By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
As Indiana high school football teams enter the final third of the regular season, pretty much every game is a rivalry game.
Two nearby rivals will meet in Fishers Friday, as Noblesville travels to Hamilton Southeastern. Kickoff for this game is set for 7 p.m. The Millers notched their first win of the season last Friday over Hamilton Heights 45-0, while the Royals lost a frustrating game to Zionsville 30-10.
While Noblesville was glad to get its first victory last week, the Millers are making sure things remain business as usual as they prepare for HSE.
“We aren’t approaching this game any differently just because we won last Friday,” said NHS coach Jason Simmons. “Our message has been the same for quite some time now. We have challenged our entire program to get better every day and concentrate on the areas of discipline, accountability, trust, and belief in the process of getting better every day.”
One player who has definitely gotten better is Grant Gremel. The junior quarterback threw two touchdown passes last week against Heights, and rushed for two more. Gremel totaled 203 yards over the air, and in fact is now the leading passer in Hamilton County with 83 completions and 872 yards.
Gremel has gotten notice from Southeastern coach Scott May.
“He can throw it and run it,” said May. “I think they are getting better as a team and play hard. Their win last week I am sure was big.”
The Royals had some bright spots against the Eagles last week. Kody Sparks notched his second rushing touchdown of the season and threw for 211 yards. Jackson Sweeney continued his comeback from an early-season injury, rushing for 85 yards.
“Hamilton Southeastern has grown offensively over the past two games,” said Simmons. “They are dangerous in space with the football and they have created a more balanced attack the past two weeks. The ability to put defenses in space and the tempo with which they play offensively will be two things we work to handle on Friday. Defensively, they are a fast group that gets downhill well. Their scheme creates match-up concerns that we will need to minimize. They are a sound, well-coached football team that will be a challenge for us Friday.”
“Our kids know we have no off week and to win we must show up every week and be ready to make plays,” said May. “Sometimes we have to remind them but they know. We just have to keep working on us. I don’t think we have hit our peak as a team and we can get better. We missed big opportunities to score last week and we got beat. I do point those things out and we work to improve.”
HUGE GAME FOR ‘HAWKS
Now that they have at least a share of the Hoosier Heartland Conference championship, Sheridan will be taking a week off from league play to travel to Tipton.
This will be a big game: The Blue Devils are 6-0 and ranked No. 6 in 2A, with wins over Madison-Grant, Elwood, Lafayette Central Catholic, Hamilton Heights, Western and Northwestern. The Blackhawks are 5-1, and rated No. 6 in 1A.
Junior KJ Roudebush has been outstanding for Tipton, with 1548 yards and 91 completions so far this season. Roudebush has thrown for 15 touchdowns. Senior Caleb Burkett has the most receptions with 23, followed closely by junior Aidan Moses with 22.
“This is a real good ball game for us,” said Sheridan coach Bud Wright on the Hamilton County Television Coaches Show. “They haven’t had a close ball game except for Lafayette Central Catholic.”
“They got a lot of good quickness, especially on the defensive front,” said Wright.
Sheridan’s Joe Callahan has leaped to the top of the county scoring and rushing charts, thanks to his five-touchdown performance last week against Taylor. Callahan has now scored 14 touchdowns and rushed for 913 yards. The Blackhawks have also mixed it up on offense this season: Drake Delph has eight touchdown passes.
‘HOUNDS AT NO. 1 BEN DAVIS
It doesn’t get much bigger for Carmel this week: The 6A No. 7 Greyhounds will travel to Ben Davis, the unquestionable No. 1 team in Class 6A.
The Giants are 6-0 and none of those games have been close: Ben Davis is winning its games by an average score of 49-15. Senior Reese Taylor is the Giants’ quarterback, and he has already thrown 103 completions, 1483 yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior Broc Thompson is Ben Davis’ top receiver, with 34 catches and five scores.
Another senior, Johnny Adams, has 10 touchdowns and 685 yards to his credit.
“Ben Davis is a supremely talented football team in every measurable way,” said Carmel coach John Hebert. “Explosive playmaking on offense is why they are averaging over 50 points a game, but they are capable of executing and controlling the ball, something we learned while playing them last year. Trying to contain and limit Reese Taylor and Johnny Adams is our goal, with the understanding that they are going to make plays and we have to continue to pursue them for the entirety of the game.
