BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (2-1) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (2-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Martin Field.
COACHES: Gabe Johnson, 34-12 in fifth season at Bloomington South, 48-22 in seventh season overall. Anthony Lindsey, 2-1 in first season at Bloomington North.
LAST CONTEST: Bloomington South beat Terre Haute North, 37-20. Bloomington North beat Terre Haute South, 41-29.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Bloomington South, 44-31, on October 27, 2023 in Class 5A sectional semifinal.
UP NEXT: Bloomington South hosts Terre Haute South (0-2), Bloomington North travels to Terre Haute North (1-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Duncan Combs tossed a pair of touchdowns passes for the Panthers against Terre Haute North. Dash King completed 10-of-11 for 167 yards and ran 20 times for 172 yards with four touchdowns for the No. 9 (Class 5A) Cougars against Terre Haute South.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We need to play well on the back end of our defense and get to their quarterback (Dash King) and get him on the ground. Their offense runs through him in many ways. Offensively, we have to move the ball and put points on the board. We have to have great communication up front and pick up their pressures.” – Bloomington South’s Gabe Johnson.
“We need to start fast and be the more physical football team. (Bloomington) South is a well-coached team with some talented athletes and we need to play disciplined football. Looks like there may be some weather Friday, so protecting the football will be key.” – Bloomington North’s Anthony Lindsey.
BREBEUF JESUIT (2-1) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, GCHS Field.
COACHES: Matt Geske, 32-18 in fifth season at Brebeuf Jesuit. Tom Dilley, 67-45 in 11th season at Guerin Catholic, 147-122 in 25th season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Brebeuf Jesuit beat Harrison (West Lafayette), 56-28. Guerin Catholic beat Heritage Christian, 53-34.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Guerin Catholic, 34-29, on September 8, 2023.
UP NEXT: Brebeuf Jesuit goes to Carmel (2-1). Guerin Catholic plays at Indianapolis Roncalli (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Jay Hmurovich caught five passes for 116 yards with two scores for the No. 7 (Class 4A) Braves against Harrison. Jack Linden raced 44 times for 325 yards with three scores for the No. 4 (Class 3A) Golden Eagles against Heritage Christian.
COACHES’ CORNER: “To win this week vs. Guerin, we will have to defend their running attack well and make sure we can get off of the field on third downs. Our special teams will have to create and keep field position and convert points when we need them. Offensively, we are looking to take care of the football and win at the line of scrimmage, so we can spread the ball to our running backs and wide receivers.” – Brebeuf Jesuit’s Matt Geske.
“We have a very difficult challenge this week against Brebeuf. We are excited to compete against a very good conference opponent. Defending against their offensive attack is very difficult. Led by one of the best quarterbacks (Maverick Geske) in the state, the Braves can score quickly and often from anywhere on the field. They have outstanding receivers and an aggressive, physical offensive line that produces a formidable running attack as well as an explosive passing game. Their defense is a multiple, aggressive system that they play very well. They present a challenge with their scheme, but the primary challenge is the good, hard-nosed players that they deploy. We will certainly need to play our best to compete this week.” – Guerin Catholic’s Tom Dilley.
CENTER GROVE (2-1) AT BEN DAVIS (1-2)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Giant Stadium.
COACHES: Eric Moore, 249-77 in 26th season at Center Grove, 297-82 in 30th season overall. Russ Mann, 14-3 in second season at Ben Davis.
LAST CONTEST: Center Grove beat Louisville Trinity (Kentucky), 24-10. Ben Davis beat Indianapolis Pike, 38-14.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Ben Davis, 37-34 (OT), on November 17, 2023 in Class 6A semistate final.
UP NEXT: Center Grove entertains Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) (0-3). Ben Davis goes to Warren Central (3-0).
TOP PERFORMERS: Drake McClurg had 11 catches for a program-high 238 yards with two touchdowns for the No. 6 (Class 6A) Trojans against Louisville Trinity (Kentucky). Isaiah Rogers went 15-of-34 for 176 yards for the Giants against Pike.
