When the Westfield football team travels to Franklin Central on Friday, it will be on the precipice of a second consecutive unbeaten Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship.
In order to achieve that goal, the Class 6A No. 2 Shamrocks will have to play a much-improved Flashes team. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Central field.
“Frankin Central’s a good football team, obviously,” Westfield coach Jake Gilbert told the Reporter after the ‘Rocks beat Fishers last Friday. “They’ve played some teams close. They’ve beat some teams. They’re way better than they were last year and even the year before.”
Franklin Central finished last season 1-9, but this season, the Flashes are 4-4 going into Week 9, the final week of the regular season. Franklin Central has wins over Perry Meridian 27-21, Zionsville 24-21, Avon 30-23 and Noblesville 28-22, with the Flashes have lost to Roncalli 34-13, Brownsburg 28-14, Fishers 37-8 and Hamilton Southeastern 35-7.
Freshman quarterback Nevan Tutterow is leading FC’s offense, and he’s done a capable job so far, completing 86 of 152 pass attempts of 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Bryan Marshall has 21 of those catches, including one touchdown, followed by senior Dameon Miller with 20 receptions and two scores.
Senior Aataeveon Jordan is the Flashes’ top rusher, with 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Wyatt Penney is on top of the defensive list with 60 tackles, while junior Julius Parker has 7.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks.
The Shamrocks are 7-1 for the season and have a 6-0 record in the HCC; Westfield has already clinched at least a share of the conference championship. Senior Maximus Webster, a Ball State recruit, is throwing at an 82-of-114 clip for 1,207 yards and 10 touchdowns. Freshman Gabe Aramboles has made 23 catches, four of them for TDs, followed by senior Ian Bruch with 20 receptions, including two touchdowns.
Senior Micah Hauser continues to be a two-way threat, as he leads the rushing with 650 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Tyler Dikos is tops in tackling with 87 stops, including seven for a loss. Hauser is next with 75 tackles. Senior Popeye Williams has made 10.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN-BROWNSBURG
Two teams are tied for second place in the HCC with 5-1 records, and they will play each other on Friday night: Hamilton Southeastern travels to Brownsburg.
This will be a battle of two top 10 Class 6A teams, as the Royals are ranked No. 5 and the Bulldogs are No. 6. Brownsburg is 6-2 overall.
The Bulldogs’ victories have come over Ben Davis 33-22 in non-conference play, then over Franklin Central 28-14, Avon 38-17, Fishers 39-21, Zionsville 19-6 and Noblesville 42-21 in HCC matchups. Brownsburg’s only losses have been to Cathedral 20-7 and Westfield 24-21.
Junior Jayden Whitaker is the Bulldogs’ quarterback, and he is 78-of-116 for 1,004 yards and five touchdowns. Alex Hoover has the most receptions of Brownsburg’s deep set of receivers – 13 different players have at least one catch. Hoover has made 14 catches, while senior Jordan Turley-Ford and junior Caleb Marcus both have 12, including one for a touchdown.
Marcus is the top rusher with 837 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior Rashon Myles Jr. leads the defense with 59 tackles, while three players have at least 10 tackles for a loss: Senior Isaiah Street (11.5), sophomore Jayden Jackson (10.5) and senior Garrett Dalton (10).
Southeastern is 7-1 for the season, having won its last three games. Senior Sam Jacobs is having a solid season, throwing 38-of-72 for 578 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior Ty Bradle is 16-of-33. with 234 yards and three scores to his credit. Senior Will Gerig leads the receptions with 12, including two TDs, while senior Jack Wafford counts three touchdowns among his 11 catches.
Three Royals have broken 500 yards rushing this season. Senior Blaine Wertz leads with 836 yards and 15 touchdowns, followed by senior Owen Jones with 586 yards and seven scores. Jacobs has 501 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Louden Sundling is on top of the defense with 58 tackles, including 11 for a loss.
SHERIDAN-CARROLL
Another big game with conference implications will take place at Bud Wright Stadium on Friday, as Sheridan welcomes Carroll for a Hoosier Heartland Conference contest.
