AVON (2-0) AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Royal Stadium.
COACHES: Rob Gibson, 7-15 in third season at Avon, 29-18 in fifth season overall. Michael Kelly, 44-14 in sixth season at Hamilton Southeastern, 58-30 in ninth season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Avon beat Indianapolis Ben Davis, 35-14. Hamilton Southeastern beat North Central (Indianapolis), 31-7.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Hamilton Southeastern, 8-10, on September 6, 2024.
UP NEXT: Avon entertains Brownsburg (2-0). Hamilton Southeastern plays at Fishers (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Andre Warfield ran 19 times for 92 yards with a touchdown for the No. 6 (Class 6A) Orioles against Ben Davis. Carter Reed managed 15 carries for 58 yards with two scores for the No. 5 (Class 6A) Royals against North Central (Indianapolis).
COACHES’ CORNER: “They’re a very sound team with a clear identity. They know what they do and they do it well. I think it will be important for us to figure out a way to get off the field on third down. We can’t allow them to extend multiple drives because they make very few mistakes. It will be important for us to take advantage of momentum swings and try to keep those in our favor for as long as possible. If not, their crowd and atmosphere can take the game over quickly.” – Avon’s Rob Gibson.
“Avon is a very physical and well-coached team. They have tremendous speed all over the field. I believe the game is always won or lost at the line of scrimmage. We must be disciplined on defense and assignment sound. Offensively, we must stay balanced and create explosive plays. Finally, special teams will be very important in this game. We must contain their returners by maintaining lane integrity and tackle well.” – Hamilton Southeastern’s Michael Kelly.
CONCORD (2-0) AT MISHAWAKA (1-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Steele Stadium.
COACHES: Craig Koehler, 74-35 in 11th season at Concord. Keith Kinder, 66-22 in eighth season at Mishawaka.
LAST CONTEST: Concord beat Jimtown, 41-13. Mishawaka lost to Penn, 28-22.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Concord, 35-34, on September 6, 2024.
UP NEXT: Concord plays Northridge (0-2) at Mishawaka’s Steele Stadium. Mishawaka travels to NorthWood (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Herman caught two passes for 82 yards with a touchdown for the No. 6 (Class 5A) Minutemen against Jimtown. Carson Francis added eight carries for 52 yards for the No. 5 (Class 4A) Cavemen against No. 8 (Class 6A) Penn.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We have turned the ball over in the red zone three times in the first two weeks. We cannot beat Mishawaka if we continue to turn the ball over. Their offense is extremely difficult to slow down, so we are going to have to force some turnovers to give ourselves the best chance to win.” – Concord’s Craig Koehler.
“Concord is as talented a team on offense as we’ve seen in some time. They are extremely well-coached on both sides of the ball and this has become a great conference matchup over the course of the past six seasons. We have to eliminate drive-killing penalties and take care of the ball on offense. Defensively, we have to take advantage of opportunities to get them off the field when we get them.” – Mishawaka’s Keith Kinder.
EAST CENTRAL (2-0) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (1-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Bell Field.
COACHES: Jake Meiners, 67-13 in seventh season at East Central. Patrick Mallory, 54-74 in 13th season at Lawrence North, 68-82 in 15th season overall.
LAST CONTEST: East Central beat Harrison (Ohio), 21-20. Lawrence North lost to Fishers, 31-28.
PREVIOUS MEETING: First contest on the gridiron.
UP NEXT: East Central travels to Franklin County (2-0). Lawrence North goes to North Central (Indianapolis) (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Colton Bellman totaled 24 rushes for 93 yards with a score for the No. 3 (Class 5A) Trojans against Harrison. Monshun Sales hauled in 10 receptions for 125 yards with a touchdown for the No. 10 (Class 6A) Wildcats against Fishers.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Lawrence North is one of the top football teams in the state. We certainly have a tall task in front of us. Lawrence North plays an incredible schedule and has athletes all over the field. They are well-coached and have top-notch facilities. This will be our first extended road trip, so we are going to have to travel well. We are going to have to be great tacklers on defense and limit the explosive play. The Wildcats have the ability to create explosive plays every time they touch the ball. Our offense is going to have to control the tempo of the game and limit Lawrence North’s possessions. It is even more important this week that we take care of the football to keep their offense off the field. Our special teams are going to have to be a lot better than we have been in the first two weeks. If we can control these things, then we will give ourselves an opportunity to win.” – East Central’s Jake Meiners.
