The majority of Hamilton County’s high school football fields will be buzzing with activity on Friday night, as six county schools are playing games at home.
One of those games will be an all-county affair. Fishers travels to Westfield’s Riverview Health Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff between two Hoosier Crossroads Conference teams that have stellar records this season.
The Tigers will head to Westfield with a 5-2 record, having won their last two games. Fishers beat Avon 35-25 two weeks ago and Franklin Central 37-8 last week; the Tigers are 3-2 in HCC play.
“Fishers is really solid defensively,” said Shamrocks coach Jake Gilbert. “They are only giving up 19 points per game. That’s really solid in today’s game. They aren’t big but they are quick, can cover, and play really hard. I love their running back and tight end. Two studs who are dangerous.”
Junior quarterback Lucas Minns is completing 63 percent of his pass attempts, going 78-for-124, and has hit four digits in passing yards with 1,014. Minns has tossed 10 touchdown passes. this season.
Senior Jeffrey Simmons has five of those touchdown receptions and 23 catches overall. Junior Aidan Zimmer has 22 receptions, one for a score, while junior Collin McPeek counts three touchdowns among has 12 receptions. Junior Carson Dunn is the top rusher with 571 yards and seven scores.
Junior Grady Stanley leads the defense with 67 tackles, including nine for a loss. Senior Dominic Oliverio also has nine tackles for a loss, while seniors Jack Alvarez (52 tackles) and Jake Gates (51 tackles) are also making a defensive impact.
“I am proud of our players and the improvements they have made since the summer,” said Fishers coach Curt Funk. “Our kids work to improve, and I am proud of the progress they have made. We just take it day by day and trust the process.”
Westfield is 6-1 for the season. The Class 6A No. 2 Shamrocks are on a six-game win streak, including all five of their HCC games thus far this season. Westfield beat Brownsburg 24-21 two weeks ago and defeated Avon 45-24 last week.
Funk said that Westfield is solid in all three phases of the game, “but what stands out the most is how hard they play,” he said. “On defense they get 11 hats to the football, on offense they are efficient and are very balanced, and play mistake free special teams.”
Senior quarterback Maximus Webster is 72-of-101 through the air – a completion rate of 71 percent – and has totaled 1,053 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Freshman Gabe Aramboles leads the receptions with 19, including four touchdowns. Senior Ian Bruch has 18 receptions, two of them for scores, and senior Jackson Wasserstrom has 16 catches, including three TDs.
Senior Micah Hauser leads the rushing with 505 yards and 10 touchdowns, while senior Trevon Hatchett has gained 259 yards, scoring five touchdowns. Junior Tyler Dikos leads the defense with 78 tackles, while Hauser has made 74 stops. Senior Popeye Williams has nine tackles for a loss and four sacks.
NOBLESVILLE-BROWNSBURG
Noblesville returns to Beaver Materials Field on Friday to take on 6A No. 7 Brownsburg in an HCC game.
The Bulldogs are 4-1 in conference play and 5-2 overall. In non-conference play, Brownsburg beat Ben Davis 33-22 and lost to Cathedral 20-7. Once into the HCC portion of their schedule, the Bulldogs have wins over Franklin Central 28-14, Avon 38-17, Fishers 39-21 and Zionsville 19-6. Brownsburg’s only conference loss is to Westfield, 24-21.
Junior quarterback Jaylen Whitaker is 70-of-102 this season with 885 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Alex Hoover and junior Caleb Marcus both have 11 catches, with Marcus getting one touchdown.
Marcus is also the Bulldogs’ top rusher, with 749 yards and eight TDs. Senior Rashon Myles Jr. is on top of the defense with 52 tackles, while senior Garrett Dalton has nine tackles for a loss.
The Millers are 2-5 for the season and are still looking for their first HCC win of the season. Sophomore Logan Shoffner is by far Noblesville’s leading rusher, with 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns to his credit. Senior Alairic Rogers-Walton has 383 yards and five scores.
Senior Sam Steinhofer leads the Millers’ defense with 69 tackles, followed by sophomore Austin Hastings with 61. Senior Jacob Hoffman has 7.5 tackles for a loss.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Hamilton Southeastern, the No. 6-ranked team in 6A, plays its second consecutive HCC home game tonight, welcoming Franklin Central to TCU Field.
The Flashes are 3-2 in conference action and 4-3 overall. Franklin Central started its season with a 27-21 win at Perry Meridian, then lost to Roncalli 34-13 in Week 2.
In HCC play, the Flashes have wins over Zionsville 24-21, Avon 30-23 and Noblesville 28-22. FC’s conference losses have been to Brownsburg 28-14 and Fishers 37-8.
Freshman quarterback Nevan Tutterow is having a solid season, going 76-for-133 with 944 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Bryan Marshall is the top receiver with 21 catches, including one touchdown, followed by senior Dameon Miller with 19 receptions and two scores.
Senior Aataeveon Jordan is the top rusher, with 1,001 yards and eight TDs, followed by sophomore Braylen Gillard, who has 470 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Wyatt Penney is the top tackler for FC with 53 stops.
The Royals are 4-1 in conference play and 6-1 overall. Senior Sam Jacobs is throwing at a 29-of-52 clip with 424 yards and eight touchdowns to his credit. Senior Jack Wafford is the top receiver with 11 catches and three touchdowns; senior Dylan Conner also has three touchdown receptions.
Senior Blaine Wertz has been dominant on the ground with 740 yards rushing and 11 TDs, followed closely by senior Owen Jones’ 561 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Louden Sundling has 44 tackles, including seven for a loss. Junior Evan Sherrill has eight tackles for a loss.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-LEWIS CASS
Hamilton Heights welcomes Lewis Cass to its field on Friday in a Hoosier Conference East Division game.
