Football teams across Indiana are waiting for tonight, as the IHSAA announces the tournament pairings for its 48 sectionals at 6 p.m.
The pairings show can be seen on IHSAAtv.org. Once the show is finished, it will be back to preparing for Friday’s games, and there are some big ones.
Westfield travels to Fishers, where the Shamrocks hope to continue their drive to a Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship. Sheridan will host Eastern and try to play the spoiler, as the Comets are unbeaten for the season.
WESTFIELD-FISHERS
The Shamrocks head to Reynolds Tigers Stadium with an unbeaten HCC record (5-0), while the Tigers are 2-3 in the conference. Kickoff for this game is at 7 p.m.
Westfield, now ranked No. 2 in the Class 6A coaches’ poll, kept its perfect HCC mark intact last Friday by running away from Avon 59-33. It was also the sixth straight win for the ‘Rocks, who have not lost since dropping a Week 1 game to Cathedral, the unquestionable No. 1 team in 5A.
“Our focus has been pretty good honestly,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “Our senior leadership is great. Our practices are competitive. We play a good team every single week so there is no reason to let your guard down.”
“Westfield is a fundamentally sound football team and they don’t make mistakes,” said Fishers coach Curt Funk. “They play hard and give full effort. We must be sound with our fundamentals on offense, defense, and special teams on Friday night.”
Junior quarterback Maximus Webster has gotten stronger each game. He was 13-of-16 for 261 yards and five touchdowns against Avon, bringing his season-to-date numbers to 64 completions in 103 attempts, totaling 1,082 yards and 15 scores. He also has seven rushing touchdowns.
Senior Mason Piening leads the receptions list with 28, seven of them touchdowns. Junior Micah Hauser is the Shamrocks’ do-it-all man, as he is the top rusher with 652 yards and five touchdowns, and leads the defense with 74 tackles. Junior Popeye Williams has the most tackles for a loss with eight, and is on top of the sacks list with three.
Fishers is 2-3 in the conference and 2-5 overall. The Tigers ended a three-game losing streak last week with a 33-14 win at Franklin Central. Junior Jeffrey Simmons set a school record for most single-game receptions, making 15, including one for a touchdown.
Simmons and senior Landon Morris lead the season receptions list with 40 and 32 respectively. Gilbert said they are Division I players “who are big and fast.”
“It will be a huge challenge to stop them,” said Gilbert. “Fishers does a good job getting them the ball on both quick passes and deep balls.”
Senior quarterback Lucas Prewitt has put together outstanding numbers this season, with 1,358 total passing yards at a 112-of-182 clip, including nine touchdowns. Sophomore Carson Dunn leads the ground game with 427 yards and three TDs. Senior Billy Reiter has the most tackles with 49.
“On offense, we must continue to remain balanced with our run and pass game,” said Funk. “We must eliminate our penalties and turnovers as we move closer to the playoffs. We had a good offensive night last Friday vs Franklin Central and we can’t afford to take steps backwards.”
SHERIDAN-EASTERN
Sheridan will welcome unbeaten Eastern to Bud Wright Stadium on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Comets are 7-0 for the season and ranked No. 9 in the 2A coaches’ poll. Eastern is also solidly on top of the Hoosier Heartland Conference standings at 5-0.
The Comets began their season with wins over Oak Hill 13-0 and Blackford 42-0. After a tough HHC-opening win over Delphi 38-35, Eastern has had no trouble negotiating its other conference opponents, winning over Taylor 61-0, Carroll 52-0, Clinton Central 53-8 and Tri-Central 35-0.
In the Comets’ win over Tri-Central, Zane Downing rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Austin Roberts, one of two Eastern quarterbacks, went 7-for-10 with 95 yards, with Evan Monize making three catches.
The Blackhawks are 2-1 in HHC play and 4-2 overall. Sheridan will try to rebound from last week’s 28-14 loss to Seeger in a non-conference game.
Senior Cameron Hovey has had a fantastic season, rushing for 1,044 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sophomore Silas DeVaney, the quarterback, has thrown for 168 yards and two scores. Sophomore Jacob Jones has 61 tackles on defense, including eight for a loss, while Hovey had made 57 stops.
NOBLESVILLE-BROWNSBURG
Noblesville will take a trip to Brownsburg on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff against the 6A No. 4 Bulldogs.
Brownsburg had won its first five games of the season before dropping an overtime game with Westfield, 43-42. The Bulldogs rebounded last week with a 41-13 victory at Zionsville. Brownsburg is currently tied for second with Hamilton Southeastern in the HCC standings at 4-1, and is 6-1 overall.
Senior quarterback Ben Easters has had an outstanding season, throwing for 1,471 yards and 13 touchdowns, at a 98-of-162 clip. Senior Preston Terrell leads the receptions count with 38, including seven scores.
Sophomore Caleb Marcus is on top of the rushing list with 735 yards and 13 TDs. On defense, senior Jalen Wilson has made 48 tackles, while junior Isaiah Street has 7.5 tackles for a loss. Senior Jacob Howell has 3.5 sacks.
The Millers will try to rebound after a 27-17 loss to Hamilton Southeastern last week. Noblesville is 1-4 in conference play and 2-5 overall.
