football game is always a “Circle The Date And Get There Early” day on just about every calendar in Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern high schools.
This year’s game is important not just because of the Mudsock Trophy and the Hoosier Crossroads Conference implications. Both the Tigers and the Royals are 1-2 coming into the game, so a win would get either team back to .500.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at Reynolds Tigers Stadium at Fishers High School. Last year, the Royals came from way back to beat the Tigers in overtime, 36-33.
“This is a big week for us coming off two losses and I think it is important for our kids to respond,” said Southeastern coach Scott May. “I know the week is a big week for everyone in Fishers and one kids always look forward to but we have to make sure we are focused on us. We have to get better in what we do on the field and take care of detail. We need to play with great energy and have fun.”
The Royals opened their season with a 24-2 win over Kokomo, but then fell to North Central 37-14 and Avon 38-7. Fishers lost to the Panthers 19-17 and Pike 43-0 before picking up its first win at Noblesville 29-0.
Southeastern has gotten some good production from its quarterback Cody Huppenthal, who has two touchdowns as part of his 31 rushes for 113 yards. Lance Stephens is HSE’s leading rusher with 130 yards, and Ben Boysen has seven receptions.
As for the Tigers, Jon Vore has jumped to the top of the passing list in Hamilton County after his three touchdown, 173-yard performance last week. Vore now has five touchdowns for the season and 419 yards passing. Collin Statz has 12 receptions, with Isaiah Dunnuck making two TD caches.
“We played with much more poise and confidence last week and hope to continue showing improvement in all phases of our team,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer. “We have much room for improvement and will need to continue to show improvement in this game in order to win.
“HSE is, as usual, a good defensive football team with a solid kicking game,” said Wimmer. “Our biggest concern right now is in being able to block their defensive front especially with our young offensive tackles against two of their better defensive players, Norris and Hedrick, who have very good quickness. All of their linebackers show good ability to get to football and tackle aggressively. This game will be a real challenge for our young offensive line, but we gained some confidence last week and have a couple of running backs in Michael Noble and HL Lewis who are returning to the lineup after being out.”
MIDLAND RAIL BATTLE
Another traveling trophy will be up for grabs Friday when Noblesville travels to Westfield. The Midland Rail Trophy is in the hands of the Class 6A No. 10 Shamrocks, who beat the Millers 28-7 last year.
Westfield has won its first three games of 2017. The ‘Rocks took care of Harrison 22-7, came back to beat Southport 21-14 and held off Zionsville 28-21.
“We are coming along,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “I am very happy with where we are as a program. We have had some standout play on defense. Colin Caldwell, Koby Hauser, Griffin Lickfeldt, and Michael Delaney have played great all three games. I have been very impressed with some of our guys stepping up into bigger roles.”
Gilbert said that quarterback Cameron Nance “has been terrific,” and he certainly has shown it so far this season. Nance is passing for 366 yards and four touchdowns, and has also run for a couple scores. Running back Nate Froelich is at 349 yards rushing, with a pair of touchdowns to his credit. Also, Gilbert said his young offensive line “is working its way into shape.”
“I’m excited for the coming weeks, but right now our focus is on Noblesville,” said Gilbert. The coach said he things the Millers’ defense up front “is arguably the best in the conference.”
“They are tough and physical. It should be a war,” said Gilbert.
Noblesville will come in to Riverview Health Stadium looking for its first win of the season. The Millers have fallen to Lawrence North 42-16, Carmel 31-0 and Fishers 29-0.
But, Noblesville has a solid group of players. Quarterback Grant Gremel is passing 41-of-82 for the season with 346 yards, with Nick Rusie making nine catches. In fact, the Millers have five players that have caught at least five passes during the season.
“Westfield is a very aggressive team that requires a detailed game plan in all three phases of the game,” said Noblesville coach Jason Simmons. “Coach Gilbert and his team consistently produce one of the most well coached teams in our conference. They are playing good football right now. They play with a great deal of confidence and aggressiveness. They have playmakers in all three phases of the game that have our attention. We need to embrace the opportunity to compete against another Top 10 team in 6A.”
HUSKIES’ BIG RIVAL
Another county team searching for its first win is Hamilton Heights. The Huskies will try for it by heading north to play their old rival Tipton on Friday.
The Blue Devils are 3-0 coming into the season, with big wins over Madison-Grant (72-0) and Elwood (55-6) to start the season. Tipton then edged Lafayette Central Catholic 21-17 last week. Last season, the Huskies beat Tipton 20-14.
