Rivalry games highlight Week 2

By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
There will be a good old-fashioned rivalry game at Carmel Stadium tonight.
The Greyhounds will host Noblesville in one of the bigger games of the second week of the Indiana high school football season. When kickoff takes place at 7 p.m., both teams will be looking for their first win of the season: The Millers lost their opener to Lawrence North 42-13, while Class 6A No. 3 Carmel fell to the Kentucky Class 6A state champion, Louisville Trinity 31-3.
The two teams resumed their regular-season rivalry last year, also in Week 2 (although they have played each other in the sectional several times over the past few years.) Last season’s contest was a rain-delayed and hard-fought contest, with the ‘Hounds winning 24-9.
Noblesville junior quarterback Grant Gremel had a solid game against the Wildcats last week, completing 20 of 33 passes for 168 yards. Christian Collier provided some excitement with a 70-yard touchdown run; he finished the game with 93 yards in nine carries.
The Greyhounds got some nice production from wide receiver Atticus Clouse, who caught five passes for 42 yards in his first varsity start. Quarterback Jake McDonald held his own against the tough Trinity defense.
In other games:
FISHERS will look to rebound after a tough loss to North Central last week by taking on another Metropolitan Conference school. The Tigers travel to Pike for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Fishers has played Pike as its Week 2 game the past three seasons. The Tigers fell to the Red Devils in their inaugural meeting, but have since won the last two games, edging Pike 41-36 last year. The Red Devils are coming off a tough loss of their own, dropping a 33-32 opener to Zionsville.
Jon Vore threw two long touchdowns for Fishers last week, a 35-yarder to Will Syrus and a 47-yarder to Bryce Gee.
GUERIN CATHOLIC will take on Lafayette Central Catholic for its first game at the Eagles Nest this season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Knights find themselves in an unusual position: 0-1 to start the season. LCC was routed by Lafayette Jefferson 54-0 in its opening game, the first time the Knights had dropped a Week 1 contest since 2005. As a result, Central Catholic fell from its pre-season ranking of No. 1 in Class 1A to No. 6.
The Golden Eagles are receiving votes in 3A, as they should be after winning their opener at Martinsville 13-11 last week. Do-it-all running back Thomas Kaser not only rushed for 141 yards, he also kicked two field goals, including the game-winner with 5:15 left in the fourth quarter. Luke Keller had a nice night passing the ball, going 5-for-14 for 100 yards.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS will finally get to play Kokomo for the first time tonight. The Huskies host the Wildkats, which are receiving votes in Class 5A, at 7 p.m. in the Husky Dome.
The two teams were supposed to play their inaugural game last season, but it was canceled after Kokomo was hit by a tornado outbreak a couple days before the Week 2 game was to be played. Instead, the Heights team traveled up to Kokomo to help out with the clean-up.
Both teams will enter this game trying to get their first win of the season. The Huskies lost their opener at Mount Vernon last week 17-13, while the Wildkats were stopped by Hamilton Southeastern 24-2. The Royals held Kokomo to just 103 all-purpose yards (53 rushing and 50 passing). Kyle Wade is the Kokomo quarterback, he was 5-of-11 last week.
Heights is playing with a mostly new crew, but it was able to get some things done last week against the Marauders. Blake Webel established himself as a good runner, gaining 138 yards on 13 carries and scoring a touchdown. Carter Compassi threw for 82 yards.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, fresh off its win at Kokomo last week, will try its hand at North Central this week. The 6A No. 9 Royals travel to the Panthers’ field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
This will be the fourth year in a row that Southeastern takes on NC in the Week 2 game. It’s been a good stretch for the Royals, as they have beaten the Panthers in each of the past three years, last year by the score of 31-7.
North Central has a solid quarterback, junior Liam Thompson. He threw completed 21 of 36 passed for 259 yards, including a touchdown. Senior George Stokes rushed for 114 yards, while senior Cole Maguire made seven catches and junior Tre’von Elliott had six.
The Royals debuted many new players last week, and they played well. Lance Stephens rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown, while new quarterback Cody Huppenthal rushed for and passed for a touchdown each.
SHERIDAN won’t have any trouble getting up for its game this week. The 1A No. 10 Blackhawks play their first game at Bud Wright Stadium this season against old rival Clinton Central. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Sheridan has had control of this rivalry lately, having not lost to the Bulldogs since 2009. That’s a run of seven straight wins for the ‘Hawks; last year was by a close score of 28-25. The game also has bigger meaning now since it’s a Hoosier Heartland Conference game, the first one of the season for both teams.
The Blackhawks are coming off a 19-7 loss to another old rival, Western Boone. Central played at Northwestern in its opener, losing 40-16.
The Bulldogs have a junior quarterback, Spencer Smith, who went 16-of-39 for 147 yards and a touchdown. Junior Jaden Quick was the top receiver, catching six passes for 93 yards.
Sheridan has an experienced offense, with Joe Callahan carrying the ball 26 times for 79 yards last week against WeBo. Drake Delph was 7-of-12 through the air, totaling 71 yards.
WESTFIELD will play in a familiar place tonight: Lucas Oil Stadium. The Shamrocks will return to downtown Indianapolis to take on Southport. This game kicks off at 8:30 p.m.
When Westfield went to Lucas Oil last November, it came home as the Class 5A state champion. This year the ‘Rocks are in 6A, now in the same class as the Cardinals, whom they have played in Week 2 the past three seasons. After a loss in that first game, Westfield has beaten Southport the last two times, including a 27-0 victory last year.
The Cardinals dropped their opener last week against 5A No. 3 Roncalli by the score of 21-3. Westfield (which is receiving 6A poll votes) won its ninth game in a row dating back to last October, 22-7 over Harrison.
The Shamrocks’ defense made key plays in the second quarter to gain the momentum, and cruise through the second half. Cameron Nance made his debut as quarterback and played well, going 8-for-15 and totaling 75 yards. Veteran running back Nate Froelich carried the ball 21 times for 78 yards.