The football sectionals move to the semi-final round on Friday, and all eyes will be on the big schools, as the teams in Class 6A begin play.
The local match-ups include an all-Hamilton County game: Westfield travels to Carmel in one of the semi-final games of Sectional 4. Kickoff at Carmel Stadium is 7 p.m. This will be the first meeting of the two teams in nine years: They last played each other at the Shamrocks’ field on Oct. 23, 2009 in the first round of 5A sectionals, with Carmel winning 21-7.
The visiting Shamrocks will come enter the Greyhounds’ field with a 4-5 record. Westfield began (28-16 over Harrison) and ended (44-16 over Franklin Central) its regular season with wins, also picking up victories over Zionsville 41-28 in Week 3 and Hamilton Southeastern 34-27 in Week 5. Losses were to Decatur Central 35-21, Noblesville 10-2, Brownsburg 30-28, Avon 20-13 and Fishers 11-7. In the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, Westfield finished 3-4, good for fifth place.
Junior quarterback Camden Simons has been solid under center, completing 121 of 198 passes for 1,417 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior Dane Wheeler has the most receptions with 33 catches and a touchdown, while junior Eli Patchett has made 21 receptions, also getting a TD. Patchett is the Shamrocks’ leading runner, with 597 yards in 138 carries, six of them for scores. Simons has 373 yards and six TDs as well.
If the juniors are leading the offense, the Westfield seniors are dominating the defense. Colin Caldwell has the most total tackles with 67, one of four seniors with at least 40 tackles on the season. Senior Ryan Mahoney has 11 tackles for a loss and had made three sacks this season.
Carmel finished the season with a 7-2 record and No. 3 ranking in the 6A coaches poll. The ‘Hounds opened with wins over Louisville Trinity 24-21 and Noblesville 34-7 before falling to Center Grove 17-7. After that, Carmel beat Pike 28-13, Lawrence North 23-9, North Central 41-40 (in three overtimes) and Ben Davis 21-7. Warren Central stopped the Greyhounds’ winning streak 41-17, but Carmel beat Lawrence Central 16-14 in Week 9. The ‘Hounds finished 5-2 in the MIC, in a three-way tie for second place.
Tyler Trent is the quarterback, with a 62-of-151 completion rate for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns. Christian Williams is the top Greyhounds receiver with 23 catches and five TDs, with Sam Rogers making 19 receptions and four touchdowns. Zach White is leading the running game with 707 yards and five scores.
Noblesville at Lafayette Jefferson
Noblesville will make the trip to Lafayette on Friday to face the Jefferson Bronchos, a team that is ranked No. 8 in the 6A coaches poll. The teams last played each other on Sept. 13, 2013, back when Jefferson was in the HCC; the Millers won that game 24-13.
Lafayette Jeff finished the season 8-1. After dropping a 38-29 opener to West Lafayette (one of the state’s top 3A teams), the Bronchos blasted through their next eight games: Western 54-14, McCutcheon 48-7, Harrison 31-14, Kokomo 58-13, Anderson 76-0, Richmond 44-6, Logansport 55-7 and Arsenal Tech 46-0. Jefferson finished North Central Conference play 7-0, tying for the conference championship with Marion (NCC teams do not play all schools).
Jeff is a young team, with a sophomore quarterback. He has put up some impressive numbers, totaling 2,763 yards at a 150-of-238 passing rate and 42 touchdowns. Two receivers have over 10 TDs: Senior Brian Jenkins has 15 scores out of 48 receptions (and 849 yards), while junior Derrick Matthew has scored 11 touchdowns out of 35 catches (totaling 745 yards).
Junior Marquis Munoz is the Bronchos’ leading rusher with 792 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior Brittain Chandler leads the defense with 86 tackles, including 10 for a loss. Sophomore Kayden Sowders has 12 tackles for a loss, with sophomore Jalen Monrrow getting three sacks.
Noblesville is 4-5 for the season, but that comes against a very difficult schedule in coach Justin Roden’s first season. The Millers opened with losses to Cathedral 31-7 and Carmel 34-7, then rebounded to beat Fishers 21-9 and Westfield 10-2. Noblesville fell to Zionsville 24-0 in Week 5, but followed that with wins over Franklin Central 10-0 and Hamilton Southeastern 21-7.
The Millers finished their season with the two tough Hendricks County teams of the HCC, and while they lost both games, they were close: Brownsburg 17-7 and Avon 14-7. Noblesville completed the HCC season 4-3, placing fourth.
