It’s Homecoming week at Noblesville, and the Millers will host the Hoosier Crossroads Conference newcomer for the big football game.
Noblesville welcomes Franklin Central to Beaver Materials Field on Friday night. Due to Homecoming, the game will kick off at 7:30 p.m., a half-hour later than usual. The Millers will attempt to pull back to .500 with the win, as they are 2-3, but are 2-1 in the conference.
The Flashes are 1-4, but have played about as difficult a schedule as any team in Indiana. Franklin Central opened its season with a 14-0 loss to Decatur Central, then beat Roncalli 14-7 in Week 2.
That brought the Flashes to HCC play, where they lost to unbeaten Brownsburg 37-7, Zionsville 44-19 and Avon 48-0. Noblesville coach Justin Roden said his team saw Franklin Central over the summer and is aware of how good the Flashes are.
“Our kids know how good they are up front,” said Roden. “They know how good their running backs are. They know it’s a downhill type of football team.”
The Franklin Central quarterback is senior Dylan Bishop, who has thrown for 528 yards and two touchdowns so far. Senior Malieki Parks is the leading rusher, with 228 yards in 59 carries and two TDs. Parks has also caught 12 receptions, just behind senior Sam Diehl’s 14 catches. Junior Nicholas Luedeman leads the FC defense with 39 tackles, while senior Steven Edwards has eight tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
“We worked really hard today at trying to match their physicality,” said Roden. “It’s a downhill football team. They’ve got a good defense. They play really physical. They’re kind of like us in the fact that they might not have the same type of athletes that some other schools do, but they play really, really hard.”
Noblesville’s senior quarterback Grant Gremel has thrown for 311 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Luke Blevins has gained 278 yards on the ground, including one TD. Blevins also has six receptions, including a touchdown, with senior Wyatt Blades also making six catches. Senior Eddie Dziennik leads the defense with 56 total tackles, senior Dalton Davis has seven tackles for a loss, and senior Zac Tuinei has made two sacks.
SHERIDAN-TAYLOR
Sheridan is also having its Homecoming this week, and the Blackhawks are hoping to keep their perfect Hoosier Heartland Conference season rolling. Sheridan plays Taylor Friday at Bud Wright Stadium.
The Titans are 2-3 overall and 1-3 in HHC play. After winning its first two games of the season (over North White 21-7 and Tri-Central 34-7), Taylor has lost to Carroll 28-27, Eastern 62-6 and Clinton Central 40-10.
“They lost their last three, but they got some athletes and they got good speed,” said Blackhawks coach Bud Wright.
The Titans have used a freshman quarterback, Trower Davis, to great effect. He has thrown for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Anthony Townsend is Taylor’s leading rusher, with 651 yards and seven TDs to his credit. Sophomore Jayden Davis leads the receivers with 17 catches and two scores. On defense, senior Drew Smith has made 74 tackles, with senior Richard Taper getting six tackles for a loss.
Sheridan, 4-0 in the conference and 4-1 overall, has been doing well with its passing game this year. Senior Drake Delph has completed 21 of 37 throws for 433 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior Jesse Kolb has made 11 of those catches, seven of them for TDs.
Of course, the Blackhawks still use their famed running game to great effect. Senior James Manis has 464 yards rushing, followed by sophomore Cameron Hovey (393 yards) and senior Nick Burnell (389 yards). Manis has seven touchdowns, while Hovey and Burnell have three.
Burnell is also leading the defense with 54 tackles, while Kolb has 50. Manis and senior Tre’ Mullins both have two tackles for a loss, with Manis making five sacks.
SOUTHEASTERN-ZIONSVILLE
The third Homecoming game of the week is at Hamilton Southeastern, where the Royals will host Zionsville in Hoosier Crossroads Conference action.
The Eagles are 2-1 in the conference and 3-2 overall. Zionsville has won its last two games over Franklin Central 44-19 and Noblesville 24-0, after dropping its HCC opener to Westfield 41-28. In its first two games, the Eagles lost to Pike 27-19 and beat Lebanon 56-6.
“We have a lot of respect for their program,” said Royals coach Adam Morris. “Offensively, the quarterback is a really good player. The two receivers, Tommy Fossett, Jordan Hull, are unbelievable players. I’ve always been impressed with them up front the last two years. They have some big kids who have good feet and do some good things.”
Senior Josh Wagner is the Zionsville quarterback, and he has been very efficient, completing 78 of 119 passes for 952 yards and 12 touchdowns. The afore-mentioned receivers have made the majority of the catches, with Fossett getting 32 receptions, including five TDs, and Hull making 27 catches, including eight scores.
Junior Gus Baumgartner leads the Eagles’ rushing category with 469 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, four players have at least 50 tackles, led by senior Brock Torrance’s 61. Senior Drew Baker has seven tackles for a loss, while senior Evan Price has made three sacks.
Southeastern is 1-2 in HCC play and 2-3 overall. Senior Kody Sparks has thrown for 668 yards and two touchdowns as the Royals’ quarterback. Senior Matt Harris has been a force on the ground with 487 yards rushing and seven TDs. Junior Ben Boysen has 28 catches to his credit. Seniors Anthony Eggers and Anthony Cassiere each have 42 tackles, with senior Isaac Abeo making four tackles for a loss.
FISHERS-AVON
Fishers travels to Avon on Friday to take on Hendricks County’s other tough football team. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Orioles are 4-1, with that only loss to rival Brownsburg, 21-7 in Week 4. Avon has beaten Plainfield 44-13, Ben Davis 41-36, Hamilton Southeastern 29-6 and Franklin Central 48-0, making it 2-1 in HCC play.