“There are three keys to the game we need to follow. We need to do our job on every play. Read your keys, do your job, and move onto the next play. We must play fast and physical. That is how we attack each day, and game day should show our preparation. Finally, our special Teams must be special. We need to do our job and try to set the tone each time we are on special teams. Special teams sometimes can be the deciding factor in a game, so we need to be fast and physical.” – Lawrence North’s Pat Mallory.
FRANKLIN CENTRAL (2-0) AT BROWNSBURG (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Roark Stadium.
COACHES: Jayson West, 19-23 in fifth season at Franklin Central, 142-61 in 18th season overall. John Hart, 84-19 in 10th season at Brownsburg, 351-100 in 41st season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Franklin Central beat Indianapolis Roncalli, 22-15. Brownsburg beat Indianapolis Cathedral, 29-0.
LAST MEETING: Brownsburg, 40-0, on September 6, 2024.
UP NEXT: Franklin Central hosts Zionsville (1-1). Brownsburg travels to Avon (2-0).
TOP PERFORMERS: Markell Bailey tallied three catches for 86 yards with two touchdowns for the Flashes against No. 7 (Class 4A) Roncalli. Aiden Jobe totaled 11 rushes for 71 yards for the No. 1 and defending Class 6A state champion Bulldogs against No. 4 (Class 5A) Cathedral.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We have to play our absolute best game. We need to win the turnover and big play battles as well. We have to be able to run the ball to get into better passing situations or it will be a long night for us.” – Franklin Central’s Jayson West.
“Franklin Central plays really hard and is one of the physically toughest teams in the state. They have one of the best defensive linemen (Jayce Brewer) in the state and accounting for him at all times will be a priority. Their quarterback (Connor Moreland) gets the ball out quick and does a great job of throwing uncovered.” – Brownsburg’s John Hart.
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Bishop Chatard Stadium.
COACHES: Sam Otley, 7-6 in second season at Roncalli. Rob Doyle, 89-23 in ninth season at Bishop Chatard.
LAST CONTEST: Roncalli lost to Franklin Central, 22-15. Bishop Chatard beat Hanover Central, 49-7.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Bishop Chatard, 28-24, on November 8, 2024 for Class 4A sectional crown.
UP NEXT: Roncalli welcomes Columbus North (2-0). Bishop Chatard plays at Indianapolis Cathedral (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Collin Ash ran 10 times for 125 yards with a score and completed 12-of-23 for 82 yards for the No. 7 (Class 4A) Royals against Franklin Central. Harrison Odom had two rushes for 98 with a touchdown and went 6-of-10 for 44 yards with another score for the top-ranked (Class 4A) Trojans against Hanover Central.
COACHES’ CORNER: “On offense, we need to start fast, take care of the football, control the line of scrimmage, and take advantage of explosive play opportunities. Defensively, we have to play sound, physical football, rally to the ball, and tackle. On special Teams, we need to score points and control field position.” – Roncalli’s Sam Otley.
“Roncalli is always a difficult matchup. They play disciplined, physical football. On offense, they run the ball so well that you just get limited opportunities on offense, and their kicking game flips the field. We will have to play assignment and physical football to get them off the field. Defensively, they are sound and they make it very difficult to get big plays in the run game, so we will have to be very disciplined in our play calling. This game usually comes down to a few key plays, so mistake-free football is a must.” – Bishop Chatard’s Rob Doyle.
MERRILLVILLE (1-1) AT CROWN POINT (2-0)
KICKOFF: 8 p.m. EDT, Dog Pound.
COACHES: Brad Seiss, 84-38 in 11th season at Merrillville, 97-55 in 14th season overall. Craig Buzea, 42-8 in fifth season at Crown Point, 258-97 in 33rd season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Merrillville lost to Loyola Academy (Illinois), 21-14. Crown Point beat Indianapolis Pike, 21-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Crown Point, 46-13, on September 6, 2024.
UP NEXT: Merrillville hosts Portage (0-2). Crown Point goes to Lake Central (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Hill tossed a pair of touchdown passes for the No. 5 (Class 5A) Pirates against Loyola Academy. Brayden Schutt managed 29 rushes for 152 yards with three scores for the No. 4 (Class 6A) Bulldogs against Pike.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We excited to get started with Duneland Conference play. To be the best you have to beat the best and Crown Point is the three-time defending DAC champs. It’s their first home game of the season and the atmosphere will be great with them once again having a good team along with us as well. It’s the premier game in Northwest Indiana and we’re looking forward to it.” – Merrillville’s Brad Seiss.