COACHES’ CORNER: “The number one key in trying to beat Ben Davis will be not beating yourself. Turnovers and controlling their big plays will be huge and converting on third downs like always will be a key to the game. Obviously, we will have to tackle well and try to keep their powerful offense off the field. Ben Davis has big time skill guys that can beat you or tie you in one play. Mark Zachery may be the best football player in the state. Elijah Price is an excellent skilled player. We must contain them both from making game break plays. We will have to make big plays on special teams as well as a big play somewhere early in the game. The Trojans will have to have a strong physical running game to be successful, mixed in with our speed specialist on the perimeter. We have had success with the passing game so far this season, so we will have to continue to protect our quarterback, Gabe McWilliams. Ben Davis is the defending Class 6A state champion and one of the best teams in the state this season. It will be a very tough game for our young team, but like the rest of our schedule, we hope to improve each week to have success in the sectional.” – Center Grove’s Eric Moore.
“Our last two games with Center Grove have been decided by three points and one point. We need to understand that we have to fight like hell for every first down, every touchdown, and every single play of this game. The yards, the field possession, the formations, all of it will be a mental and a physical fight. If we expect to be champions again this post-season, then we need to find all the hidden points we can. If we can string together a few stops, then making sure we do not lose focus. We also have to reverse the uncomfortable feeling because Center Grove has really become an offense that is flat out a pain to plan for. There are so many identities to them with each and every one of them being challenging to prepare for. We need to apply that same type of pressure with creative and unexpected moments.” – Ben Davis’s Russ Mann.
DECATUR CENTRAL (1-1) AT MARTINSVILLE (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Siderewicz Field.
COACHES: Kyle Enright, 71-26 in ninth season at Decatur Central. Brian Dugger, 30-20 in fifth season at Martinsville.
LAST CONTEST: Decatur Central beat Whiteland, 42-29. Martinsville beat Greenwood, 50-31.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Martinsville, 25-24, on September 8, 2023.
UP NEXT: Decatur Central hosts Mooresville (1-2). Martinsville travels to Franklin (2-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Bo Polston was 11-of-15 for 251 yards with two scores for the No. 4 Hawks against No. 7 (Class 5A) Whiteland. Austin Pryor rambled 30 times for 189 yards with three touchdowns for the No. 6 (Class 4A) Artesians against Greenwood.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Martinsville is a very good football team. Coach Dugger and his staff do an amazing job of getting everything they can out of the kids and they really play well as a team. They have a good scheme offensively and a group that understands what Coach Dugger wants out of them. No. 3 (running back Hunter) Stroud is a very good player and will be a focal point. The quarterback (AJ Reynolds) is as dynamic a quarterback we have faced and can run and throw equally as well. It will be a challenge slowing down this offense. Defensively, they are light but very quick and aggressive. They have playmakers on each level of the defense and are well connected. It will be a challenge moving the ball. It’s always a great atmosphere going to Martinsville with the cow bells ringing and the fans going crazy, but we are looking forward to a great night of competition between two of the best teams in the Mid-State Conference. In order to compete, we must weather the storm. The emotions of a big game and playing on the road in a hostile environment will be at a high level and we must stay calm and play our game early in the contest. We also need to win the turnover battle. The team that takes care of the ball usually wins. This is especially important in big games. We must play fast and physical. We need to be able to use our team speed in all three phases of the game to make big plays and prevent big plays.” – Decatur Central’s Kyle Enright.
“I personally think Decatur Central is one of the best and most talented teams in Class 5A. For us to come away with a victory, we are going to have to do a great job on defense of staying gap sound, tackling as a team, and preventing the big play. They are so explosive and score from anywhere. Therefore, we have to make them string together long drives. Big plays will be bad for us. Offensively, we need to take care of the ball and string together long drives ourselves.” – Martinsville’s Brian Dugger.
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (3-0) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. EDT, Reitz Bowl.
COACHES: John Hurley, 140-70 in 17th season at Evansville Memorial. Mike Goebel, 266-90 in 28th season at Evansville Mater Dei.
LAST CONTEST: Evansville Memorial beat Evansville Central, 35-6. Evansville Mater Dei beat Vincennes Lincoln, 34-14.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Evansville Memorial, 9-6, on September 8, 2023.
UP NEXT: Evansville Memorial goes to Evansville Harrison (0-3). Evansville Mater Dei plays at Jasper (1-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Fisher went 6-of-7 for 139 yards with four scores for the top-ranked (Class 3A) Tigers against Evansville Central. Tate Mallory was 22-of-28 for 223 yards with a touchdown for the No. 6 (Class 3A) Wildcats against Vincennes Lincoln.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Mater Dei is a well-coached football team with a lot of confidence. Coach Goebel and his staff do a great job preparing for big games. It will be a great environment on Friday night at the (Reitz) Bowl. We will need to stop the run, protect the football, eliminate penalties, and make big plays on both sides of the ball.” – Evansville Memorial’s John Hurley.
