This Friday, Indiana high school football moves into Week 7, which starts the final third of the 2021 season.
While teams are starting to think about the tournament, many of them also have conference business to finish up. That includes the two Hamilton County teams that will play each other on Friday: Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern.
The Millers will travel to the Royals’ TCU Field for Southeastern’s Homecoming game and a Hoosier Crossroads Conference contest. The Royals are 3-1 in league play and looking to stay within shouting distance of the top. Noblesville is 0-4 in the HCC and trying for its first conference win of the year.
“We know that we are a good team,” said Millers coach Dave Sharpe. He acknowledged the frustration of trying to pick up that elusive first HCC victory.
“It’s so frustrating, but the itch is getting itchier,” said Sharpe. “There’s no sense of meltdown, there’s no hanging our head. It’s, ‘We are going to win one of these games’ very soon. That mentality is quite refreshing.”
Noblesville will enter TCU Field with a 2-4 record overall. The Millers opened their season with non-conference wins over Mount Vernon 57-36 and Terre Haute South 45-12. Once in the HCC, Noblesville fell to Fishers 16-13, Westfield 42-15, Zionsville 41-26 and Franklin Central 28-22.
The Millers have gotten attention with their running game. Sophomore Logan Shoffner has run for 1,036 yards this season – an average of 172.7 yards per game – and scored nine touchdowns. Senior Alairic Rogers-Walton has gained 340 yards and scored four touchdowns.
On defense, senior Sam Steinhofer leads the tackles with 59, followed by sophomore Austin Hastings with 51. Senior Jacob Hofmann has 7.5 tackles for a loss.
“Their size on both sides of the ball is impressive,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly, who called the Millers “a very good football team” that presents several challenges. The coach noted that Noblesville plays hard and is very disciplined, and has two Division I athletes on the line of scrimmage, which he called “unique.”
Meanwhile, the Class 6A No. 7-ranked Royals are 5-1 for the year. Southeastern won its first four games of the season, beating Lawrence Central 35-7 and North Central 45-13 before moving into HCC play. The Royals then defeated Avon 40-13 and Fishers 42-13 before falling to Westfield 34-21. HSE rebounded last week with a 41-21 win at Zionsville.
“I think HSE has executed at an amazing level on both sides of the ball all season long,” said Sharpe. “When you look at their third- and fourth-down conversion rates on offense, it’s astounding.”
Sharpe also had praise for the Royals’ defense – “They’re big, they’re strong and they’re nasty,” he said. “And it’s a credit to a bunch of multi-year starters, those guys like Evan Sherrill and Jackson Constantine and Griffin Haas and Louden Sundling. “Those guys are ferocious and their defensive line is good as well.”
Southeastern quarterback Sam Jacobs is throwing at a 24-for-45 clip, with 377 yards and seven touchdowns. Jack Wafford is his leading receiver with nine catches, three for scores.
Senior Blaine Wertz leads the HSE rushing with 6-3 yards and nine touchdowns, followed by senior Owen Jones with 482 yards and six TDs. Sundling is on top of the defensive list with 30 tackles, seven for a loss.
“Our student section has been unbelievable this year,” said Kelly. “We greatly appreciate their support.”
The coach said the Royals are looking forward to having its alumin back for the night, and will also be celebrating Southeasetrn’s 1981 state championship team.
“It should be a great night,” said Kelly.
FISHERS-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
After Noblesville-Southeastern, the only other home game in the county on Fishers will take place at Fishers’ TCU Field. The Tigers host Franklin Central in an HCC contest.
The Flashes hold a 3-1 conference record and are 4-2 overall. Franklin Central beat Perry Meridian 27-21 and lost to Roncalli 34-13 in non-conference games, then dropped its HCC opener to Brownsburg 28-14.
Since then, FC has been on a three-game win streak with victories over Zionsville 24-21, Avon 30-23 and Noblesville 28-22. The Flashes are getting great play for their freshman quarterback Nevan Tutterow, who is 67-of-109 for 877 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior Bryan Marshall is Franklin Central’s top receiver with 21 catches, followed by senior Dameon Miller with 19 catches. Senior Aataeveon Jordan leads the rushing with 891 yards and eight TDs. Junior Wyatt Penney is FC’s top tackler with 50 stops; junior Julius Parker has 6.5 tackles for a loss.
Fishers is 2-2 in conference play and 4-2 overall. Junior quarterback Lucas Minns is throwing at a 68-of-107 clip, totaling 890 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior Aidan Zimmer has 22 catches.
Junior Carson Dunn leads the Tigers’ rushing with 457 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Grady Stanley is on top of the defense with 58 tackles, nine for a loss.
WESTFIELD-AVON
Westfield, ranked No. 2 in 6A, will go on the road this Friday, traveling to Avon for an HCC game.
The Orioles are 0-6 for the season and 0-4 in the conference. After falling to Lawrence North 26-22 and Ben Davis 59-35, Avon has dropped conference games to Hamilton Southeastern 40-13, Brownsburg 38-17, Franklin Central 30-23 and Fishers 35-25.
The Orioles’ quarterback is sophomore Mason Reynolds, and he has completed 85 of 164 pass attempts for 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior Chrishon McCray has 34 of those catches, 11 of them for scores. Senior Derrick Shaw II leads the defense with 41 tackles.
