With only two games left in the regular season, many football teams around the state are trying to get themselves in the best position for a strong finish in their respective conferences.
This is especially true for the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. This week’s slate of HCC contests includes an all-Hamilton County game between Westfield and Fishers, which will be played at Reynolds Tigers Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.
Both teams are hungry for wins. The Shamrocks are 2-3 in the HCC and 3-4 overall, while the Tigers are 1-4 in conference play and 2-5 overall. Fishers won last year’s game over Westfield 27-17.
The ‘Rocks are looking to stop a two-game losing streak, although those setbacks were against two highly-rated teams: Brownsburg 30-28 in Week 6 and Avon 20-13 in Week 7. The Bulldogs are No. 2 in the Class 6A coaches poll, while the Orioles are No. 5.
Westfield quarterback Camden Simons is closing in on the century mark for pass completions for the season. The junior has made 98 of 163 passes for 1170 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Dane Wheeler has made 29 of those catches.
Junior Eli Patchett is the Shamrocks’ leading rusher at 449 yards and six TDs. On defense, senior Colin Caldwell is up to 54 total tackles for the year, while Ryan Mahoney has eight tackles for a loss and three sacks.
Fishers quarterback Marcus Roux has completed 34 of 87 passes this season for 421 yards and one touchdown, with Collin Statz making 15 of those catches, including the TD. HL Lewis is the Tigers’ leading rusher with 471 yards and four touchdowns.
NOBLESVILLE-BROWNSBURG
Noblesville travels to Brownsburg on Friday for an important date with those No. 2-ranked Bulldogs. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Brownsburg is sitting on top of the conference standings at 5-0, while the Millers are tied with Avon for second place, both with 4-1 records. The Bulldogs, who are perfect on the season at 7-0, beat Noblesville 41-10 last season.
The Bulldogs have beaten Bloomington South 44-13, Cathedral 37-26, Franklin Central 37-7, Avon 21-7, Fishers 27-20, Westfield 30-28 and Zionsville 70-52 (yes, that was a regulation game). As one might guess, Brownsburg has also got some impressive stats as well.
Sophomore Ben Easters is the Bulldogs’ quarterback, completing 81 of 157 passes for 1,276 yards. Senior Bryce Kirtz has 39 of those catches, including nine touchdowns. Junior Donny Marcus is Brownsburg’s leading rusher, with 1,162 yards and 11 TDs to his credit.
On defense, junior Cade Shupperd has 48 total tackles, including 12 for a loss. Senior Jacob Birkofer is next in line with 43 tackles, while senior Lawson Aiken has 15 tackles for a loss.
Noblesville is 4-3 overall. Senior Grant Gremel has completed 40 of 94 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Luke Blevins has led the way for the Millers both on the ground and in the air, with 527 yards rushing and two TDs, and 10 catches, including one touchdown.
Noblesville’s defense has been very strong. Senior Eddie Dziennik leads the way with 84 tackles, followed by Jacob Hamm with 78 tackles. Seniors Kenja Jenkins and Wyatt Blades have 58 and 51 tackles respectively. Senior Dalton Davis has made 6.5 tackles for a loss, with Dziennik getting five. In all, seven Miller defenders have at least three tackles for a loss this season. Senior Zac Tuinei has made three sacks.
SOUTHEASTERN-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Hamilton Southeastern will travel to Franklin Central on Friday to take on a new HCC opponent in the Flashes. Kickoff for this game will be at 7:30 p.m.
Franklin Central is winless in the conference at 0-5 and is 1-6 overall. The Flashes’ lone win was over Roncalli 14-7 in Week 2. Losses have been to Decatur Central 14-0, Brownsburg 37-7, Zionsville 44-19, Avon 48-0, Noblesville 10-0 and Fishers 17-12.
Senior Dylan Bishop is FC’s quarterback, and he has completed 66 of 136 passes for 694 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Johnnie Mickle is the leading rusher with 342 yards and two TDs, while seior Sam Diehl has made 21 catches. Another senior Bryce Durm, has 18 receptions, including three scores.
On defense, junior Nate Talhelm has made 58 tackles, with senior Mario Coles right behind at 55 tackles. Senior Shelby Edwards has nine tackles for a loss and eight sacks.
Southeastern junior Kody Sparks is passing at a 78-of-180 clip for 855 yards, including four touchdowns. Senior Ben Boysen has made 35 catches to lead the HSE receivers. Matt Harris has 788 yards rushing, including nine TDs.
SHERIDAN-EASTERN
Up at Bud Wright Stadium, Sheridan will host Eastern for what is the biggest game of the regular season. The Blackhawks will play the Comets for the Hoosier Heartland Conference championship.