“Memorial is ranked No. 1 in our region and by the IFCA poll (Indiana Football Coaches Association) with good reason. They have a powerful, veteran group of skilled athletes. Led by quarterback Matt Fisher, the Memorial offense has been dominant with a bevy of experienced receivers. Coach Hurley has a knack for attacking opponent weaknesses, so we must be prepared defensively to at least slow down the Tigers. Their defense, led by senior linebacker Alex Broshears, is very quick and aggressive. Our offense must find a way to hold that blitzing defense out of our backfield. No opponent has had success thus far. Our coaches are happy with the progress and improvement of our team thus far, but we recognize that we must be at our very best in all phases to even keep it competitive.” Evansville Mater Dei’s Mike Goebel.
FISHERS (2-1) AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Royal Stadium.
COACHES: Curt Funk, 25-21 in fifth season at Fishers, 102-57 in 15th season overall. Michael Kelly, 38-10 in fifth season at Hamilton Southeastern, 52-26 in eighth season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Fishers beat Noblesville, 17-14 (OT). Hamilton Southeastern beat Avon, 28-10.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Hamilton Southeastern, 38-21, on November 3, 2023 in Class 6A sectional final.
UP NEXT: Fishers hosts Brownsburg (3-0). Hamilton Southeastern goes to Westfield (3-0).
TOP PERFORMERS: JonAnthony Hall hauled in 11 receptions for 97 yards with a touchdown for the Tigers against Noblesville. Carter Reed scampered 14 times for 60 yards with two scores for the No. 5 (Class 6A) Royals against Avon.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We can’t start out slow like we have the past two weeks. We need to take care of the football and create takeaways on defense. It will be a big crowd, and we must keep our composure and just play football. HSE is a very good football team, and we must be at our best on Friday night.” – Fishers’ Curt Funk.
“Fishers is a very well-coached team with one of the most talented dynamic players in the state. We must be discipline on defense and offense and execute at a high level. The three keys to our success are win the line of scrimmage, play fast and be physical, and play for your team.” – Hamilton Southeastern’s Michael Kelly.
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Bishop Chatard Stadium.
COACHES: Bill Peebles, 61-19 in seventh season at Cathedral, 135-84 in 20th season overall. Rob Doyle, 81-20 in eighth season at Bishop Chatard.
LAST CONTEST: Cathedral lost to Cincinnati Saint Xavier (Ohio), 35-31. Bishop Chatard beat Indianapolis Roncalli, 9-3.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Bishop Chatard, 24-21, on September 9, 2023.
UP NEXT: Cathedral entertains North Central (Indianapolis) (0-3), Bishop Chatard hosts Columbus North (3-0).
TOP PERFORMERS: Xavier Dangerfield ran for 150 yards and two scores for the No. 10 (Class 6A) Irish against Saint Xavier. Daniel Shaw carried the ball 21 times for 102 yards with a touchdown for the No. 2 (Class 4A) against Roncalli.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We are playing an archrival and a team that has won 24 straight games. I believe that is the longest in the state. We will have to limit the big plays for the Trojans and control the line of scrimmage on offense.” – Cathedral’s Bill Peebles.
“Cathedral is a very good team and they play as tough a schedule as anyone in the state. Their record means nothing. They play sound fundamental football on both sides of the ball. We need to get off to a good start to be in this game at the finish. They have outstanding receivers that pose a huge matchup problem along with a great run game. Defensively, they roll out linebackers every year as good as any in Indiana, so we need to concentrate on getting first downs. They also have a (NCAA) D-1 level kicker (Van Krisiloff) that can flip field position in an instant, so special teams will also be a key.” – Bishop Chatard’s Rob Doyle.
LAKELAND (3-0) AT GARRETT (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Memorial Field.
COACHES: Ryan O’Shea, 17-26 in fifth season at Lakeland. Chris DePew, 70-63 in 13th season at Garrett, 147-105 in 24th season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Lakeland beat Prairie Heights, 48-6. Garrett beat Churubusco, 41-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Garrett, 18-9 on September 8, 2023.