“Their defense is very fast and capable of big plays on every snap. Controlling the football will be very important for our chances of victory. We will have to mix the running game with a passing attack that can keep them somewhat off balance. We have gained some confidence on offense but we still have a lot to prove to ourselves about our capabilities.”
STATE CHAMPS COME TO FISHERS
Fishers and Roncalli are not rivals – this will be the first time the two schools have ever played each other. But anytime a defending state champion comes to town, it’s a big deal.
The Rebels are the No. 1-ranked team in Class 5A, this after winning the 4A state title last year. Roncalli is 6-0 with wins over Southport, Franklin Central, Bishop Chatard, Plainfield, Scecina and Brebeuf Jesuit.
Senior Conner Gore is the quarterback for the Rebels, and he has a highly efficient record – 69 of 91 for 958 yards and nine touchdowns. Another senior, Patrick McManama, has rushed for nine touchdowns as well, totaling 396 yards for the season. He is one of two top runners for Roncalli; junior Elijah Mahan has accumulated 442 yards. Senior Michael Dill is the leading receiver with 25 catches.
“New Head Coach Scott Marsh has totally changed their offense from the traditional Roncalli offense from years past as they are now a spread offense and throwing the ball to receivers in space but still possess a physical, downhill running game,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer. “Defensively, they bring lots of pressure and play a lot of man and match coverage. Our receivers will have to do a great job of route running to create space for our quarterback and our offensive line and running backs will have to by physical and tough as we will often have more defenders in the box than we can block.”
SHAMROCKS TRAVEL TO AVON
Westfield is looking to bounce back after consecutive losses, and the Shamrocks will try to do that against the Hoosier Crossroads Conference’s best team on Friday.
Westfield travels to Avon for a 7 p.m. game. The Class 6A No. 9 Orioles are 4-2 and 2-1 in the conference – they were beaten by Fishers last week in a dramatic contest.
Senior Cameron Misner is Avon’s quarterback, and he has totaled an insane number of yards – 1638 -over six games. That’s an average of 273 yards per game. Misner has already thrown for 21 touchdowns. Westfield coach Jake Gilbert calls the Orioles’ offense “amazing.”
“Maybe the best I have ever seen in the HCC,” said Gilbert. “They are loaded and experienced everywhere.”
Junior Sampson James is the leading rusher for Avon, with 729 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior Isaac Guerendo, a Wisconsin recruit, has 35 receptions for 921 yards and 12 scores.
Despite falling in back-to-back games, Gilbert remains confident that his team will turn things around.
“We are confident that we’ll get better,” said Gilbert. “Obviously we have not scored the last two games without Nate Froelich. We have to keep grinding it out and play with better enthusiasm, energy, and fundamentals.”
HOMECOMING FOR HUSKIES
Hamilton Heights will have its Homecoming game this week, welcoming Twin Lakes. The kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. due to travel time for the Indians from Monticello.
Twin Lakes is 3-3 for the season, with wins over Delphi, Benton Central and Lafayette Central Catholic. Losses have come from Culver Academy, Northwestern and Rensselaer Central. After starting 1-3, the Indians have won their last two games. Heights coach Mitch Street said Twin Lakes is “playing pretty confident and good football.”
“They are very talented offensively, and because of their scheme provide you a lot of challenges,” said Street. “They will make you play disciplined football. Defensively, they attack you, and that can be challenging as well.”
“Our kids are excited to have Homecoming this week, but we understand we have a lot of work to do as a football team, and so far this week they have embraced that,” said Street.
GUERIN PLAYS AT BREBEUF
Guerin Catholic will try to rebound from its first loss of the season at Brebeuf Jesuit in a Circle City Conference game. This game will be played on Saturday.
The Braves are 2-4 for the season with wins over Arsenal Tech and Culver Academy, and losses to Bishop Chatard, Cardinal Ritter, Zionsville and Roncalli.
Senior Derrick Ozobu is Brebeuf’s quarterback, and has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 1102 yards.
“They’ve got a good team,” said Golden Eagles coach Tom Dilley on the HCTV Coaches Show. “Coach Roessler’s done a very good job with those guys. They’re always tough and they return a lot of experience. Always a physical, physical game.”
Sheridan’s Gunnar Williams (right) has scored six touchdowns for the Blackhawks this season. Sheridan will play at undefeated Tipton this Friday. (Kirk Green/file photo)