County schools facing rivals old & new in first week of 2022 season
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
The 2022 Indiana high school football season begins on Friday, with teams now making their final preparations for their opening games. In Hamilton County, the first week of the season means taking on rivals, both old and relatively new.
Here’s a look at all some of this Friday’s games, with the other previews to come in tomorrow’s edition.
NOBLESVILLE-MOUNT VERNON
Noblesville will play its first official game at the brand-new Beaver Stadium on Friday, and the Millers get a big name for their first opponent: Mount Vernon, last season’s Class 4A state champion and pre-season No. 1-ranked team in both the Associated Press media poll and the IFCA coaches’ poll.
This is the third consecutive year that Noblesville has opened its season against the Marauders. The Millers traveled to Mount Vernon last year and came away with a 57-36 win. The good news for Noblesville is that many of the players who helped get that victory are back on the roster for this season.
Millers coach Dave Sharpe named five returning linebackers: Austin Hastings, Gavin Kinyon, Mac Lynas, Trey Speek and Jordan Sharp, whom the coach said “are all very experienced players.”
“We’re really going to lean on them to give us a boost early in the season,” said Sharpe.
Two more players are back in the secondary, juniors Cameron Wilson and Carter Richardson. Senior Zach Lee returns on the defensive line.
The offensive line is experienced as well, with seniors Andrew Page, Nathaniel Hamm, Blake Cole and Ben Decker returning, along with junior Ransom McDermott.
“We feel very good about our linebackers and our offensive line,” said Sharpe.
On offense, junior Logan Shoffner returns; he was Noblesville’s leading rusher last season. Juniors Gage Gulley and Blake Widget are the halfbacks. The Millers also have a freshman quarterback, Landon Hughes. Sophomore tight end Aiden Brewer is back after getting “quite a bit of playing time last year,” said Sharpe.
With all that experience coming back, Sharpe said that the practices have been going “very good.” And since they have that experience, Noblesville’s players are aware of what awaits them when they take on Mount Vernon this week, and in the future.
The Millers play Bennett’s Academy in Lisle, Ill. for their Week 2 game. “It’s a great program and a great powerhouse Catholic Football League in the Chicago suburbs,” said Sharpe.
After that comes play in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, which continues to rise in quality every year.
“They know exactly how good the teams are in our league,” said Sharpe. “We have to finish this year; we have to be a better second-half team.”
CARMEL -LOUISVILLE TRINITY
It will be a battle between two powerhouses at Carmel Stadium when the Greyhounds welcome Louisville Trinity on Friday.
The two teams have played each other off and on since 2013. Last season, Carmel went to Trinity and overcame a quick 17-0 hole to win 49-38, evening the series record to 3-3.
The Greyhounds will have quite a good number of players returning from the previous season. Senior wide receiver Desmond Duffy, committed to Ohio University, had 772 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns for Carmel. Greyhounds coach John Hebert said that Duffy is “a great kick returner and punt returner as well.” Also back on the receiving line is senior Reece Bellin, who totaled 344 yards and collected four touchdowns.
Senior Blake Matthews is also back as Carmel’s third receiver, “so our receiving corps is definitely a strength of the team and I think getting the ball into their hands is going to be the goal,” said Hebert.
The coach wants to run the ball as well. Senior Nick Beidl is the starting running back for Carmel. Another key returner is senior Ethan Trent at center.
“He was a top 50 IFCA player, first team all-conference, committed to Indiana State,” said Hebert.
On defense, senior safety Winston Berglund will lead the way. Hebert called the Purdue commit “as good as it gets athletically and as a tackler and as a leader.”
Berglund will be joined by fellow Purdue commit, senior Will Heldt as an outside linebacker. Other key returners on defense are junior defensive lineman Artemas Bryant, Carmel’s top pass rusher last season, and senior cornerback Kyle Fedorcha. Junior Christian Peterson, a transfer from Pike, will be the kick returner, while senior Ben Sponsler is back as the Greyhounds’ kicker.
Hebert also listed several other players that “have really improved in the weight room and they’ve gotten their speed numbers significantly better:” Seniors Mason Bradwell, Noah Bradbury, Tim Haas, Vincent Neal, Beau Willman, Patrick Greene, and juniors Aidan McFall, Charlie Marsh and Sam Bahrani.
