Last year’s football showdown between Westfield and Brownsburg was a major turning point for the Shamrocks’ season.
Westfield went to the then-unbeaten Bulldogs’ field and won an overtime thriller, 43-42. After that, the ‘Rocks cruised to a perfect season in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and blasted their way to the Class 6A state championship game.
This year, the stakes are just as high. Westfield is hosting Brownsburg at Riverview Health Stadium on Friday, and both teams are entering the game with identical records of 3-0 in the conference and 4-1 overall.
The 6A No. 4 Bulldogs opened their season with a 33-22 win over Ben Davis, then dropped a Week 2 game to the unquestionable 5A No. 1 team Cathedral, 20-7. Brownsburg then began HCC play, where it beat Franklin Central 28-14, Avon 38-17 and Fishers 39-21.
Junior Jayden Whitaker is the Bulldogs’ quarterback, and he has had a solid season thus far. Whitaker has completed 46 of 72 pass attempts for 598 yards and four touchdowns. Juniors Matthias Pilkington and Caleb Marcus are the top Brownsburg receivers, with nine reception each; both have one touchdown catch.
Marcus is also the leading rusher, with 528 yards and eight touchdowns. On defense, senior Rashon Myles Jr. is the top tackler with 35 stops. Senior Isaiah Street has 9.5 tackles for a loss.
Westfield is coming off a 34-21 win at Hamilton Southeastern last week, a victory that kept the ‘Rocks unbeaten in the HCC and set up this week’s showdown. Westfield is ranked No. 2 in this week’s 6A poll.
Senior quarterback Maximus Webster has been having a fine season, throwing at a 47-66 clip for 721 yards and five touchdowns. Three Westfield players are in double digits for receptions: Freshman Gabe Aramboles has 13 catches, senior Ian Bruch has 12 and senior Jackson Wasserstrom has 10, including two for touchdowns. Aramboles and Bruch each have one touchdown reception.
Senior Micah Hauser leads the Shamrocks rushing with 336 yards and eight TDs. Hauser is also tops in defense with 58 tackles, followed by junior Tyler Dikos with 57. Senior Popeye Williams has 6.5 tackles for a loss.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-TWIN LAKES
Hamilton Heights is back at home on Friday to take on Twin Lakes, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
Both teams play in the Hoosier Conference, but are in different divisions, so this game will not count in the division standings.
The Indians are 2-3 for the season. Twin Lakes opened its 2021 campaign with a 38-12 win over Northwestern, then played and lost three straight games on the road, falling to New Prairie 52-3, Tipton 42-7 and Rensselaer Central 30-0. The Indians played at home last Friday, rolling past Benton Central 46-8.
Twin Lakes’ quarterback is junior Jaden Franceschina, and he has thrown for 497 yards and five touchdowns on a 35-of-91 clip. Senior Ty Gillum is the Indians’ top receiver with 11 catches, including two for scores.
Junior Jacob Oliver leads Twin Lakes’ rushing with 300 yards, followed by senior Kayvion Jackson with 192 yards. Both have rushed for three touchdowns. Senior Ethan Bowsman leads the tackles with 59, while Jackson has made five sacks.
Heights is 3-2 and is looking to bounce back after last week’s 35-20 loss at Western. Senior quarterback Guy Griffey is having a solid seasson, going 39-of-69 for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Gavin Bramel has 12 catches, six for TDs, while senior Isaac Tuma has made 10 receptions, including one for a score.
Junior Trey Ehman is the Huskies’ top rusher with 440 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Chance Yeager has 157 yards and three TDs to his credit, while Griffey has also rushed for two touchdowns. Senior Harrison Hochstedler leads the defense with 34 tackles, including four for a loss.
CARMEL-NORTH CENTRAL
Carmel is playing its Homecoming game this week against a familiar rival: North Central will come to Carmel Stadium on Friday for a Metropolitan Conference game.
The Panthers are 0-5 for the season. North Central has fallen to Fishers 27-7, Hamilton Southeastern 45-13, Warren Central 42-0, Lawrence North 33-7 and Center Grove 53-7.
Senior Antwan McGee is the Panthers’ leading rusher through their first four games of the season, gaining 219 yards. (Stats do not include the Week 5 game). Senior Keyshaun Pipkin had 16 receptions after the first four games, while junior T.J. Williams had 11 catches, including two for touchdowns. Senior Zion Woods led the defense with 42 tackles during the first four games.
The 6A No. 3 Greyhounds are 2-1 in MIC play and 4-1 overall, having won their last two conference games. Senior quarterback Zach Osborne has been solid, completing 71 of 107 pass attempts for 946 yards and nine touchdowns. Carmel has had outstanding play from junior Desmond Duffy (27 catches, seven for a touchdown) and senior Jaedon King (25 catches, two for TDs). Junior Reece Bellin has 17 receptions, including one for a score.
