Indiana high school football is entering the home stretch this week, as teams move into the final third of the regular season.
And now that it is Week 7, every game becomes important as teams fight for a good finish in the conference standings. That includes the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, where Westfield presently leads with a 4-0 record. Right behind are Brownsburg and Hamilton Southeastern with 3-1 marks. The Shamrocks host Avon Friday, while the Royals travel to Noblesville for an all-county showdown.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN-NOBLESVILLE
Southeastern got back on the winning track last week against Zionsville, coming from behind to beat the Eagles 14-13. That improved the Royals’ overall record to 4-2. Southeastern also has wins over Lawrence Central 24-0, Avon 39-28 and Fishers 21-9, while falling to North Central 36-35 and Westfield 14-3.
“Defensively, they have some really dynamic playmakers in their front seven,” said Noblesville coach Dave Sharpe. He mentioned several Royals defenders, such as junior JT Mutchner, senior Nate Haas, junior Jackson Constantine and sophomore Evan Sherrill. Haas has a total of 41 tackles this season.
“Those kids are very dynamic and experienced,” said Sharpe. “They’re going to be very excited to play against our physical downhill offense.”
On offense, senior quarterback John McCall has been a solid leader. Sharpe called him “the straw that stirs the drink. He’s had a phenomenal season with all of the reads that they’re letting him run.”
McCall has completed 65 of 99 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. Most of those TD throws have been to junior Martice Taylor, HSE’s top receiver with 22 catches, five of them for scores. Junior Blaine Wertz is the top rusher with 423 yards.
The Millers are also coming off a big win, beating Franklin Central 20-13 last week for their first Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory of the season, after opening league play 0-3.
Noblesville’s defense has played well throughout the season. Senior Skyler Tolliver leads the tackling with 44, followed by junior Alairic Rogers-Walton with 38. Both have made 5.5 tackles for a loss. Senior Blaine McNabb and junior Sam Steinhofer both have 37 tackles, with Steinhofer making seven for a loss.
Southeastern coach Michael Kelly said that the Millers have “a lot of seniors that have played some meaningful minutes in the past,” and credits the defensive coordinator with doing “a good job getting them lined up” and understanding with their keys are and playing fast.
On offense, Noblesville has been predominantly a running team this season. Junior Owen Jones had a literal breakout game last week by rushing for 185 yards; that included a 90-yard run that would set up a touchdown a couple plays later.
For the season, Jones has 545 yards and four touchdowns to his credit. While the Millers usually stick to the ground, they can go to the air if they need to. Junior quarterback Conner Meinerding has 146 yards passing, with sophomore Chance Yeager making four catches.
“They’re big and physical up front,” said Kelly. “They’ve got a couple good backs and their quarterback does a good job.”
WESTFIELD-AVON
After the Shamrocks’ dramatic overtime win over Brownsburg last week, which put Westfield in the HCC driver’s seat, coach Jake Gilbert said that his team’s reward for the victory was to play Avon next week.
The Orioles are 2-2 in the conference and 3-3 overall. But they are also on a two-game win streak, with lopsided victories over Franklin Central 35-7 and Fishers 49-14.
Avon’s other win was against Ben Davis, 54-13. The Orioles have lost to Lawrence North 62-34, Hamilton Southeastern 39-28, and rival Brownsburg 47-29.
Senior quarterback Henry Hesson continues to impress with his numbers. Through six games, Hesson has thrown for 1,493 yards on a 79-of-127 clip, including 19 touchdowns. Senior Wallace Stovall is the Orioles’ top receiver with 37 catches, including five TDs. Senior Remington Gall has the most receiving touchdowns with nine.
Junior Chrishon McCray leads the running game with 463 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, senior Clayton Peters has 62 tackles, 10 of them for losses.
Westfield is 5-1 overall and is now ranked No. 4 in the Class 6A coaches and media polls. Junior Maximus Webster has become a force for the Shamrocks in the quarterback role, making 51 of 87 attempts for 821 yards, including 10 touchdowns. Senior Mason Piening leads the receptions with 23, including five scores. Webster also has seven rushing TDs.
Junior Micah Hauser has become Westfield’s everyman. He leads the rushing with 500 yards and three touchdowns, and after a 25-tackle performance in last week’s Brownsburg game, has 68 total stops, the Shamrocks’ leader in that category. Junior Popeye Williams is on top of the tackles for loss (seven) and sacks (three) categories.
FISHERS-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Fishers goes back on the road Friday for a game at Franklin Central. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Flashes are 1-5 and 0-4 in HCC play. Prior to its loss to Noblesville, Franklin Central fell to Roncalli 36-6, Brownsburg 35-7, Zionsville 27-0 and Avon 35-7. The Flashes opened their season with a 40-14 win over Perry Meridian.
Senior Craig Badgero, who gave the Millers some nervous moments last week before Noblesville held on for the win, has had a decent season as FC’s quarterback. He has completed 79 of 160 passes for 828 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Bryan Marshall has the most receptions with 25.
On the ground, senior Josh Ruley has gained 389 yards and scored six touchdowns, while junior Aataeveon Jordan has rushed for 320 yards and two TDs. Senior Vaughn Taylor leads the defense with 54 tackles.
The Tigers are 1-3 in the conference and 1-5 overall. They will look to end a three-game losing streak on Friday and are coming off a 49-14 loss at Avon last week.
Senior Lucas Prewitt has been solid as the quarterback, with 1,013 yards on 83-of-143 passing, along with five touchdowns. Senior Landon Morris has 28 catches and four TDs, while junior Jeffrey Simmons has made 25 receptions.