Senior quarterback Grant Gremel has completed 63 of 143 passes for 677 yards and four touchdowns, with junior Jayden Barrett the leading receiver. Barrett had made 13 catches, while senior Luke Blevins has 10 catches. Blevins is the leading Noblesville rusher, with 538 yards and two TDs.
The Millers’ defense has been outstanding this season, with 10 players making at least 50 total tackles. Senior Eddie Dziennik leads the way with 108 tackles, followed by junior Jacob Hamm has 95 stops. Senior Dalton Davis has made nine tackles for a loss and is credited with 4.5 sacks.
North Central at Southeastern
In 6A Sectional 5, Hamilton Southeastern will host No. 4-ranked North Central. Game time is at 7 p.m. at Reynolds Royals Stadium.
The two teams met back on Week 2 (Aug. 24), with the Panthers winning 31-13. North Central had won their opener over Fishers 31-7, giving NC its second consecutive 2-0 start.
The Panthers took on Warren Central next, falling 58-27. North Central then defeated Lawrence North 12-7 and Center Grove 26-14 before dropping a triple overtime game to Carmel 41-40. The Panthers finished their season with wins over Lawrence Central 26-7, Pike 40-37 (in overtime) and Ben Davis 38-23. North Central finished play in the MIC 5-2, tying it for second.
Senior Liam Thompson is the Panthers’ quarterback, and he has completed 130 of 251 passes, totaling 1,924 yards and 18 touchdowns. Senior Tre’von Elliott has the most receptions with 45; that includes 10 scores. Senior Jordan Bingham has 38 catches and two touchdowns.
On the ground, senior Alexander Tarver leads the way for NC with 691 yards and three scores, while Thompson has rushed for eight TDs. Two Panthers defenders have over 120 tackles: Junior Michael Brown has 122 stops and senior Harrison Ochs has 121 tackles, including six for a loss. Senior Devontay Moore has made 5.5 sacks.
The Royals are 3-6 for the season. After beating Lawrence Central 21-20 in its opening game at Lucas Oil Stadium, Southeastern fell to North Central, then Avon 29-6. Southeastern’s wins were against Fishers 14-10 and Zionsville 30-14, with losses to Westfield 34-27, Noblesville 21-7, Franklin Central 37-28 and Brownsburg 10-9. HSE finished 2-5 in the HCC, tying for sixth.
Junior quarterback Andrew Hobson has stepped in the past two games and played well, completing 18 of 41 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Ben Boysen is the Royals’ leading receiver with 42 catches. Senior Matt Harris is HSE’s top rusher with 981 yards and nine touchdowns.
Fishers at Pike
Fishers will travel to Pike on Friday for another MIC-HCC re-match in Sectional 5. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Tigers played the Red Devils in Week 2, winning 31-14. Pike is 1-8 for the season; after beating Zionsville 27-19 in their opener, the Red Devils lost to Fishers, Ben Davis 40-19, Carmel 28-13, Lawrence Central 34-7, Warren Central 59-7, Center Grove 51-30, North Central 40-37 (in overtime) and Lawrence North 42-0.
Junior quarterback Jasen Graves has had a decent season, throwing at a 124-of-233 completion rate for 1,823 yards and 13 touchdowns. Six Pike receivers have at least 10 catches, led by junior Tyrell Sanders with 32 receptions, six for a score.
Junior William Allen leads the ground game with 290 rushing yards and four TDs. On defense, senior Johnny Milledge has 87 tackles and senior Wisemen Jordan-Clark has 85 stops. Senior Dakari Kenney has made 6.5 sacks.
The Tigers are 3-6 for the season. In addition to Pike, wins have come against Franklin Central 17-12 and Westfield 11-7. Fishers has lost to North Central 31-7, Noblesville 21-9, Hamilton Southeastern 14-10, Brownsburg 27-20, Avon 33-0 and Zionsville 13-12. The Tigers finished 2-5 in the HCC, tying for sixth.
Fishers sophomore Lucas Prewitt has stepped into the quarterback role, and has completed 16 of 51 passes for 282 yards. Collin Statz is leading the receivers with 25 catches, including a touchdown. Junior Dylan Scally has rushed for 561 yards this season, including three touchdowns.
