After two weeks of non-conference play, the football teams of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference are ready to get down to business with each other.
Play in the HCC begins on Friday, which marks Week 3 of the high school season. A big match-up in Hamilton County will take place at Reynolds Tigers Stadium, where Fishers will host Noblesville.
The Tigers come into the game 1-1, dropping their opener to North Central 31-7, then beating Pike 31-14. In last year’s contest, Fishers won 29-0.
Meanwhile, the Millers are 0-2, but played two of the top programs in the state. Noblesville fell to Cathedral 31-7 at Lucas Oil Stadium, then lost to Carmel 34-7.
“They have certainly played one of the tougher schedules around,” Tigers coach Rick Wimmer said on HCTV. “They will be very prepared for anything we’re going to throw at them.”
Luke Blevins led the running game for the Millers last week against the Greyhounds, carrying the ball for 146 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown.
Noblesville coach Justin Roden also praised his team’s offensive line, saying it was “at a much better place” during the game last week.
Millers quarterback Grant Gremel has already thrown for 177 yards.
As for the Tigers, tailback HL Lewis has had a good start to the season. Over the past two games, he has rushed for 268 yards in 42 carries, scoring a pair of touchdowns last week against Pike.
“They have a fantastic tailback,” said Roden on HCTV. He also praised Fishers quarterback Jon Vore, who has already passed for two touchdowns this season. “You can tell he’s well-coached.”
“They have a fantastic offensive line,” said Roden. “They’re big and they’re getting some guys healthy. And the scheme that they run is hard to defend. They run zone inside and outside very well and their play-action passing game is second to none. And then you flip it to the defensive side of the ball and they’re all over the place. They play really, really hard.”
WESTFIELD-ZIONSVILLE
Westfield will play at home again this week, hosting Zionsville. The Eagles are off to a 1-1 start, losing to Pike 27-19 before beating Boone County rival Lebanon 56-6 last week.
“Very explosive offense,” said Shamrocks coach Jake Gilbert. “Excellent players on offense. They throw the ball.”
Gilbert noted that among Class 5A No. 7 Zionsville’s roster, two players that stand out are senior Tommy Fossett, who already has 15 catches for 202 yards, and wide receiver Joel DeCoursey, who has five catches for 95 yards. Both have scored a touchdown.
“Joel DeCoursey, he’s outstanding, hard to defend,” said Gilbert. As for Fossett, “he’ll play running back, they’ll give it to him on jet sweeps. So the versatility of those two guys really challenge you defensively.”
Westfield already has some impressive numbers as well. Quarterback Camden Simons has thrown for 297 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-39 passing. On the ground, Nathan Nguyen leads the rushing with 177 yards in 23 carries.
SOUTHEASTERN-AVON
Perhaps the toughest assignment of the week goes to Hamilton Southeastern. The Royals travel to Avon to begin HCC play, taking on an Orioles team that is ranked No. 2 in 6A and No. 1 in the overall Sagarin ratings.
Avon cruised past Hendricks County rival Plainfield 44-13 in its opener, then beat defending 6A state champion Ben Davis 41-36 in Week 2. The Orioles have a Division I player in senior Sampson James: The Ohio State recruit has already run up 333 yards in 41 carries, including two touchdowns. Avon’s quarterback is sophomore Henry Hesson, who has completed 19-of-36 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns.
“The thing that’s so impressive to me with Avon is just what they represent,” said HSE coach Adam Morris. “They’re just a solid, physical football team that’s going to try and run the football, play really good defense and just try to be more physical and try to out-tough you.”
Royals quarterback Kody Sparks has also put up some impressive numbers early, with 327 yards and two touchdowns. Ben Boysen has been his top receiver so far, with 12 catches for 114 yards.
CARMEL-CENTER GROVE
Carmel begins Metropolitan Conference play on Friday by traveling to Center Grove for the Copper Kettle game.
The Greyhounds are ranked No. 3 in 6A and 2-0 to start the season. They will take on a Trojans team that is 0-2. Center Grove’s record looks uncharacteristic on paper, but consider who it played: Warren Central in its opener (a 27-15 loss) and high-flying, 5A No. 1 New Palestine in Week 2 (a 31-9 loss).
