There is never an easy week in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference football season, especially if you’re on top of the standings.
After two weeks of play in the HCC, three teams – Hamilton Southeastern, Brownsburg and Westfield – are tied for first with 2-0 record. Two of those squads will play on Friday when the Class 6A No. 2 Shamrocks visit the 6A No. 7 Royals.
Southeastern is off to its best start since the 2008 season, as the Royals are perfect with a 4-0 overall record. HSE has cruised past Lawrence Central 35-7, North Central 45-13, Avon 40-13 and Fishers 42-13.
“I love their defense,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “They have a stud at every level on their defense. They all play hard and fly to the ball. Super impressed. On offense they can really run the football. (Blaine) Wertz lit us up a couple of years ago. They play a physical style.”
Gilbert noted that the Royals have multiple quarterbacks and running backs that have made plays, “so they are deep,” he said.
Both Southeastern quarterbacks are doing well so far. Senior Sam Jacobs is 11-for-20 with 217 yards and four touchdowns, while junior Ty Bradle is throwing at an 8-of-18 clip for 160 yards and three TDs. Senior Dylan Conner has three touchdown receptions for the season.
Wertz, a senior, has totaled 422 yards rushing so far, with eight scores. Senior Owen Jones has 297 yards and four TDs to this credit. Junior Griffen Haas has 26 total tackles, while senior Louden Sundling has made seven tackles for a loss.
Meanwhile, Westfield is 3-1 for the year. After dropping a 14-0 opener to Cathedral, the ‘Rocks have taken care of Harrison 33-11, Zionsville 42-21 and Noblesville 42-15.
Senior quarterback Maximus Webster has thrown for four touchdowns on efficient 34-of-49 passing for 509 yards. Senior Ian Bruch has 11 receptions and freshman Gabe Aramboles has 10; both have caught one touchdown pass.
Senior Micah Hauser leads the Westfield rushing with 258 yards, and senior Trevon Hatchett has gained 167 yards. Both have scored five touchdowns this season. Hauser also leads the defense with 49 tackles, followed closely by junior Tyler Dikos with 48.
“They have a great team with a lot of talent,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly. The coach also said that Westfield plays hard and is very disciplined. He noted that it will be “incredibly important” for the Royals to be disciplined, “play fast, and secure tackles.”
Gilbert also said the Shamrocks’ special teams are doing great overall, with senior Caleb King a perfect 13-of-13 on extra points for the season. Gilbert also said that defensively, Westfield has been rarely giving up explosive plays, “but our offense has been very explosive.”
“We have to do a better job in the turnover margin but we are starting to improve,” said Gilbert. “We have a lot of room for improvement and still have some guys getting healthy, so I believe we’ll get better.”
NOBLESVILLE-ZIONSVILLE
Noblesville hosts 5A No. 7 Zionsville on Friday for its Homecoming game, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles will enter Beaver Materials Field with a 2-2 record, including an 0-2 mark in the HCC. Zionsville won its first two games of the season against Pike 28-10 and Lebanon 30-2, then dropped conference games to Westfield 42-21 and Franklin Central 24-21.
Junior quarterback Christian Abney is throwing at a 37-of-64 clip for 370 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Colin Price leads the receptions with 19, including two scores, and also is on top of the rushing list with 341 yards and five TDs.
Senior Otto Kyler is the Eagles’ defense leader with 35 tackles. Senior Adam Longmire has eight tackles for a loss.
Noblesville will come into this game with a 2-2 record as well, and is also 0-2 in conference play. Sophomore Logan Shoffner has been a force for the Millers, with 768 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. On defense, sophomore Austin Hastings leads the way with 36 tackles, followed by senior Sam Steinhofer with 34 stops.
SHERIDAN-CLINTON PRAIRIE
Sheridan will also play its Homecoming game on Friday, hosting Clinton Prairie in a Hoosier Heartland Conference contest.
The Gophers are 2-1 for the season. Prairie did not play a Week 1 game, so it opened its season at Frankfort during Week 2, losing 28-14. The Gophers then won back-to-back conference games, over Clinton Central 41-0 and Tri-Central 32-8.
Senior Drew Blacker is Prairie’s quarterback, and has completed 33 out of 50 pass attempts for 398 yards and six touchdowns. Kadne Mullendore has 17 of those catches, including four touchdowns.
Senior Drew Duarte has gained 255 yards rushing for the Gophers, plus one touchdown. Senior Connor Cobb has 36 tackles to lead the defense, including six for a loss.
The Blackhawks are 2-1 in conference play and 2-2 overall. Senior Gavin Reners has stepped into the main running back spot and done very well, with 418 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Jacob Jones leads the Sheridan defense with 30 tackles, six for a loss.