Sophomore Carson Dunn leads Fishers’ rushing with 399 yards and two scores. On defense, senior Seth Dunnuck has 45 tackles, while his classmate Billy Reiter has made 43 stops. Junior Curtis Kearshner has six tackles for a loss and three sacks.
CARMEL-BEN DAVIS
Carmel returns home after a couple weeks to play Ben Davis Friday, in a Metropolitan Conference game that kicks off at 7 p.m.
The Giants will visit the Greyhounds with a 2-2 MIC record and are 2-4 overall. Ben Davis’ wins came against Pike 48-24 and Warren Central 21-14, while the Giants have lost to Brownsburg 38-7, Avon 54-13, Center Grove 35-12 and Lawrence North 27-24 in overtime.
Junior J’uan Swanson is the quarterback for Ben Davis, and has completed 70 of 126 pass attempts for 877 yards and six touchdowns. The Giants have four players that have at least 10 receptions, led by junior Dillon Moore with 18, including a touchdown.
Senior Brandon Fuentes is on top of the rushing list with 349 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Swanson with 307 yards and four TDs. Senior Charles Knuckols leads the defense with 65 tackles, while senior Aneill Boatright has made four sacks.
Carmel is 3-1 in MIC play and 4-2 overall. The ‘Hounds are on a three-game win streak, with a big win over North Central last week, 38-14. Carmel is ranked No. 7 in the 6A media poll and tied for seventh in the coaches poll.
Junior quarterback Zach Osborne is passing at a 62-of-123 clip, with a total of 744 yards and seven touchdowns to his credit. Senior Colton Parker is the top receiver with 21 catches, three of them for scores.
The Greyhounds have four rushers that have topped 100 yards this season, led by senior Zach White with 334 yards and three touchdowns. Osborne is at 269 yards and five TDs. Seniors Andrew Turvy and Tamarris Springfield both have 49 tackles, with senior Gavin Hale right behind at 48 stops. Senior Luke Conley and junior Hayden Cate each have made three sacks.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-TIPTON
Hamilton Heights, currently riding a three-game win streak, will host an equally hot team on Friday: Old rival Tipton will play at the Huskies’ stadium in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Blue Devils are also winners of their last three games, having beaten Lewis Cass 43-6, Lafayette Central Catholic 41-21 and Northwestern 56-6. Tipton is 4-1 overall, opening its season with a 62-0 win over Elwood, then falling to Heritage Christian 27-17. Both the Blue Devils and the Huskies are 2-0 in the Hoosier Conference East Division.
Senior Sam Edwards is the Tipton quarterback and has been very efficient, completing 56 of his 80 pass attempts for 745 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Drew Pearce has 16 of those catches, including three scores.
Sophomore Eli Carter has gained 521 yards on the ground, and scored seven touchdowns. Junior Drew Servies leads the defense with 40 tackles, four of them for a loss.
The Huskies are 3-3 overall, with wins over the last three weeks against Northwestern, Western and Twin Lakes last week, 35-14. Western and Twin Lakes were unbeaten going into their games against Heights.
Guy Griffey has thrown for 600 yards on 35-of-78 passing, including nine touchdowns. Junior Isaac Tuma has 11 of those catches, four of them for TDs.
Sophomore Trey Ehman leads the rushing with 587 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Harrison Hochstedler is on top of the defensive list with 57 tackles and three sacks, while senior Kaleb Schakel has 49 stops, four of them for a loss.
SHERIDAN-SEEGER
Sheridan continues its homestand Friday when Seeger comes to Bud Wright Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Patriots are 4-1 for the season. After dropping its opener to Twin Lakes 42-15, Seeger has rolled past Jay County 41-0, Riverton Parke 48-8, Covington 65-14 and Fountain Central 52-6.
Sophomore Owen Snedeker is the Patriots’ quarterback, completing 32 of 45 passes for 615 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Khal Stephen is the top receiver, with 19 catches, including six scores.
Seeger has six rushers that have gained over 100 yards this season, led by junior Brock Thomason’s 301 yards and seven TDs. Snedeker has rushed for 259 yards and six touchdowns. Thomason and Stephen both lead the defense with 29 tackles each.
Sheridan is also 4-1 and is on a two-game win streak, beating Taylor 65-22 last week. Senior Cameron Hovey has been the dominant rusher for the Blackhawks, totaling 989 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns.
While Sheridan is sticking to its traditional running game, junior Silas DeVaney has been solid as the quarterback, with 143 yards and two touchdowns to his credit. On defense, sophomore Jacob Jones leads with 61 tackles, including eight for a loss, and six sacks, while Hovey has 57 stops.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-NORTHVIEW
Guerin Catholic returns home for the first time in three weeks, welcoming Northview Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Knights are 5-1 for the season. Northview lost its opener to Terre Haute North in overtime, 27-21, but since then has won five in a row. The Knights beat Greencastle 28-12, Sullivan 27-2, West Vigo 46-7, Owen Valley 35-0 and Indianapolis Lutheran 26-25 in double overtime.
Senior Keegan Garrison is the Northview quarterback, and has completed 59 of 99 attempts for 804 yards and eight touchdowns. Four Knights receivers have at least 10 catches, led by senior Ilias Gordon’s 17 receptions, including five TDs.
Senior Korbin Allen is by far Northview’s leading rusher, with 731 yards and seven scores. Junior Braxton Sampson tops the defensive list with 67 tackles, while Gordon has 13.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
Guerin Catholic is 1-3 for the season and will try to stop a three-game losing streak on Friday. Despite the losses, the Golden Eagles have been getting good production from their offense. Jagger Albert has rushed for 177 yards over the past three games, while Elijah Edwards has 14 receptions.