Junior Owen Jones leads the Millers’ rushing with 565 yards and four touchdowns, followed by senior Holden Montarsi’s 327 yards and two scores. Junior quarterback Conner Meinerding has thrown for 146 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, junior Sam Steinhofer leads in both tackles with 53 and tackles for a loss with eight. Two Noblesville defenders have 3.5 sacks for the season: Senior Skyler Tolliver and junior Alairic Rogers-Walton.
SOUTHEASTERN-FRANKLIN CENTRAL
Hamilton Southeastern will look to extend its two-game win streak when it plays at Franklin Central on Friday. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
The Flashes are winless in the HCC at 0-5 and are 1-6 overall. Franklin Central beat Perry Meridian 40-14 in its opener, but have dropped six in a row since, falling to Fishers last week 33-14.
Senior Colin Badgero is FC’s quarterback, and he has completed 88 of 187 passes for 918 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Bryan Marshall has 26 of those receptions.
Franklin Central’s rushing game is led by senior Josh Ruley (452 yards, six TDs) and junior Aataeveon Jordan (418 yards, two TDs). Ben Massey is on top of the defense list with 62 tackles, followed by Luke Shomaker’s 60 stops.
The Royals are 4-1 in the conference, putting them in a tie for second place with Brownsburg, and are 5-2 overall. Junior Sam Jacobs filled in as quarterback for Southeastern and played well, completing 7 of 10 attempts for 101 yards. Blaine Wertz rushed for 133 yards and also caught three passes.
CARMEL-WARREN CENTRAL
Carmel, which is tied for sixth in this week’s 6A coaches’ poll, travels to Warren Central on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Warriors are 2-4 against an all-Metropolitan Conference schedule. Warren’s wins have come against Lawrence Central 40-0 and Pike 29-27; the Warriors have lost to Center Grove 20-0, North Central 10-0, Ben Davis 21-14 and Lawrence North 34-13. Warren Central did not play a Week 1 game and currently does not have a Week 9 game scheduled.
Prince Powell is the Warriors’ quarterback, and has thrown for 740 yards and three touchdowns on a 74-of-133 clip. Quintin Delgado Prado is Warren’s top receiver, with 22 catches, one for a score.
Powell is on top of the rushing roster with 194 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Andrew Nelson has 43 tackles; both he and junior Daniel Harrell have made 6.5 tackles for a loss. Junior Dejuan Echoles has four sacks.
The Greyhounds are on a four-game win streak. Carmel is 4-1 in the MIC, behind only Center Grove, and 5-2 overall. The ‘Hounds continued their streak last week with a 31-9 Homecoming victory over Ben Davis.
Junior Zach Osborne has had a fine season at quarterback, completing 70 of 138 pass attempts for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Colton Parker has 23 of those catches, including four TDs. Osborne also has five rushing touchdowns.
Senior Zach White leads the Carmel rushing with 450 yards and four TDs. On defense, three seniors are over 50 tackles: Andrew Turvy has 58 stops (four for a loss), Gavin Hale has 56 and Tamarris Springfield has 55.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-DECATUR CENTRAL
Guerin Catholic, originally scheduled to be idle on Week 8, will get to play on Friday. The Golden Eagles picked up Decatur Central, and will travel to the Hawks’ field for a 7 p.m. start.
Decatur Central is ranked No. 6 in 5A with a 5-2 record. The Hawks currently sit atop the Mid-State Conference standings with a 5-1 record.
After falling to MIC opponent Center Grove 56-14 in its opener, Decatur Central beat Perry Meridian 66-14, Whiteland 27-14 and Martinsville 50-21 before dropping a Week 5 contest to Mooresville 20-14. The Hawks then beat Plainfield 35-20 and Greenwood 49-21.
Senior Peyton Horsley is Decatur Central’s quarterback, and has completed 77 of 129 attempts for 1,153 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Javon Tracy is his top receiver, with 31 catches, eight of them for scores.
Junior Kaleb Hicks leads the rushing with 463 yards and two TDs, while Horsley has gained 408 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Senor Ngui Dodo leads the defense with 56 tackles, followed by senior Damon Porter with 51 stops. Both have six tackles for a loss, while sophomore Aycen Stevens has seven tackles for a loss.
Guerin Catholic is 2-3 for the season, and ended a three-game losing streak last Friday by beating Northview 19-0. Jagger Albert had a solid performance, rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Miller completed 7 of 10 pass attempts for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Ryan Glenn made three catches.
HEIGHTS-LEWIS CASS
Hamilton Heights heads north to Lewis Cass on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Kings are 2-5 for the season, and 1-2 in the Hoosier Conference East Division. Cass’ victories have been against Benton Central 19-13 and Northwestern 15-0, with losses to Pioneer 44-0, South Adams 55-7, Tipton 43-6, Western 23-0 and West Lafayette 51-20.
A freshman was the leading rusher for the Kings in their game with the Red Devils. Cooper Frey gained 79 yards last Friday. Cass got their touchdowns from Keegan Lytle who had two rushing scores, and Keaton Lewellen, who caught a pass from LJ Hillis.
The Huskies are 3-4 for the season and 2-1 in division play. Heights fell to Tipton 24-21 last week on a last-second field goal.
Junior Guy Griffey has been playing well at quarterback, with 645 yards and 10 touchdowns to his credit. Junior Isaac Tumas has 15 catches, including four TDs.
Sophomore Trey Ehman is the leading rusher with 619 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, junior Harrison Hochstedler has 66 tackles, followed by senior Kaleb Schakel with 60 stops, seven for a loss. Junior Nate Hulen has 52 tackles.