After hosting Trinity, Carmel travels to Center Grove in Week 2, then welcomes Detroit Cass Tech for Week 3.
SHERIDAN-WESTERN BOONE
Sheridan will continue one of the oldest opening-week rivalries in the state when it welcomes Western Boone to Bud Wright Stadium.
The Blackhawks and the Stars have been playing each other in Week 1 since 1997. Last year’s game didn’t go Sheridan’s way, as WeBo rolled to a 55-13 win. But the ‘Hawks recovered and went on to finish 2021 with a 7-3 record.
Wright will have an experienced foursome back on both offense and defense: Peyton Cross, Keegan Hampton, Dagan Johnson and Jacob Jones. All four are seniors. Junior Zach Bales also returns.
Wright pointed out that Cross was Sheridan’s second-leading rusher last year.
“He’s a four-year starter, so hopefully he’s ready to pick it up,” said Wright, who begins his 57th season coaching the Blackhawks on Friday.
Wright said that the defensive line and linebackers will be the strength of the team this year, with Cross as a four-year starter and Jones a three-year starter.
“Jones has led the team in tackles as a sophomore and junior,” said Wright. “Keegan’s a good, strong linebacker and Bales is the middle linebacker.”
Meanwhile, the offensive line will be young, with Wright saying that “three or four sophomores” will be starting there.
“Johnson will go both ways this year,” said Wright. “He’s the only offensive lineman that will go both ways.”
As for the offense, the Blackhawks will continue with their trademark rushing game, although Wright said “hopefully we can throw the ball a little bit more than we did last year.”
WESTFIELD-NEW PALESTINE
Westfield, the Class 6A runner-up the past two seasons, will go on the road for its opener, traveling to fellow powerhouse New Palestine on Friday.
The Shamrocks will have a new look to them this year, after graduating a stellar senior class, many of whom have gone on to play Division I football. But don’t worry, there is quite a bit of talent returning for the ‘Rocks.
That list includes defensive back senior Dillon Thieneman, senior linebackers Charlie Dager and Tyler Dikos, senior offensive tackle Alex Ashley and senior offensive lineman Michael Clifford. Gabe Aramboles returns as a sophomore wide receiver; he played significant minutes for Westfield last year as a freshman.
“We have pretty good depth in our defensive front,” said Shamrocks coach Jake Gilbert. The coach said his team’s defensive linemen and linebackers “should be very productive, backed up by a great safety.” The coach also said he feels great about the team’s tight ends and quarterback, senior Cole Ballard, “even though they are new.”
This will be the third time in program history that Westfield has played the Dragons. New Palestine took on the Shamrocks in 1991 and 1992, winning both times.
“New Pal has a great program,” said Gilbert. “I have seen them in person a few times over the years. Coach Ralph has the highest winning percentage in the history of Indiana. They are strong and physical and play hard. It will be a battle. I think it will be a good matchup!”
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN-LAWRENCE CENTRAL
Hamilton Southeastern travels to Lawrence Central to begin its season, marking the fifth straight season that the Royals have played the Bears in their opener. Southeastern has won all four of the previous meetings in this series, including last year’s game 35-7.
“I have not really seen much of LC other than watching or film from last year,” said Royals coach Michael Kelly. “I know the return a lot of guys from a highly competitive team last year. They have great speed and can execute well. It is going to be a battle for us. We need to start fast and play with relentless effort.”
Kelly said his team has “grown tremendously” during the past two weeks of practices, noting that “consistency in practice has made a significant difference. Our defense is practicing really well. Our guys understand their jobs and are competing at a high level.”
Senior Ty Bradle is slated as HSE’s starting quarterback; he played in eight games last season and threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Two receivers also return in senior Clayton Wilke and junior Donovan Hamilton.
The Royals’ defense will be anchored by three solid seniors. Griffen Haas totaled 56 tackles for Southeastern last season, while Shane Gastineau had 48 stops and Cole Earlewine made 47 tackles. Another senior Christian Miller, had 31 stops.