Fishers played Brownsburg last week, and Tigers coach Rick Wimmer sees the similarities between the Bulldogs and the Orioles.
“Avon’s not much different,” said Wimmer. “They’re very athletic, probably more athletic than Brownsburg. They’ve got a very good defense as well. In terms of the production of their defense, very similar to Brownsburg.”
Wimmer noted that Avon and Brownsburg are first and second in the HCC in terms of defensive scoring.
“They’re as stingy as Brownsburg,” said Wimmer. “We’ve got our work cut out for us this week. Hopefully the work against a very good team last week will help prepare us for this week.”
Sophomore Henry Hesson is the Orioles’ quarterback, and has thrown for 898 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Jalen Peterson leads the reception count with 20 catches.
Senior Sampson James has dominated on the ground, with 726 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, junior Tyler Anderson has made 45 tackles, while senior Trey Howe has gotten six tackles for a loss and three sacks.
The Tigers are 0-3 in the conference and 1-4 overall. Junior Marcus Roux had a solid outing last week against the Bulldogs, throwing for 169 yards and a touchdown. Senior Collin Statz caught the TD pass, one of five catches for 115 yards.
WESTFIELD-BROWNSBURG
Westfield travels to Brownsburg on Friday to get their chance against the Class 6A No. 2 Bulldogs.
Brownsburg is a perfect 5-0 for the season, and 3-0 in the HCC. So far, the Bulldogs have beaten Bloomington South 44-13, Cathedral 37-26, Franklin Central 37-7, Avon 21-7 and Fishers 27-20.
“They’re outstanding defensively,” said Shamrocks coach Jake Gilbert. “Offensively, they have a couple just really dynamic guys. Their tailback is outstanding. He’s a returning starter and he ran the ball for 250 yards this past week. Bryce Kirtz at wide receiver is going to Northwestern and he’s explosive. They’ve got big linemen and outstanding tailbacks, so they’re really hard to defend.”
Sophomore Ben Easters is the Brownsburg quarterback, and he has thrown for 712 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kirtz has 23 of those receptions, including five TDs. Junior Donny Marcus is the outstanding tailback, and has totaled 817 yards and six scores. On defense, senior Lawson Aiken has 9.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks.
Westfield heads into Brownsburg with a 2-1 HCC record and at 3-2 overall. Junior Camden Simons has had a solid season at quarterback, passing at a 68-of-113 clip for 808 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Eli Patchett leads the rushing with 324 yards and five TDs.
Junior Dane Wheeler has made 20 catches. Senior Colin Caldwell leads the defense with 34 tackles, while senior Ryan Mahoney has four tackles for a loss.
HEIGHTS-TWIN LAKES
Hamilton Heights will travel to Monticello to take on Twin Lakes. The Friday game will start at 7:30 p.m.
The Indians are 2-3 for the season, with wins over Northwestern 45-6 and Benton Central 56-0, and losses to Western 48-6, Tipton 56-35 and Rensselaer Central 56-14. While both Twin Lakes and the Huskies are members of the Hoosier Conference, they play in different divisions, so this game does not count as a conference game.
Heights coach Jon Kirschner told HCTV exactly what fans were going to see out of the Indians.
“You’re going to see Wing-T,” said Kirschner. “You’re going to see some quick kids run the ball. You’re going to see a decent offensive line. You’re going to see 3-4 defense. Realistically, it’s going to look like an old-school 5-2. They’re well-coached. He’s got a good program. They know their stuff, they’re going to execute, they’re going to play hard.”
Twin Lakes quarterback Danny Bennett has thrown for 182 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Zion Cosgray is the leading rusher, with 593 yards and six TDs to his credit. Senior Grahm Howe has 46 tackles to lead the defense.
The Huskies are 1-4. Senior Carter Campassi is Heights’ quarterback, with 376 yards and three touchdowns to his credit. Junior Deshawn King leads the ground game with 386 yards rushing, while seniors Tad Defoe and Isiah Campbell are the top receivers with 14 and 13 catches respectively, including one touchdown for Defoe.
Senior Kray Leininger has 41 tackles on defense, with junior Cole Portwood making four tackles for a loss. Senior Luke Herr has three sacks.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-
BISHOP CHATARD
Guerin Catholic will travel to Bishop Chatard on Friday for Circle City Conference date with the undefeated Trojans.
Chatard is 5-0 with victories over Brebeuf Jesuit 38-7, Lawrence Central 34-20, Roncalli 21-13, Cathedral 17-14 and Southport 45-26. The Trojans are 2-0 in conference play, while this game will be the first CCC contest for the Golden Eagles this season.
“They’ve changed their scheme a little bit in the last couple years, but they’re still a power run football team when you get right down to it,” said Guerin Catholic coach Tom Dilley. “But they throw the ball really well, too. They’re really good at taking what’s available. They’re really good at taking what you give them. And they’re good up front, as they’ve been for years.”
Senior Mark Nondorf is the Chatard quarterback, and has thrown for 780 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Daylen Taylor has dominated the ground game with 782 yards and 11 TDs, while junior Andrew Sowinski and senior Jack Kassenbrock each have made 16 catches. Kassenbrock has two touchdowns and Sowinski one.
Junior Christian Gelov has done well as the Golden Eagles’ quarterback, with 536 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Dylan Crossen has rushed for 601 yards and nine scores, while junior Bernie McGuinness has 10 catches.
Senior Charles Bock leads the defense with 48 tackles and three sacks, while senior Hank Bates has made five tackles for a loss.