The Blackhawks are 5-1 in the conference. Last week, Sheridan handed Eastern its first HHC loss of the season, making the Comets 5-1 as well. If the Blackhawks win on Friday, they would win the conference championship, even if Eastern wins its game with Clinton Prairie, as Sheridan won that head-to-head matchup with the Comets.
But first, the ‘Hawks must get past a tough Cougars team, which is 3-2 in the HHC and 6-2 overall. Carroll has beaten Tri-County 48-6, Delphi 9-0, Madison-Grant 34-8, Southern Wells 42-6, Tri-Central 34-0 and Clinton Central 28-0, with losses coming to Eastern 33-13 and Clinton Prairie 14-12.
The ‘Hawks are 6-2 for the season and are presently on a four-game win streak. Senior Gavin Reners leads the rushing with 1,062 yards and 12 touchdowns, followed by junior Peyton Cross with 453 yards and four TDs. Sophomore Mason Robinson has thrown for three touchdowns. Junior Jacob Jones leads the defense with 78 tackles, including eight for a loss.
FISHERS-ZIONSVILLE
The only other game being played in Hamilton County on Friday will be an HCC contest at Fishers. The Tigers will welcome Zionsville, the No. 10-ranked team in Class 5A.
The Eagles are 2-4 in the conference and 4-4 overall, with wins against Pike 28-10, Lebanon 30-2, Noblesville 41-26 and Avon 52-49. Zionsville has lost to Westfield 42-21, Franklin Central 24-21, Hamilton Southeastern 41-21 and Brownsburg 19-6.
Sophomore Luke Murphy is the Eagles’ quarterback, and he has completed 75 of 128 pass attempts for 918 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Trey Firestone has made 35 catches, followed by senior Colin Price with 28 receptions. Both have made three touchdown catches.
Price is far and away the leading Zionsville rusher with 1,036 yards and 13 TDs. Senior Otto Kyler has 78 tackles on defense, followed by senior Owen Rossell with 70 stops. Senior Adam Longmire has made eight tackles for a loss.
Fishers is 3-3 in conference play and 5-3 overall. Junior quarterback Lucas Minns is having a great season, going 95-of-146 for 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Jeffrey Simmons and junior Aidan Zimmer both have 25 receptions, with Simmons making five touchdown catches and Zimmer getting one.
Junior Carson Dunn leads the rushing with 597 yards and seven scores. On defense, junior Grady Stanley has 74 tackles, including nine for a loss. Senior Dominic Oliverio has made 10 tackles for a loss.
CARMEL-LAWRENCE CENTRAL
Carmel, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A, travels to Lawrence Central on Friday to finish up the regular season and Metropolitan Conference play.
The Bears are 2-4 in MIC play and 3-5 overall. Lawrence Central’s wins have come over Lafayette Jefferson 49-21, Pike 40-28 and North Central 35-14. The Bears have lost to Hamilton Southeastern 35-7, Lawrence North 20-6, Warren Central 48-13, Center Grove 48-0 and Ben Davis 40-29.
Sophomore Bryson Luter is LC’s quarterback, and he has completed 89 of 153 pass attempts for 1,023 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Ahmaad Duff is the leading receiver with 35 catches, four of them for TDs. Senior Davion Owens has 31 receptions, three for scores.
Luter is on top of the rushing list, with 303 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior Tylen Cunningham is having an outstanding defensive season, with 115 tackles, including 10 for a loss. Junior Joshua Mickens has 19 tackles for a loss.
Carmel is 5-1 in the MIC and can clinch second place with a win. Center Grove has already finished MIC play with a perfect 7-0 record. The Greyhounds are 7-1 overall.
Senior Zach Osborne has been playing incredible as Carmel’s quarterback, with 1,684 yards on 112-of-183 passing, including 19 touchdowns. Junior Desmond Duffy has 40 receptions, including 11 touchdowns, while senior Jaedon King has made 32 catches.
Senior Ethan Hall is the top rusher for Carmel with 296 yards and two scores, while Osborne has 256 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior Will Heldt has 70 tackles to lead the defense, with Winston Berglund making 62 stops.