“Three hundred pounds across the board and good experience in a lot of places,” said Carmel coach John Hebert. “Great running back, great quarterback.”
Hebert noted that had the Greyhounds played those teams in their first games of the season, the same thing may have happened to them, saying that the Trojans’ record “doesn’t indicate really much.
“They’re a championship program,” he said. “They’re going to be ready to go.”
Center Grove stats are not available. Carmel has been using two quarterbacks this season, with Tyler Trent going 12 for 22 and totaling 157 yards and two touchdowns. Gabe Quigley is 6-for-15, with 96 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Downing had a good game last week, rushing for 98 yards and a touchdown.
SHERIDAN-TRI-CENTRAL
Sheridan returns home to Bud Wright Stadium to play its second Hoosier Heartland Conference game of the season. The Blackhawks take on Tri-Central, which is 0-2 for the year.
The Trojans lost to Frankton 20-0 and Taylor 34-7; the latter game was also an HHC contest. Blackhawks assistant coach Jeremy Findley told HCTV that Tri-Central has a new head coach and only a few returning starters, so it will be a young and inexperienced group.
“But like always, it’s a conference game,” said Findley. “They’re going to play hard and their kids are tough. They know what it’s like to win. They’re only a couple years off a state title. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Sophomore quarterback Mason Pickens has completed seven of 13 passes for 159 yards, and rushed for 72 yards in 33 carries, one of which is the Trojans’ lone touchdown of the season.
Meanwhile, Sheridan sophomore Cameron Hovey leads the Blackhawks’ rushing with 162 yards in 41 carries. Nick Burnell has two rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Drake Delph is 7-of-12 for 120 yards with a pair of TDs.
HEIGHTS-WEST LAFAYETTE
Hamilton Heights is back in its home stadium this Friday to take on a very good West Lafayette team. The Red Devils are ranked No. 3 in 3A.
West Lafayette is 2-0 to begin the year, with victories over higher class teams. The Red Devils beat 6A Lafayette Jefferson 38-29 and 5A McCutcheon 34-20. West Lafayette and Heights both play in the Hoosier Conference, but this is not considered a conference game because they play in different divisions.
The Red Devils are also filled with talent that is uncommon for a 3A squad.
“It’s something to see, because they have some athletes,” said Huskies assistant coach Jeremy Eckart on HCTV. “Their defensive ends are 6-5 and 6-4. They have good speed.
Eckart said the team is not only big, but athletic as well.
“They do a lot of good things in space and that’s going to be a challenge for us,” said Eckart. “Offensively, their zone scheme’s good and they get on people and they move people. But that quarterback can throw it around and run it.”
Junior Kyle Adams is the West Lafayette quarterback, and he already has put up some outrageous numbers. Adams is 48 of 68 for 563 yards and five touchdowns. Three Red Devil receivers already have at least 10 catches, including senior RJ Erb and junior Harrison Truitt; both have caught 13 passes. Senior Kyle Hazell has 10 receptions for 181 yards. Senior Sage Hood has rushed the ball 58 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
Heights quarterback Carter Campassi has totaled 137 yards so far and two touchdowns. DeShawn King leads the Huskies’ rushing list with 225 yards in 33 carries.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-HERITAGE CHRISTIAN
Guerin Catholic is back in the Eagles Nest on Friday to host new Circle City Conference rival Heritage Christian.
Heritage Christian is 1-1 to begin its season. The Eagles beat Manual 44-14 in their first game, then fell to Shenandoah 63-10. Still, Heritage has already put up some big numbers: Junior quarterback Sam Azbell is 28-of-52 for 392 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Harrison Eckel has caught 18 of those passes for 233 yards and three scores. Junior Aidan Craig is HC’s leading rusher, with 121 yards.
“They’re an explosive team with athletes that spread the field,” said GC coach Tom Dilley. “They do have a number of kids in the line who can be problematic as well.”
Golden Eagles quarterback Christian Gelov has been solid throwing the football as well, with 218 yards on 21-of-39 passing, including two touchdowns. Bernie McGuinness has seven of those catches. Dylan Crossen has gained 251 yards on 41 carries.
