Once the Indiana high school football season reaches the final three weeks, every conference game becomes a big game.
Hamilton Southeastern is currently unbeaten in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference at 4-0, and is looking to keep that perfect record intact when it travels to Noblesville’s Beaver Stadium tonight for a 7 p.m. game. This is a big game for the Millers as well, as they are trying for a first conference win of the season.
The Royals are ranked No. 4 in both the Associated Press and the IFCA’s Class 6A polls, and are undefeated for the season at 6-0. Southeastern beat Zionsville 31-13 in the previous week’s game, and the Royals are emphasizing one game at a time.
“We’re really trying to stress that we can’t win a conference championship without winning this week and next week,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly.
Griffen Haas leads the Southeastern defense with 49 tackles, while Evan Sherrill has 10 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. Junior Jack Seyferth has made six tackles for a loss.
“It’s their defense,” said Noblesville coach Dave Sharpe. The coach said the Royals have “a lot of two- and three-year starters” that play fast and physical, “and they’re fundamentally sound as a unit.”
The Royals’ offense has been solid as well. Senior quarterback Ty Bradle is 72-of-124 through the air, with 900 total yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Donovan Hamilton has 27 of those receptions, six of them for touchdowns. Junior Jalen Alexander leads the rushing with 568 yards and five scores.
“I think that we are playing well right now,” said Kelly. The coach also said that “we’ve got some improvements to make. There’s definitely areas we can clean up on both sides of the ball.”
Noblesville dropped its game last week to Franklin Central 21-7. Despite the losing streak, the Millers’ attitudes remain positive.
“Our guys are undaunted,” said Sharpe.
A threesome of juniors leads the Noblesville rushing. Logan Shoffner has 648 yards and four touchdowns, while Gage Gulley (397 yards) and Blake Widget (304 yards) both have run for five TDs.
Freshman quarterback Landon Hughes has thrown three touchdown passes, with sophomore Aiden Brewer catching all three. Junior Austin Hastings leads the defense with 71 tackles, including three sacks.
“They’ve had a great week of practice,” said Sharpe. The coach said his team is fired up “to be at practice this week” and also “fired up for a home game.”
“I think they can do a lot of dangerous things,” said Kelly. “They’ve got a really huge offensive line.” Kelly also said the Millers have “defensive players that can make plays,” and said that controlling the ball is an imperative.
WESTFIELD-AVON
Westfield hosts Avon tonight in another HCC game, with this one kicking off at 7 p.m.
The Orioles are 0-6 for the season, falling to Fishers 21-17 last week. Junior Mason Reynolds is the Orioles’ quarterback, and has completed 95 of 182 pass attempts for 1,318 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Anthony Kennedy has 30 of those catches, including three scores.
Senior Jaiden Jones is the top rusher, gaining 329 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Junior Carson Foxen leads the defense with 65 tackles, including seven for a loss.
The Shamrocks are 2-2 in the conference and 3-3 overall, with a No. 10 ranking in the 6A AP poll. Westfield dropped a 31-14 game to 6A No. 1 Brownsburg last week.
Senior quarterback Cole Ballard is throwing at an 82 of 134 clip, with 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore Gabe Aramboles is the top receiver with 23 catches, two for touchdowns, with junior Maximus Nosler making three TD catches.
Ballard and sophomore Kendall Garnett both have 272 yards rushing and five touchdowns for the season. Senior Tyler Dikos is on top of the defense with 75 tackles.
CARMEL-BEN DAVIS
After a couple of away games, the Greyhounds are back home at Carmel Stadium to host Ben Davis tonight, in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Giants are 4-2 for the season, and rated fifth in the 6A IFCA poll and seventh in the AP rankings. Ben Davis has beaten Avon 44-13, Pike 38-0, Warren Central 42-28 and Lawrence North 34-28, with losses coming only to the top two teams: Brownsburg 21-16 and No. 2 Center Grove 35-34.
Junior quarterback Thomas Gotkowski is having a solid year, going 102-for-153 with 1,342 yards and 15 touchdowns to his credit. Senior Marques Reece leads the receptions with 42, including eight for scores.
Sophomore Alijah Price is the top rusher with 548 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Nylan Brown leads the defense with 57 tackles.
Carmel is also 4-2, with 6A rankings of No. 5 in the AP poll and No. 6 in the IFCA list. The ‘Hounds are on a four-game win streak, adding to that by beating North Central 50-19 last week.
Senior quarterback Jack Kazmierczak has also had a great season, throwing at a 77-of-112 clip for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Reece Bellin has 37 catches, seven of them for TDs.