CARMEL-LAWRENCE NORTH
Carmel, ranked No. 3 in 6A continues Metropolitan Conference play on Friday when it welcomes 6A No. 10 Lawrence North to Carmel Stadium.
The Wildcats are 2-0 in the MIC and 3-0 for the season. Lawrence North opened its campaign with a 26-22 win at Avon, then did not play a Week 2 game. That sent LN into the conference season, where it beat Lawrence Central 20-6 and North Central 33-7.
Sophomore Montez Jones is the Wildcats’ quarterback, and has completed 34 of 57 pass attempts for 429 yards. Senior Omar Cooper and sophomore Israel Jackson both have nine receptions.
Junior Ali Richardson is the top rusher, with 361 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Romaro Warren leads the LN defense with 35 tackles, while senior Josh Noble has six tackles for a loss.
The Greyhounds are 1-1 in MIC play and 3-1 overall, rebounding by beating Pike last week. Senior Zach Osborne is off to a fantastic start, throwing 53-of-83 for 683 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Desmond Duffy leads the receptions with 23, including four touchdowns, while senior Jaedon King has 20 catches, including one score.
Senior Ethan Hall is Carmel’s top rusher with 189 yards and a touchdown, while Osborne has six running TDs. On defense, junior Winston Berglund leads with 40 tackles, followed by junior Will Heldt with 39.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-RONCALLI
Guerin Catholic will take on 4A No. 1 Roncalli Friday in a Circle City Conference game at the Eagles Nest.
The Royals are 4-0 for the season, including a Week 3 conference win over Bishop Chatard, 28-21. Roncalli’s other victories have all come against Class 6A teams: Southport 55-7, Franklin Central 34-13 and Columbus North 45-12.
Senior Aidan Leffler has been impressive as the Royals’ quarterback, throwing 50-of-78 for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Kyle Lockard has 18 catches, including four TDs, and senior Caden Gore has made 15 receptions, six for scores.
Gore is also Roncalli’s leading rusher, with 316 yards and three touchdowns to his credit. Senior Daniel O’Connor leads the defense with 35 tackles, while senior Joe Curd has 6.5 tackles for a loss.
The Golden Eagles are 0-1 in conference play and 1-3 overall. Quarterback Sam Miller has been solid, completing 54 of 73 pass attempts for 617 yards and five TDs. Sophomore Jack Cherry has 20 of those catches, including one for a touchdown, while senior Ryan Glenn has 19 receptions, three for scores.
Junior Justin Zdobylak has rushed for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Anthony Ferrucci tops the defense list with 35 tackles, followed by seniors Adam Novelen and Dylan Balcer with 31 stops each. Balcer has six tackles for a loss.
FISHERS-BROWNSBURG
Fishers will go on the road Friday to play an HCC game at Brownsburg.
The 6A No. 5 Bulldogs are 2-0 in conference play and 3-1 overall. Brownsburg has wins over Ben Davis 33-22, Franklin Central 28-14 and Avon 38-17, with its only loss to Cathedral 20-7.
Junior Jayden Whitaker is the Bulldogs’ quarterback, and he has thrown for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Caleb Marcus has rushed for 287 yards and four touchdowns, while sophomore Garrett Sherrell is right behind with 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior Rashon Myles Jr. leads the defense with 28 tackles. Two players have 6.5 tackles for a loss: junior Keegan Moore and senior Isaiah Street. Senior Garrett Dalton has six tackles for a loss as well.
Fishers will head to Brownsburg with a 1-1 record in the conference and 3-1 overall. The Tigers will look to bounce back after their loss to Southeastern last week.
Junior Luke Minns has had a good first part of the season, going 44-of-69 for 581 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Aidan Zimmer has 17 catches, including one for a score. Junior Carson Dunn has totaled 278 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Junior Grady Stanley is on top of the defense with 41 tackles, including six for a loss.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-WESTERN
Hamilton Heights goes back on the road Friday to play Western in a Hoosier Conference East Division game.
The Panthers are 2-2 for the season and will be playing their first division game Friday against the Huskies. Western has beaten Western Boone 28-26 and New Castle 49-42, and lost to Kokomo 28-14 and West Lafayette 69-19.
Senior Dylan Bryant is the Panthers’ quarterback, throwing for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Garrett Lupoi has three touchdown catches. Bryant is also the top rusher, with 694 yards and eight scores. Senior Hayden Shepherd is next in line with 326 yards and three touchdowns, and also leads the defense with 50 tackles.
Heights is 3-1 and won its division opener last week 42-7 over Northwestern. Senior Guy Griffey has completed 33 of 58 pass attempts for 494 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Gavin Bramel has 12 of those receptions, including six for TDs. Senior Isaac Tuma has 10 catches, including one for a touchdown.
Junior Trey Ehman leads the rushing with 380 yards and two scores. Senior Hudson Hochstedeler is on top of the defense with 34 tackles.