UP NEXT: Lakeland hosts Angola (1-2). Garrett entertains Eastside (1-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Brayden Holbrook went 9-of-12 for 118 yards with two touchdowns and carried the ball five times for 19 yards with two scores for the Lakers against Prairie Heights. Aiden Reed ran 11 times for 115 yards with a touchdown for the Railroaders against Churubusco.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Garrett is a really well-oiled machine. Coach DePew does a great job of getting his players into the right places to make plays. They run the ball very efficiently, and No. 2 (Calder Hefty) is one of the better running quarterbacks you’ll see. He’s tough and fast, and if you sleep on his arm, he will throw it over your head. So, we have to be really disciplined on defense to try to contain him. No. 61 (Nate Wells) at middle linebacker is an extremely good linebacker. He flows to the ball so well and takes outstanding angles to ballcarriers. For us, we need to be able to move the football consistently through the air and keep them on their toes. We also must contain Hefty and his running abilities. He’s so dynamic and if we let him loose, it could be a long night for us.” – Lakeland’s Ryan O’Shea.
“Lakeland presents a lot of problems. They have an experienced team loaded with talent, headed by their quarterback (Brayden Holbrook), who is a (NCAA) D-1 recruit as a junior. He has both tall and quick weapons to throw to, so shutting down an offense like that is quite difficult. Hopefully, we can at least contain it enough to bend without breaking. Our offense needs to run the ball effectively and keep their offense off the field. Special teams will create field position that will matter in a big game.” – Garrett’s Chris DePew.
NORTHWOOD (2-1) AT MISHAWAKA (2-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Steele Stadium.
COACHES: Nate Andrews, 87-33 in 11th season at NorthWood, 127-72 in 18th season overall. Keith Kinder, 56-19 in seventh season at Mishawaka.
LAST CONTEST: NorthWood beat Wawasee, 49-14. Mishawaka lost to Concord, 35-34.
PREVIOUS MEETING: NorthWood, 43-42 (OT) on September 29, 2023.
UP NEXT: NorthWood goes to Northridge (1-2). Mishawaka travels to Goshen (0-3).
TOP PERFORMERS: Landon Perry recorded five receptions for 124 yards with two touchdowns and ran four times for 15 yards and another score for the No. 10 (Class 4A) Panther against Wawasee. Jackson Snyder rambled seven times for 70 yards with a score and caught three passes for 30 yards for the No. 5 (Class 4A) Cavemen against No. 5 (Class 5A) Concord.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We have to match their toughness for four quarters. We cannot be discouraged by their long offensive drives. We must find a way to turn them over. We have to capitalize on any mistake they may make. We have to find a way to make some explosives offensively. Finally, we need to win the kicking game.” – NorthWood’s Nate Andrews.
“It’s another great opportunity for our program to play a tradition-rich NLC (Northern Lakes Conference) opponent. NorthWood is the gold standard for Class 4A programs in the North and now, they are a sectional opponent for us as well. They have some great skill offensively with their quarterback, (Micah) Jarrell and main ball handlers, (Landon) Perry, (Braylon) Monroe, and (Jeffrey) Eash. They do a great job of challenging defenses to defend the entire width of the field and they are so good at exploiting areas you give them. We have got to do a great job of defending that space by getting 11 players to the football with great effort and pursuit. Defensively, as always, NorthWood plays so hard. They are well-coached, disciplined, and aggressive. We have to win on first and second down, which is something that we did not do well enough last week. We will have to play a more complete, four-quarter game to have a chance to win.” – Mishawaka’s Keith Kinder.
PENDLETON HEIGHTS (2-1) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Myers Field.
COACHES: Jed Richman, 50-38 in ninth season at Pendleton Heights, 85-68 in 15th season overall. Travis Nolting, 31-24 in sixth season at Greenfield-Central, 91-52 in 14th season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Pendleton Heights beat New Castle, 42-21. Greenfield-Central beat Mount Vernon (Fortville), 43-29.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Greenfield-Central, 27-17, on October 20, 2023 in Class 4A sectional opener.
UP NEXT: Pendleton Heights hosts New Palestine (2-0). Greenfield-Central travels to Shelbyville (1-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Colton Frank went 20-of-36 for 235 yards with three touchdowns for the Arabians against New Castle. Dallas Freeman scampered 20 times for 104 yards with three scores and was 6-of-10 for 65 yards with another tally for the No. 4 (Class 4A) Cougars against Mount Vernon.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Greenfield is a very talented option team. They are very physical and fast. Their scheme presents challenges that demand our discipline and consistency for us to execute our assignments in all three phases. If we are able to control the line of scrimmage and play consistent assignment football, we can compete with them.” – Pendleton Heights’ Jed Richman.