The ‘Hounds have developed a balanced running group, led by junior Alijah Alfayyad with 264 yards. Freshman Levell Stewart has four rushing touchdowns. Senior Will Heldt tops the defense with 58 tackles.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-TIPTON
Hamilton Heights will host Tipton tonight in that annual backyard rivalry game. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils are 3-3 for the season, and 1-1 in Hoosier Conference East Division play, making this game even more important. Tipton has gotten wins against Elwood 69-14, Twin Lakes 34-21 and Northwestern 47-21, while falling to Frankton 14-13, Lewis Cass 21-0 and Lafayette Central Catholic 35-21.
Senior quarterback Vincent Hoover is 46-of-90 for 592 yards and four touchdowns. Two Tipton players have 13 catches each: Izayah Mahaney and senior Eli Carter, who also has three TD receptions. Carter also leads the rushing with 790 yards and 13 scores. Sophomore Cole Hussey leads the defense with 66 tackles.
The Huskies are also 1-1 in division play and 4-2 overall, coming off a 43-0 win over Twin Lakes last week. Junior quarterback Bodie Derrer is throwing at a 67-of-112 clip, totaling 1,046 yards and 12 touchdowns. Sophomore Tyler Champion has 23 of those receptions, including seven scores.
Senior Trey Ehman leads the rushing with 401 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Vincent Harley is on top of the defense with 50 tackles.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-NORTHVIEW
Guerin Catholic hosts Northview (from the Brazil-Terre Haute area) tonight in a 7:30 p.m. game.
The Knights are 4-2 for the season. Northview started the season 4-0, beating Terre Haute North 27-21, Greencastle 39-7, Sullivan 28-7 and West Vigo 41-6, but has since lost its last two games, falling to Owen Valley 28-7 and Terre Haute South 48-37.
Junior Kyle Cottee leads the Knights’ rushing with 843 yards and 10 touchdowns, and has also thrown for one touchdown this season. Another junior, Imer Holman, has 544 yards and nine touchdowns rushing. On defense, Gabe Stockrahm has 45 tackles, followed by junior Tyler Lee with 43 stops.
The Golden Eagles are 3-3, dropping a close one to Bishop Chatard 31-30 last week. Sophomore quarterback Malcolm Houze has been stepping up, throwing for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Will Fremion has 35 catches, including seven for scores, with junior Jack Cherry making 32 receptions, two for touchdowns.
Senior Justin Zdobylak leads the rushing with 349 yards and four TDs. Senior Anthony Ferrucci is on top of the defense with 50 tackles, followed by junior Gavin Stella with 48 stops. Junior Elijah Taylor has seven tackles for a loss.
FISHERS-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Fishers travels to Franklin Central tonight for a 7 p.m. HCC game.
The Flashes are 2-2 in conference play and 3-3 overall, getting a 21-7 win at Noblesville last week. Sophomore Nevan Tutterow is the FC quarterback, and he has completed 57 of 111 pass attempts for 722 yards and six touchdowns.
Junior Braylen Gillard has nine of those receptions, and also leads the rushing with 438 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Wyatt Penney has the most tackles with 55, while senior Julius Parker has made 19 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks.
The Tigers are 2-2 in HCC play and 4-2 overall, and have 6A rankings of No. 9 by the AP and No. 8 by the IFCA. Fishers is coming off a 21-17 win over Avon last week.
Senior Lucas Minns is 51-of-92 through the air, with 778 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Aidan Zimmer has 14 receptions, while sophomore JonAnthony Hall has four touchdown catches.
Junior Khobie Martin leads the rushing with 550 yards and six touchdowns; senior Carson Dunn also has six scores. Senior Grady Stanley leads the defense with 52 tackles, while junior Brady Wolf has made 8.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks.
SHERIDAN-NORTH CENTRAL FARMERSBURG
Sheridan will travel down to south of Terre Haute tonight to take on North Central Farmersburg. Kickoff for that game is 7:30 p.m.
The Thunderbirds are 1-4 for the season, with their lone win coming against Princeton 40-28. North Central has lost to North Vermillion 27-16, North Daviess 41-8, North Knox 35-0 and Park Tudor 62-0; the Thunderbirds did not play a Week 3 game.
The Blackhawks are 5-1, having won their last five games, including a 48-0 victory over Taylor last week. Sheridan is ranked No. 10 in the AP’s 1A poll.
Senior Peyton Cross has rushed for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, with junior Zach Bales scoring seven touchdowns and Jacob Jones getting six TDs. Sophomore Caleb Alexander has thrown for four touchdowns. Jones also tops the defense with 66 tackles, seven for a loss, followed by Bales with 60 stops.