The Kings are 1-2 in division play and 2-4 overall. Cass’ lone division victory is a 26-20 win over Northwestern, while it has dropped games to Tipton 42-0 in Western 43-14. In non-division games, Cass beat North Miami 20-7 and lost to Delta 41-0 and West Lafayette 42-0.
The Huskies are also 1-2 in division play, and 4-3 overall. Senior quarterback Guy Griffey is having a solid year, going 64-of-117 for 904 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Gavin Bramel has eight of those touchdown receptions, out of 25 overall catches, while senior Isaac Tuma has the other two touchdown catches, with 19 overall.
Junior Trey Ehman leads the rushing with 656 yards and three scores, followed by junior Chance Yeager’s 183 yards and three TDs. Senior Harrison Hochstedler leads the defensive list with 58 tackles, followed by senior Nate Hulen with 49 stops and senior Andy Lienemann with 48 tackles. All three have five tackles for a loss.
CARMEL-WARREN CENTRAL
Carmel will host old Metropolitan Conference rival Warren Central on Friday.
The Warriors are 4-2 in MIC play this season and 5-2 overall. Warren dropped its opener to conference-leader Center Grove 38-14, while it lost its most recent game, falling to Lawrence North 24-21 last week. In between, the 6A No. 9 Warriors won five in a row: Bishop Chatard 36-25, North Central 42-0, Lawrence Centarl 48-13, Ben Davis 57-56 and Pike 30-13.
Warren Central’s senior quarterback Prince Powell is having a good season, throwing for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns on a 79-of-126 passing rate. Senior Ezra Baker leads the receptions with 24, followed by junior Joe Walker with 23 catches, including 10 for touchdowns.
Junior Rodney Johnson has rushed for 427 yards, followed by Powell with 310 yards. Both have six touchdowns to their credit. On defense, senior Daniel Harrell has 54 tackles, followed by Brion Stephens with 47 stops and Lee Alexander Jr. with 46 tackles.
The 6A No. 3 Greyhounds are 4-1 in MIC action and 6-1 overall. Senior quarterback Zach Osborne has been outstanding, going 96-of-149 for 1,455 yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior Desmond Duffy has 36 of those catches, including 11 scores. Senior Jaedon King has 28 receptions and junior Reece Bellin has 25; both have caught three touchdown passes.
Senior Ethan Hall has 248 rushing yards, including two scores, while Osborne has rushed for eight touchdowns. annd 213 yards. Junior Will Heldt leads the defense with 60 tackles, followed by junior Winston Berglund with 57.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-EAST CENTRAL
Guerin Catholic will host East Central at the Eagles Nest, in a Friday game with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The 4A No. 4 Trojans are 6-1 for the season. East Central was an undefeated champion in the Eastern Indiana Conference, finishing 3-0 with wins against Franklin County 37-8, South Dearborn 42-7 and Connersville 73-6.
The Trojans’ non-conference wins have come over Lawrenceburg 34-6, Harrison (Ohio) 42-0, Batesville 44-13, South Dearborn 42-7 and Connersville 73-6. East Central’s only loss was to Cincinnati Moeller, 39-22.
The Trojans’ quarterback is sophomore Cole Burton, who has completed 51 of 94 pass attempts for 879 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Eli Aston is the top receiver with 24 catches, five of them for scores.
Junior Trae Ohmer leads the rushing with 433 yards and five touchdowns, while Burton has also run for five TDs. On defense, senior Caleb Mergenthal has 42 tackles, followed by senior Hunter Sohns with 40 stops.
The Golden Eagles are 1-6 for the season. Senior quarterback Sam Miller is throwing at a 74-of-114 rate with 756 yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore QB Ryan Zimmerman has made 31 of 60 pass attempts for 589 yards and seven scores. Senior Ryan Glenn has 34 catches, including five touchdowns.
Junior Justin Zdobylak leads the rushing with 576 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Anthony Ferrucci is on top of the defense with 58 tackles, while senior Adam Novelen has 52 stops.
SHERIDAN-EASTERN
Sheridan will go on the road Friday to play Eastern in a pivotal Hoosier Heartland Conference game.
The Comets are a perfect 5-0 in conference play and 6-1 overall. Eastern opened the season with a 42-20 loss to Oak Hill, but have been winning ever since. The Comets beat Blackford 35-0 in Week 2, then have rolled in HHC action, defeating Delphi 28-14, Taylor 61-13, Carroll 33-13, Clinton Central 49-20 and Tri-Central 41-6.
Sophomore quarterback Eli Edwards has had a great season, going 85-for-111 (a 77 percent completion rate) for 1,048 yards and 16 touchdowns. Senior Austin Roberts has 18 catches, including two scores, followed by senior Bradie Porter with 17 catches, including two TDs. Senior Dillinger Porter has the most touchdown receptions with four and has 13 catches overall.
Sophomore Jayden Eagle is the top rusher with 876 yards and 11 touchdowns, while senior Josh Fike Jr. has 463 yards and four TDs. Roberts also has four rushing touchdowns. Junior Elijah Buckley leads the defense with 58 tackles, while Porter has 53 stops. Edwards has 43 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss.
The Blackhawks are 4-1 in HHC play and 5-2 overall. Senior Gavin Reners has been dominant on the ground with 1,062 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Junior Peyton Cross has gained 453 yards and scored four TDs. Junior Jacob Jones has been dominant on defense with 78 tackles, including eight for a loss.