“We must play a complete game. Last week, we had too many mistakes in the first half against Mount Vernon. We came out in the second half and really were on point. However, we need to do this for a complete 48 minutes in all three phases of the game. We need to stop and contain running back Keaton Jones and wide receiver Jacob Rowley. Our high-pressure defense must continue to create pressure on (quarterback) Colten Frank with our blitzing and pass rush. Offensively, we need to control the line of scrimmage and stay attached on blocks and grind out tough physical yards with our talented backfield. We need to create opportunities to open up the pass game by establishing the run early.” – Greenfield-Central’s Travis Nolting.
SOUTH VERMILLION (3-0) AT NORTH VERMILLION (3-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Gibson Field.
COACHES: Greg Barrett, 46-28 in eighth season at South Vermillion, 103-62 in 16th season overall. Andrew Rodriguez, 3-0 in first season at North Vermillion.
LAST CONTEST: South Vermillion beat Parke Heritage, 45-6. North Vermillion beat Covington, 37-14.
PREVIOUS MEETING: South Vermillion, 40-35, on September 9, 2023.
UP NEXT: South Vermillion entertains Covington (2-1). North Vermillion plays at Riverton Parke (2-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Dominic Garzolini went 12-of-18 for 387 yards with five scores for the Wildcats against Parke Heritage. Matthew Dawson threw for 134 yards and four touchdowns for the No. 9 (Class 1A) Falcons against Covington.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We need to be better up front on both sides of the ball. This is a very good football team we are facing. They have a new coach, new energy, and are playing extremely well on both sides of the ball. We need to minimize mistakes and turnovers to give ourselves a chance to win.” – South Vermillion’s Greg Barrett.
“We will need to come out ready to play and it is a must that we take care of the football. Emotions will be high and we will need to push and make sure that they do not get the best of us. They are a very good football team and very well-coached. We must not let them throw the ball over our heads, and must tackle. Forcing turnovers will be huge. We have forced 11 (turnovers) in three games thus far.” – North Vermillion’s Andrew Rodriguez.
WESTERN BOONE (3-0) AT TRI-WEST (2-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Hendricks Field.
COACHES: Justin Pelley, 103-35 in 12th season at Western Boone. Jason Ward, 47-15 in sixth season at Tri-West.
LAST CONTEST: Western Boone beat Crawfordsville, 41-0. Tri-West beat Frankfort, 69-8.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Tri-West, 26-21, September 8, 2023.
UP NEXT: Western Boone hosts North Montgomery (1-2). Tri-West goes to Danville (2-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Mason Amich had 22 carries for 191 yards with five touchdowns and caught a 42-yard pass for the No. 7 (Class 2A) Stars against Crawfordsville. Thaddeus Brown caught four passes for 60 yards with three scores for the No. 9 (Class 3A) Bruins against Frankfort.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Tri-West always presents a great challenge for us, and we have a great deal of respect for their program. While we look forward to the challenge, we know they will be well-coached and not beat themselves. We have been playing well defensively and will need to contain their quarterback (Jackson Sorgi) for us to limit their success on offense. Eliminate the big play and play sound, fundamental football. Offensively, we will need to mix it up and present a well-rounded attack of both run and pass to keep them guessing. We are known for our ground attack, but we can throw it too. However, turnovers and special teams could very well be the difference in this game. Historically, our matchups with Tri-West are tight, hard-fought games by both sides. One play here and one play there could make the difference.” – Western Boone’s Justin Pelley.
“Western Boone is always a difficult game. They are a physical program and they have a winning culture. We have lost our best returning receiver, Logan Anderson, on the first day of practice. We lost our returning quarterback, Malachi Walden, in the first game of the season and as of last game, we lost our starting running back (Derek Reid) with a dislocated elbow, He also had a torn ACL as a sophomore and a torn ACL his junior year as well. No opponent cares about your injuries, but it makes it difficult when three senior leaders are not on the field against Western Boone. We will have to rely on sophomore quarterback Jack Sorgi, who will be starting his third game. His arm will be a very important part of our offense moving forward. We will find someone this week to take snaps at running back, but passing will be our focus offensively. As for defense, we are very undersized upfront and will have to use our speed against their offense. We need to get a lead on them so they don’t get into their goal-line offense and try to three yard us to death.” – Tri-West’s Jason Ward.