The Shamrocks are 5-1 for the season, including a perfect 4-0 in the HCC. Senior Maximus Webster is throwing at a 58-of-82 clip, for 846 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Ian Bruch leads the receptions with 18, while freshman Gabe Aramboles has 14 catches.
Senior Micah Hauser is on top of the rushing list with 397 yards and nine scores, followed by senior Trevon Hatchett with 249 yards and five touchdowns. Hauser also leads the defense with 67 tackles, while senior Popeye Williams has eight tackles for a loss.
CARMEL-BEN DAVIS
Carmel, rated No. 3 in 6A, is headed to the west side of Indianapolis on Friday to play Ben Davis in a Metropolitan Conference game.
The Giants are 2-4 for the season and 1-3 in the MIC. Ben Davis dropped its opener to Brownsburg 33-22, then got victories against Avon 59-35 and Pike 49-21 in its conference opener. After that, the Gianst have fallen to Center Grove 45-21, Warren Central 57-56 and Lawrence North 26-24.
Senior Juan Swanson is having an outstanding year as quarterback, throwing 127-of-195 for 1,686 yards and 15 touchdowns. Senior Donell Mason has 40 catches, including eight touchdowns, while junior Marques Reese has made 35 catches.
Senior Dillon Moore has 25 receptions, including four TDs. Swanson and senior Chris Patterson both have four rushing touchdowns. On defense, senior Dalijah Marks has 41 tackles.
The Greyhounds are 3-1 in MIC play, having won their last three games, and are 5-1 overall. Senior Zach Osborne is also playing strong at quarterback, with 1,111 yards on 82-of-129 passing, including 13 touchdowns. Junior Desmond Duffy leads the receptions with 30, including 10 touchdowns, followed by senior Jaedon King with 26 catches and junior Reece Bellin with 22.
Osborne has rushed for seven touchdowns this season. On defense, junior Winston Berglund has 50 tackles, while junior Will Heldt has 47.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-TIPTON
Hamilton Heights is headed north to take on old rival Tipton. Not only is it a rivalry game, but it’s a key Hoosier Conference East Division game as well.
The 2A No. 4 Blue Devils are perfect so far this season at 6-0, including a 2-0 record in division play. Tipton beat Frankton 34-0, Elwood 41-0 and Twin Lakes 42-7 to start the season, then won its division opener at Lewis Cass 42-0. After a 42-28 victory at Lafayette Central Catholic, the Blue Devils returned to division play last week with a 42-7 win over Northwestern.
Junior Vincent Hoover is Tipton’s quarterback, and he has been very efficient, making 41 of 56 attempts for 684 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior Nate Powell has 22 catches, including six for scores.
Junior Eli Carter has rushed for 863 yards and 15 TDs, with Hoover running for four touchdowns.
On defense, senior Drew Servies has 60 tackles, followed by senior Brogan London with 57 tackles.
The Huskies are 1-1 in division play and 4-2 overall. Senior quarterback Guy Griffey is 55-of-97 for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns; senior Gavin Bramel has 22 catches, including eight for scores, and senior Isaac Tuma has 18 receptions.
Junior Trey Ehman is the leading rusher, with 593 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, senior Harrison Hochstedler leads with 58 tackles, followed by senior Nate Hulen with 49 stops and senior Andy Lienemann wtih 48 tackles. All three have five tackles for a loss.
SHERIDAN-SEEGER
Sheridan is taking a break from Hoosier Heartland Conference play this week. The Blackhawks head west to Seeger for a non-conference game on Friday.
The Patriots are 4-2, having won their last three games. Seeger dropped its season opener at Parke Heritage 48-16, then beat Benton Central 40-0. After a loss to Southmont 13-0, the Patriots have been winning ever since, beating Riverton Parke 38-26, Covington 50-30 and Fountain Central 22-16.
Sophomore Nate Stephen has completed 39 of 59 pass attempts for 485 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Rayce Carr is the top receiver with 15 catches.
Junior Payton Chinn has been a force on the ground with 1,069 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. On defense, senior Brock Thomason has 60 tackles, including seven for a losk, with Chinn making 41 stops, 7.5 of them for a loss.
The Blackhawks are also 4-2 for the season. Senior Gavin Reners leads the rushing with 803 yards and nine touchdowns, while junior Jacob Jones is on top of the defensive list with 57 tackles, seven for a loss.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-NORTHVIEW
Guerin Catholic goes on the road to Northview Friday, in a game that kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
The Knights are 4-1 for the season. Northview won its first three games, beating Terre Haute North 48-28, Greencastle 39-0 and Sullivan 16-13. After an idle week and a 24-14 loss to Owen Valley, the Knights defeated Terre Haute South 28-14 last week.
Senior Dillon White is Northview’s quarterback, and he is 44-of-71 for 598 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Vincent Bonomo has 16 of those catches.
Senior Donavin Cherry has rushed for 321 yards and five touchdowns, with sophomore Imer Holman right behind with 313 yards and three scores. Senior Braxton Sampson lead the defense with 59 tackles, seven for a loss, while senior Isaac Torbert has eight tackles for a loss.
The Golden Eagles are 1-5 for the season. Senior quarterback Sam Miller is throwing at a 74-of-114 clip, totaling 756 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Ryan Glenn has 28 catches, including four TDs, with sophomore Jack Cherry making 20 catches.
Junior Justin Zdobylak leads the rushing with 521 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Adam Novelen has 47 tackles, with junior Anthony Ferrucci making 45 stops.
