Sectional play for the Hamilton Heights football team will begin this year like it did last year: At North Montgomery.
The Huskies travel to the Chargers’ field on Friday for the first round of play in Class 3A Sectional 26. That is one of three games involving Hamilton County teams that will take place this weekend. Guerin Catholic hosts Crawfordsville for another Sectional 26 game, while Sheridan travels to Tri-Central to open play in 1A Sectional 40.
RE-MATCH FOR HEIGHTS
This will be second trip to North Montgomery for Heights this season. The two teams met back on week two, and the Chargers won 19-7.
Since then, North finished its regular season with a 3-6 record, including a 2-5 mark in the Sagamore Conference. In addition to the Huskies, the Chargers beat Crawfordsville 34-7 and Frankfort 55-6, while losing to North Putnam 28-12, Southmont 28-0, Lebanon 24-12, Western Boone 60-14, Tri-West 16-12 and Danville 43-36.
Complete stats for North Montgomery are unavailable, but the Chargers appear to be a young team. Junior Jaron Bradford is the quarterback, while senior Bryce Claycomb is North’s leading rusher and juniors Kade Kobel and Kai Warren the top receivers. Senior Daniel Fritzen is the leader in tackles for the Chargers.
Heights finished the regular season 2-7, winning its regular-season finale last week against Twin Lakes. Sophomore quarterback Isaac Wilson has completed 51 of 114 passes for 643 yards, including six touchdowns.
Junior Deshawn King is the Huskies’ leading rusher with 404 yards. Senior Tad Defoe has a team-leading 22 catches for Heights (including two scores), while junior Camron Knott’s five touchdowns are part of his total of 14.
GOLDEN EAGLES HOST ATHENIANS
Guerin Catholic will welcome Crawfordsville to the Eagles Nest on Friday in its first-round sectional game.
The Athenians are 1-8 for the season, finally getting their first victory of the season last Friday in a 50-8 rout of Frankfort. Before that, it had been a rough season for Crawfordsville, with losses to Greencastle 9-0, West Vigo 31-7, Western Boone 69-0, Danville 40-7, Southmont 49-28, North Montgomery 34-7, Lebanon 36-13 and Tri-West 56-13.
Cale McCarty led the way for the Athenians in their win, with five total touchdowns. Crawfordsville’s best runner is Steven LaTre, who has run for 672 yards this season, including two TDs. Senior Cameron Saunders has been stepping up as the Athenians’ quarterback, including a touchdown pass last Friday.
The Golden Eagles are 5-4 for the season. Junior Christian Gelov has completed 78 of 182 passes for 933 yards, that includes eight touchdowns. Junior Bernie McGuinness leads the GC receivers with 21 catches, while junior Patrick Hagel has 15 receptions. Both have scored one touchdown.
Leading rusher Dylan Crossen missed last week with an injury. Several Golden Eagles have stepped up, including sophomore Jagger Albert, who rushed for 58 yards last week in Guerin’s game with Roncalli. Senior Charles Bock leads the GC defense with 77 tackles, with senior Hank Bates making 10 tackles for a loss. Both players also have four sacks on the season.
‘HAWKS TRAVEL TO TRI-CENTRAL
Sheridan will head north to Tri-Central on Friday for its second game of the season against the Trojans.
The two teams played each other in Week 3 at Bud Wright Stadium, with Sheridan winning 52-0. Since then, the Blackhawks have gone on to a 7-2 regular season record an undefeated Hoosier Heartland Conference championship.
Tri-Central is 2-7, with its wins coming against Clinton Prairie 3-0 and Carroll 6-0. In addition to Sheridan, the Trojans have lost to Frankton 20-0, Taylor 34-7, Delphi 44-6, Eastern 55-7, Lapel 42-6 and Clinton Central 14-9.
Tri-Central is playing with a very young team. Quarterback Mason Pickens is a sophomore, and has completed 28 of 70 passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns. He is also the Trojans’ leading rusher with 408 yards and three scores.
Another sophomore, Deitric Johnson, has 13 receptions, including three TDs, while on defense he has made 11 tackles for a loss and five sacks. Junior Ethan Mason has rushed for 376 yards, and also leads Tri-Central on defense with 87 tackles.
Sheridan quarterback senior Drake Delph has been efficient passing the ball this season, completing 37 of 66 passes for 702 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior James Manis is the leading rusher with 1090 yards and 14 TDs, while Jesse Kolb has caught 19 passes, including nine touchdowns.
Kolb also has the most tackles for Sheridan with 87, with sophomore Cameron Hovey right behind him by making 86 stops. Nine Blackhawks have at least 50 tackles this season; junior Chris Starks has made 12 for a loss, with Manis getting 10 for a loss. Manis also has nine sacks.
Hamilton Heights quarterback Isaac Wilson (12) has passed for 643 yards and six touchdowns this season. (Kent Graham/File photo)