NOBLESVILLE-AVON
Noblesville travels to Avon on Friday in an HCC game that will feature two teams trying for their first conference win of the season.
The Orioles are 0-8 overall, having dropped games to Lawrence North 26-22, Ben Davis 59-25, Hamilton Southeastern 40-13, Brownsburg 38-17, Franklin Central 30-23, Fishers 35-25, Westfield 45-24 and Zionsville 52-49.
Sophomore quarterback Mason Reynolds has been putting up impressive numbers, throwing for 1,935 yards and 18 touchdowns on a 133-of-240 clip. Senior Chrishon McCray is by far the leading receiver, with 49 catches, 16 for touchdowns. McCray has 1,180 reception yards.
Junior Jaiden Jones is the top rusher for Avon with 300 yards and four TDs. Senior Derrick Shaw II leads the Orioles’ defense with 48 tackles, followed by senior Jake Leeper with 43 stops.
The Millers are 2-6 overall. Senior quarterback Connor Meinerding, back at full strength, has thrown for two touchdowns this season and rushed for one. Sophomore Logan Shoffner leads the rushing with 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns, followed by senior Alairic Rogers-Walton with 402 yards and six scores.
On defense, senior Sam Steinhofer leads the way with 78 tackles, followed by sophomore Austin Hastings with 70 stops. Senior Jacob Hofmann has 7.5 tackles for a loss.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-CULVER ACADEMIES
Guerin Catholic travels north to Culver Academies on Friday. This game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles are 6-2 for the season, with wins over Crispus Attucks 43-8, Mishawaka Marian 27-14, Hanover Central 35-34, North Judson 42-21, Woodlan 47-13 and South Bend St. Joseph 7-3. Culver’s two losses were to Hobart 49-6 and Brebeuf Jesuit 41-13.
The Golden Eagles are 1-7 for the season. Guerin Catholic’s two quarterbacks have both been playing well: Senior Sam Miller has thrown for 765 yards and five touchdowns on a 75-of-118 passing rate, while sophomore Ryan Zimmerman is 43-of-80 for 684 yards and eight TDs. Senior Ryan Glenn has 38 receptions, including six touchdowns.
Junior Justin Zdobylak leads the GC rushing with 604 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Adam Novelen is on top of the defensive list with 65 tackles, followed by junior Anthony Ferrucci with 59 stops and senior Max Nickell with 54 tackles.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS-RENSSELAER CENTRAL
Hamilton Heights will travel up to Rensselaer Central to play in the Hoosier Conference fifth-place game on Friday, with kickoff at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central Time).
The Bombers finished third in the Hoosier Conference West Division with a 2-2 record and are 5-3 overall. The two teams met earlier in the season, with the Huskies winning 26-21.
Rensselaer has gotten wins against Kankakee Valley 41-17, North Newton 35-8, Twin Lakes 30-0, Benton Central 48-18 and Northwestern 43-8. The Bombers’ other losses were to West Lafayette 56-0 and Lafayette Central Catholic 35-0.
Senior Tate Drone is Rensselaer’s quarterback, and he has completed 47 of 74 pass attempts for 633 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Kelton Hesson has 26 of those receptions, including five for TDs.
Senior Dylan Kidd is the top rusher for the Bombers with 774 yards and 15 scores, followed by Hesson, who has 437 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Jordan Cree leads the defense with 54 tackles, including 15 for a loss.
Heights has identical records to Rensselaer. The Huskies placed third in the East Divison with a 2-2 mark and are also 5-3 overall. Senior Guy Griffey is throwing at an 81-of-147 clip, totaling 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior Gavin Bramel leads the receptions with 27, including nine touchdowns, while senior Isaac Tuma has 23 catches, two for scores.
Junior Trey Ehman is Heights’ top rusher with 746 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, senior Harrison Hochstedler leads the tackling with 58, while senior Nate Hulen has 49 stops and senior Andrew Lienemann has 48. All three have five tackles for a loss.
TICKETS FOR HEIGHTS GAME
The Rensselaer Central athletic department has provided a link for fans to purchase tickets. It can be found here: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=5606&p=12229