Sheridan at Monroe Central
Sheridan will also get a re-match on Friday, as the Blackhawks travel to Monroe Central for semi-final play in 1A Sectional 44. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. between the two teams that finished tied for No. 9 in the coaches poll.
The two teams played each other last year on Nov. 10 for the sectional championship, which the Golden Bears won 26-7. Monroe Central has had another solid season, as it is currently 8-2.
The Golden Bears won their first four games, over Anderson Prep 60-0, Union City 21-0, North Decatur 19-8 and Southern Wells 26-0, before falling to South Adams 36-15. Monroe Central started another winning streak, beating Wes-Del 34-8, Eastern Hancock 30-16 and Union County 38-12, then lost to Shenandoah 43-6. In last week’s sectional first round, the Golden Bears beat Clinton Central 34-13.
Monroe Central’s quarterback is a freshman, Jackson Ullom. He is having a solid season, completing 97 of 163 passes for 1,397 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Logan Patterson leads the receptions with 23, including a touchdown, while three other receivers have three catches for scores.
Two seniors lead the rushing: Seth Wilson has 606 yards and 11 TDs, while Taft Manship has 564 yards and six touchdowns. Manship and senior Tyler Jones both have made 99 tackles, with senior Kaden Conklin making 11 tackles for a loss and also getting seven sacks.
Sheridan is also 8-2. After a opening loss to Western Boone 50-12, the Blackhawks cruised past Clinton Central 27-0, Tri-Central 52-0, Carroll 52-0, Clinton Prairie 48-6, Taylor 66-13, Seeger 40-7 and Eastern 16-7. Sheridan also won an undefeated Hoosier Heartland Conference championship.
The ‘Hawks dropped their regular-season finale at Heritage Christian 27-14, but rebounded to defeat Tri-Central 35-14 in the sectional first round. Senior Drake Delph has been very efficient at quarterback, completing 40 of 73 passes for 727 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Sheridan’s traditional running game is strong as ever. Senior James Manis has 1,234 yards and 15 scores to his credit, with sophomore Cameron Hovey at 700 yards and six TDs, followed by senior Nick Burnell at 538 yards and seven scores. Senior Jesse Kolb leads the receivers with 20 catches and nine touchdowns.
Kolb and Hovey are the tackle leaders with 95 and 93 respectively. Junior Chris Starks has 12 tackles for a loss, while Manis has 11 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks.
Brebeuf Jesuit at Guerin Catholic
Guerin Catholic will host a 3A Sectional 26 semi-final with Brebeuf Jesuit at 7 p.m. Friday.
The two Circle City Conference rivals played each other on Oct. 5, with the Braves winning 41-10. Brebeuf is 8-2 for the season; after losing to Bishop Chatard in its opener 38-7, the Braves beat Arsenal Tech 38-15 and Cardinal Ritter 49-12.
Brebeuf fell to Southport in Week 4 31-28, but since then has been on a win streak, beating Culver Academies 17-7, Roncalli 44-12, Terre Haute South 28-23 and Terre Haute North 35-7 in addition to the Golden Eagles in Week 8. The Braves cruised past Southmont 50-14 in their sectional opener last week.
Brebeuf has been using two quarterbacks: Junior Caleb Ellison is 53-of-92 for 853 yards and nine touchdowns, while sophomore Drake Hagerman is 47-of-89 for 631 yards and nine TDs. Junior Gabe Wright has 25 catches and junior Jay Higgins has 23 catches, both have five scores. Sophomore Isaiah Martin leads the Braves’ rushing with 456 yards and nine scores. Higgins has the most tackles with 82.
The Golden Eagles are 6-4 for the season. Guerin has regular-season wins over Lafayette Central Catholic 40-7, Heritage Christian 48-7, Indianapolis Howe 45-0, Columbus North 17-10, Pontiac (Mich.) Notre Dame 31-14, while falling to McCutcheon 19-13 (in overtime), Bishop Chatard 21-13 and Roncalli 20-10 in addition to the Braves.
Last week, the Golden Eagles beat Crawfordsville 49-19 to open sectional play. Junior quarterback Christian Gelov has completed 83 of 190 passes for 1,005 yards this season, including eight touchdowns. Junior Bernie McGuinness has 22 catches, including one for a score. Sophomore Jagger Albert has stepped up in the running game and had solid performances the past couple games, totaling 274 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior Charles Bock has 77 total tackles, while senior Hank Bates has made 11 tackles for a loss. Both players have four sacks for this season.