The Comets will come to Sheridan with a 4-0 record in the HHC and are 7-0 overall. Eastern has won games over Oak Hill 10-7, Madison-Grant 28-0, Wes-Del 58-6, Taylor 62-6, Carroll 58-0, Clinton Central 45-0 and Tri-Central 55-7.
The 1A No. 6 Blackhawks are 5-0 in the conference; this will be their last HHC game of the season. Sheridan is 6-1, and three of those wins have been shutouts. The ‘Hawks are only giving up 10.9 points per game, but remove the 50-12 loss to Western Boone at the start of the season and that average drops to 4.3 points per game.
Senior Drake Delph is 27-of-52 passing for Sheridan, totaling 599 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior James Manis has been a star for the Blackhawks on the ground with 943 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing. Senior Jesse Kolb has 15 catches, nine of them for TDs.
Sophomore Cameron Hovey has 68 total tackles, with Kolb making 63 stops and senior Nick Burnell getting 60. Six Sheridan defenders have at least five tackles for a loss, including 11 for junior Chris Starks. Senior Jarman Warren has five sacks.
CARMEL-WARREN CENTRAL
Carmel will take a trip to the east side of Indianapolis on Friday to face a familiar rival: Warren Central, the No. 1 ranked team in 6A.
The Warriors are 7-0 for the season and 6-0 in the Metropolitan Conference. All but one of the victories has been easy: After beating Center Grove 27-15 in its opener, Warren squeaked past Louisville Trinity 42-41. After that, the Warriors have cruised over North Central 58-27, Lawrence Central 47-0, Ben Davis 70-27, Pike 59-7 and Lawrence North 72-25.
The Warriors’ offensive leaders have some impressive numbers. Senior quarterback Jayden George has completed 104 of 164 passes for 1,772 yards and 26 touchdowns. Senior Romeir Elliott has gained 1,321 rushing yards, including 19 scores.
Yet another senior, David Bell, has 47 catches, including 14 TDs. Warren’s defense is solid as well, with senior Kavie Minor making 54 tackles and junior Randy Wells Jr. getting 50 stops.
Carmel is ranked No. 3 in the 6A coaches poll, and is 4-1 in the MIC and 6-1 overall. Tyler Trent is passing at a 47-of-100 rate, with 661 yards and eight touchdowns. Dylan Downing has 590 rushing yards, including four TDs, while Sam Rogers has 17 catches and four scores.
HEIGHTS-LEWIS CASS
Hamilton Heights will travel to Walton on Friday to play Lewis Cass in its final Hoosier Conference East Division game of the season.
The Kings are 1-2 in division play and 3-4 overall. Cass has beaten Maconaquah 22-20, Benton Central 65-0 and Northwestern 49-0, while losing to Pioneer 44-0, Tipton 27-15, Western 48-21 and West Lafayette 57-7.
The Huskies are also 1-2 in the division and 1-6 overall. Sophomore quarterback Ian Wilson is passing at a 36-of-85 clip for 474 yards and five touchdowns. Junior DeShawn King leads the rushing with 44 yards, while senior Isiah Campbell has 19 catches, followed by senior Tad Defoe with 16 receptions and two scores. Junior Camron Knott has made 12 catches, including five TDs.
Senior Kray Leininger leads the Heights defense with 53 tackles, while junior Cole Portwood has five tackles for a loss. Senior Luke Herr has made three sacks.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-BREBEUF JESUIT
Guerin Catholic welcomes Brebeuf Jesuit to the Eagles Nest on Friday in a Circle City Conference game.
The 3A No. 5 Braves are 1-1 in conference play and 5-2 overall. Brebeuf has beaten Arsenal Tech 38-15, Cardinal Ritter 49-12, Culver Academies 17-7, Roncalli 44-12 and Terre Haute South 28-23. The Braves’ only two losses have been to Bishop Chatard 38-7 and Southport 31-28.
Brebeuf has been using two quarterbacks this season. Sophomore Drake Hagerman is throwing at a 46-of-86 clip for 621 yards and nine touchdowns, while junior Caleb Ellison has completed 29 of 45 passes for 497 yards and six scores.
Sophomore Isaiah Martin has rushed for 338 yards and six TDs, while junior Gabe Wright has 19 catches and five TDs. Junior Jay Higgins leads the defense with 53 tackles, while senior Tyler Miller has made 7.5 tackles for a loss.
The 3A No. 7 Golden Eagles are 0-1 in the conference and 5-2 overall. Christian Gelov is passing at a 57-of-121 rate for 687 yards and six touchdowns. Dylan Crossen has gained 883 yards on the ground with 11 TDs, and Bernie McGuinness leads the receivers with 13 catches. Nick Demas has nine receptions, including three touchdowns.
Sheridan senior James Manis has rushed for 943 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. The Blackhawks host Eastern on Friday in a game that will decide the Hoosier Heartland Conference championship. (File photo by Si DeVaney III)