With the Class 6A football schools off this week, attention turns to the smaller schools as they begin the post-season with the first round of sectionals.
Two of Hamilton County’s smaller schools will get together in what will be a big match-up. Hamilton Heights travels to Guerin Catholic on Friday for an opening-round game in Class 3A Sectional 28. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
This will be only the second time that the Golden Eagles have played the Huskies. The other time was on Nov. 7, 2014, in a sectional championship game. Guerin Catholic won 28-20; the Golden Eagles led 21-0 before Heights made a comeback, but GC was able to hold on and claim its fourth sectional title in five years with that win.
Both teams finished the regular season with victories. The Huskies defeated Rensselaer Central on the road in a rainy Hoosier Conference fifth-place game 14-0 to improve to 6-3 for the season.
“I think they play hard and they’re well-coached,” said Golden Eagles coach Tom Dilley. “They have some good skill players. They have some size up front. They have an idenetity. They play with confidence.”
Heights senior quarterback Guy Griffey has been playing well. Griffey has completed 84 of 156 pass attempts for 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Senior Gavin Bramel is the Huskies’ top receiver with 27 catches, nine of them for touchdowns. Senior Isaac Tuma is right behind him with 25 catches, two for scores.
Junior Trey Ehman is Heights’ top rusher with 858 yards and four TDs. Meanwhile, the Huskies’ defense is led by three seniors: Hudson Hochstedler has 58 tackles, followed by Nate Hulen with 49 and Andrew Lienemann with 48. All three have five tackles for a loss.
Guerin Catholic is 2-7 for the season, but got a victory in its final regular-season game by beating Culver Academies on the road 25-20 last Friday.
“They’re fast,” said Huskies coach Jon Kirschner of the Golden Eagles. “They got good size and they play some pretty smart football.”
Guerin Catholic has been using two quarterbacks. Sophomore Ryan Zimmerman has been throwing at a 58-of-108 clip, totaling 879 yards and nine touchdowns, while senior Sam Miller is 75-of-119 for the season, with 765 yards and five scores to his credit. Senior Ryan Glenn has 43 receptions, including six touchdowns, while junior Will Fremion counts four touchdowns among his 22 catches.
Junior Justin Zdobylak is GC’s top rusher with 690 yards and six TDs. On defense, senior Adam Novelen leads with 73 tackles, followed by senior Max Nickell with 62 stops. Senior Dylan Balcer has seven tackles for a loss.
“I think their defnse plays fast as well,” said Kirschner. “I think their secondary is very athletic. I think they’re linebackers play the run well. I feel like they’re a very well-balanced team with what they do. They’re coached well and they execute what they’ve been coached well. They just play good, solid football.”
SHERIDAN-PARK TUDOR
The other sectional first-round football game involving county teams will take place up at Bud Wright Stadium. Sheridan welcomes Park Tudor for a 7 p.m. opening-round contest in Class 1A Sectional 46.
Both the Blackhawks and the Panthers hold 7-2 records coming into this game and are riding long win streaks. Park Tudor has won its last three games.
The Panthers have wins against Shortridge 49-0, Tindley 31-8, Traders Point Christian 60-26, Cincinnati Country Day 48-14, Phalen Academy 55-6, Covenant Christian 35-29 and Edinburgh 52-10. Park Tudor’s only losses have been to Centerville 28-13 and North Central Farmersburg 28-20.
“They got a lot of speed,” said Sheridan coach Bud Wright. “They got a lot of big people up front. They’re exceptionally large up front on the offensive line and the defensive line.”
Sophomore DJ Gordon is the Panther’s quarterback, and he has had an efficient season, going 73-of-119 for 1,185 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior CJ Thompson leads the receptions with 29, including nine scores.
Senior Caden Whitehead is the top rusher with 532 yards and nine touchdowns, while Gordon has gained 490 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Junior Jonathan Harris has 286 yards rushing.
“They mix it up pretty much,” said Wright. “They mix the running and the passing pretty good.”
Senior Aaron Roach leads the defense with 87 tackles, followed by sophomore William Harris with 65 stops.
The Blackhawks have won five games in a row, including last Friday’s big 28-21 victory over Carroll that clinched the Hoosier Heartland Conference championship for Sheridan.
Senior Gavin Reners leads the Blackhawks’ rushing game with 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns, followed by junior Peyton Cross with 459 yards on the ground and four TDs. Junior Jacob Jones has also scored four touchdowns and leads the defense with 91 tackles, including eight for a loss.
FOOTBALL SECTIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 22
Sectional 28
West Lafayette at Brebeuf Jesuit, 7 p.m.
Yorktown at North Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.
Heights at Guerin Catholic, 7 p.m.
Crawfordsville at Western Boone, 7 p.m.
Sectional 46
Indiana School for the Deaf at Covenant Christian, 7 p.m.
Park Tudor at Sheridan, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh at Indianapolis Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 29
Sectional 4
Westfield at Noblesville, 7 p.m.
Fishers at Southeastern, 7 p.m.
Sectional 5
Carmel at Avon, 7 p.m.
Brownsburg at Pike, 7 p.m.
Sectional 28
West Lafayette-Brebeuf Jesuit winner vs. Yorktown-North Montgomery winner, time and location TBD
Heights-Guerin Catholic winner vs. Crawfordsville-Western Boone winner, time and location TBD
Sectional 46
Tindley at Indiana School for the Deaf-Covenant Christian winner, 7 p.m.
Park Tudor-Sheridan winner vs. Edinburgh-Indianapolis Lutheran winner, time and location TBD