Senior Ethan Hall is the Greyhounds’ top rusher with 218 yards and one TD, while Osborne has 152 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns. Junior Winston Berglund’s 47 tackles leads the Carmel defense, with junior Will Heldt close behind at 45 stops.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-BISHOP CHATARD
Guerin Catholic will play at home again this Friday, taking on Circle City Conference rival Bishop Chatard. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
Both teams come into the game with 0-2 conference records and are 1-4 overall. Despite their record, the Trojans are ranked No. 9 in 4A. Chatard opened its season 0-4 after falling to Brebeuf Jesuit 24-19, Warren Central 36-25, Roncalli 28-21 and Cathedral 34-18, then picked up its first win last week over Southport 62-17.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 45-21 loss to Roncalli, the No. 1 team in 4A, last week. Senior Sam Miller is throwing at a 63-of-98 clip, totaling 689 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Ryan Zimmerman has made 12 of 22 throwing attempts, with 303 yards and three scores to his credit. Senior Ryan Glenn has 23 catches (three touchdowns) and sophomore Jack Cherry has 20 catches (one touchdown).
Junior Justin Zdobylak leads the rushing with 481 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Anthony Ferrucci has 42 tackles, while senior Dylan Balcer has six touchdowns for a loss.
FISHERS-AVON
Fishers hosts Avon Friday in an HCC game.
The Orioles are 0-5 for the season, with losses to Lawrence North 26-22, Ben Davis 59-35, Hamilton Southeastern 40-13, Brownsburg 38-17 and Franklin Central 30-23.
Sophomore Mason Reynolds is Avon’s quarterback, and he is throwing at a 66-of-133 clip for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior Chrishon McCray has 27 of those catches, including 10 for touchdowns, while senior Joe Hall has 21 receptions, one for a score.
Junior Jaidon Jones is the Orioles’ top rusher with 146 yards and one touchdown. Senior Derrick Shaw II is Avon’s defensive leader with 33 tackles.
Fishers is 3-2 for the season and will look to get back on track after dropping its last two games. Junior quarterback Luke Minns has been solid, with 57 completions in 89 attempts for 757 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Aidan Zimmer has 20 catches and senior Jeffrey Simmons has made 14 receptions. Simmons and junior Collin McPeek (10 catches) both have two touchdown receptions, while Zimmer has one.
Junior Carson Dunn is the Tigers’ top rusher with 330 yards and three TDs. Junior Grady Stanley has 52 tackles, including nine for a loss.
NOBLESVILLE-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Noblesville will travel to Franklin Central on Friday for an HCC contest.
The Flashes are 3-2 for the season. After a season-opening win over Perry Meridian 27-21, Franklin Central fell to Roncalli 34-13 and Brownsburg 28-14, but has since rebounded with victories over Zionsville 24-21 and Avon 30-23.
The Flashes have a freshman quarterback, Nevan Tutterow. His career is off to a good start, as Tutterow is 57-of-96 for 734 yards and five touchdowns. Seniors Dameon Miller and Bryan Marshall each have 16 catches, with Miller getting two touchdown receptions and Marshall one.
Senior Aataeveon Jordan is the leading rusher with 742 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Wyatt Penney leads the FC defense with 35 tackles.
The Millers are also looking to rebound, as they are 2-3, having dropped their last three games. Sophomore Luke Shoffner has been outstanding, rushing for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior Alairic Rogers-Walton is next with 223 yards and four TDs. Senior Sam Steinhofer is on top of the defense with 45 tackles, while sophomore Austin Hastings has 40 stops. Senior Jacob Hofmann has six tackles for a loss.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN-ZIONSVILLE
Hamilton Southeastern goes on the road Friday to take on Zionsville in an HCC match-up.
The Eagles are ranked No. 6 in 5A and are 3-2 for the season. Zionsville began its season with wins over Pike 28-10 and Lebanon 30-2, then fell to Westfield 42-21 and Franklin Central 24-21 before beating Noblesville 41-26.
The Eagles have had two quarterbacks post solid numbers. Sophomore Luke Murphy is 32-of-55 for 400 yards and five touchdowns, while junior Christian Abney is 37-of-64 for 370 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Colin Price has 21 catches, including two TDs, while senior Trey Firestone includes two touchdowns in his 14 receptions.
Price is also the top rusher, with 496 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Otto Kyler leads the defense with 47 tackles, with senior Adam Longmire making eight tackles for a loss.
Southeastern is 4-1, having dropped its first game of the season to Westfield last week. The 6A No. 7 Royals also have two good quarterbacks: Senior Sam Jacobs is throwing at an 18-of-33 clip for 311 yards and five touchdowns, while junior Ty Bradle is 13-of-28 for 190 yards and three scores.
Senior Will Gerig leads the receptions with seven, including a touchdown, while senior Dylan Conner has three touchdown catches. Senior Blaine Wertz is on top of the rushing list with 482 yards and eight scores, followed by senior Owen Jones with 333 yards and four TDs. Senior Louden Sundling has 30 tackles on defense, including seven for a loss.
SHERIDAN-TAYLOR
Sheridan will travel to Taylor on Friday for a Hoosier Heartland Conference game.
The Titans have only played one game so far this season, a 61-13 loss to Eastern two weeks ago. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are 3-2, getting a big Homecoming win over Clinton Prairie last week.
Senior Gavin Reners is Sheridan’s top rusher with 803 yards and nine touchdowns, followed by junior Peyton Cross with 443 yards and four TDs. Junior Jacob Jones leads the defense with 57 tackles, including seven for a loss. Cross has 35 tackles, six for a loss. Senior Cole Webel has three sacks for the season.