“Tipton is very talented on both sides of the football,” said Heights coach Mitch Street. “They have athletes that have played since they were freshmen and sophomores. Those guys are now junior and seniors, and are very good. They will pose a large challenge on Friday.”
Junior quarterback KJ Roudebush has been very efficient for the Blue Devils thus far, passing 40-for-62, with six touchdowns and 725 yards. He’s also not a bad runner, with 112 yards in 22 carries, including six scores.
A freshman, Will Sayers, has only seven carries on the season, but he’s totaled 161 yards in those carries, including three touchdowns. Senior Caleb Burkett has 10 catches for 364 yards and four TDs.
“It is likely the best offense we have faced this year,” said Street. “We will need to play really sound defense. They are going to get their yards, but we have to eliminate the big plays. We have to find ways to move the ball offensively. We have to eliminate our turnovers to give ourselves a chance against Tipton. Likewise, we have to win the special teams game.”
Blake Webel has been a bright spot for the Huskies, with three touchdowns and 219 yards rushing so far this season.
At the game, both schools will be collecting monetary donations for the Aldine Independent School District, which is located in Houston and serves parts of the city and surrounding, unincorporated Harris County. Many Texas schools were affected by Hurricane Harvey.
‘HAWKS HOST UNBEATEN CARROLL
Sheridan will take on Carroll in an important Hoosier Heartland Conference game. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Bud Wright Stadium.
The Blackhawks have an early advantage in the HHC standings, at 2-0. The Cougars are 1-0 in the conference, but are 3-0 overall. Carroll defeated Tri-County 40-25 and Delphi 28-14 before winning its HHC opener over Taylor 61-8.
Sheridan coach Bud Wright said that the Cougars have several solid players.
“They got eight or nine starters back on offense,” said Wright. “They got seven starters back on defense. They got a lot of experience.”
Wright said that Carroll’s quarterback, senior Trey Filbrun, is one of the better QBs Sheridan will face this year. Filbrun has already passed for 531 yards and seven touchdowns. Trenton Brumett, another senior, is the Cougars’ leading rusher with 260 yards and three touchdowns. Filbrun himself has run the ball into the end zone four times.
Senior Devon Anderson and junior Quinton Veach both have 13 catches so far this season.
“They spread it out, they put three or four or five wideouts and put the ball in the air,” said Wright.
Sheridan will counter with Gunnar Williams, who is Hamilton County’s leading scorer so far with 36 points, and Joe Callahan, who has rushed for 391 yards. But the ‘Hawks are passing a little more this year: Drake Delph is 15-for-28 and has thrown four touchdown passes.
CARMEL HOSTS HIGH-FLYING PIKE
Carmel will continue Metropolitan Conference play by hosting Pike on Friday.
Both teams are 1-2 for the season, including a loss in their MIC openers last week. The Red Devils, after getting edged out by Zionsville 33-32 in their opener, beat Fishers 43-0 in their next game. But Pike was dropped by Ben Davis 69-34 in its first conference game last week.
Nevertheless, Greyhounds coach John Hebert is taking the Red Devils seriously.
“Pike is a very talented football team that has played extremely well at times in their first three games,” said Hebert. “Despite being 1-2 on the season, they are averaging nearly 35 points a game due to great athleticism in the skilled positions and strong quarterback play. Defensively, Pike poses several challenges for our offense with their aggressive blitzing and speed. We will need to have a great week of practice in order to have a chance to win the football game.”
Carmel has the county’s leading receiver in Atticus Clouse, who has caught 17 passes for 224 yards, including two touchdowns. Quarterback Jake McDonald is presently 27-of-54 for 385 yards this season.
GOLDEN EAGLES PLAY HOWE
Guerin Catholic will take on Indianapolis Howe, in a game that kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Eagles Nest.
The Hornets are winless on the year, having fallen to Osceola Grace 62-12, Triton Central 54-0 and Bowman Academy 28-22 in overtime. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are 3-0 to start the season.
Guerin’s Thomas Kaser is currently the county’s leading rusher with 593 yards in 75 carries, and has scored three touchdowns. Bernie McGinnis has seven catches for the Golden Eagles.
Fishers quarterback Jon Vore is now leading Hamilton County quarterbacks in passing yards after a three-touchdown, 173-yard performance last week. Vore will lead the Tigers against Hamilton Southeastern this Friday in the Mudsock game. (Kirk Green/File photo)