“This is the best Merrillville team we have competed against in my five years at Crown Point. They have it all. A dynamic quarterback (Michael Hill), two fantastic running backs (JQ Johnson and Cameron Jordan), and a superior defense. The way they played in last week’s game vs. one of the best teams in the country (Loyola Academy) speaks to this. The Dogs will have to be at their best and avoid pre-snap penalties and turnovers along with being super-efficient on third and fourth downs.” – Crown Point’s Craig Buzea.
MILAN (1-1) AT NORTH DECATUR (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Kaelin Field.
COACHES: Ryan Langferman, 120-79 in 18th season at Milan. Steve Stirn, 86-36 in 11th season at North Decatur, 173-85 in 23rd season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Milan lost to Batesville, 27-20. North Decatur beat Eastern Hancock, 41-27.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Milan, 24-17, on November 8, 2024 for Class 1A sectional title.
UP NEXT: Milan entertains Switzerland County (2-0). North Decatur plays at Brown County (0-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Wyatt Marsh was 10-of-21 for 82 yards with a touchdown and carried the ball 12 times for 80 yards for the No. 9 (Class 1A) Indians against Batesville. Matthew Fields went 10-of-17 for 219 yards with three scores for the No. 3 (Class 1A) Chargers against Eastern Hancock.
COACHES’ CORNER: “This is our first game back in the MIFC (Mid-Indiana Football Conference) since 2020, and it’s exciting to once again be playing in meaningful conference games after the league’s four-year hiatus. For us, the key will be taking care of ourselves and eliminating mistakes. Last week against Batesville, we won nearly every statistical category except the one that matters most, points scored. Nine penalties in each of our first two games, losing the turnover battle, and coming up empty on two red zone trips at the end of halves were costly. To be successful against North Decatur, we need to clean up those errors and avoid beating ourselves. North Decatur presents a big challenge with their diverse offense. They use multiple formations and spread the ball around, so our defense will need to be disciplined in alignment and responsibilities to keep them in check.” – Milan’s Ryan Langferman.
“This game has become a great rivalry. Every game is a close game while every play seems to matter a bit more. In a game like this, turnovers and penalties are magnified. They become more impactful. For us to be successful, we must be willing to sustain long drives and get points when the opportunity arises. It is important that we limit their explosive plays while generating some of our own. Our fourth down defense is paramount because they have shown the willingness to go for it on fourth down at any time.” – North Decatur’s Steve Stirn.
PLAINFIELD (2-0) AT MOORESVILLE (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Mooresville Football Field.
COACHES: Tyler Bless, 17-6 in third season at Plainfield. Mike Gillin, 65-35 in ninth season at Mooresville, 370-152 in 47th season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Plainfield beat Harrison (West Lafayette), 34-27. Mooresville beat Terre Haute North, 48-8.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Plainfield, 42-0, on September 6, 2024.
UP NEXT: Plainfield hosts Perry Meridian (1-1). Mooresville travels to Greenwood (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Bryce Sebanc completed 16-of-25 for 130 yards and ran nine times for 56 yards for the No. 7 (Class 5A) Quakers against Harrison (West Lafayette). Tyler Denny caught six passes for 35 yards with two touchdowns and ran once for 45 yards for the Pioneers against Terre Haute North.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We will have to play well in all three phases of the game on Friday to earn victory. On offense, we need to be able to have an effective run game to balance our passing and play-action attack. We have to continue to get the ball in our playmakers hands and end each drive with a kick. Defensively, we need to be able to recognize Mooresville’s formations and personnels to stop their passing attack. We will need to keep everything in front of us and eliminate explosive plays. We must continue to make special teams important and win that phase of the game with each unit.” – Plainfield’s Tyler Bless.
“We must come out and match Plainfield’s strength, size, and intensity with our own strength, size, and intensity. With the disappointing loss in 2024, we look forward to being more competitive on Friday with the Quakers. Tyler Bless has done a nice job with their program over the last three years and we expect nothing less this Friday versus Plainfield.” – Mooresville’s Mike Gillin.
TRITON CENTRAL (2-0) AT TRI-WEST (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Hendricks Field.
COACHES: Tim Able, 112-40 in 13th season at Triton Central, 237-138 in 32nd season overall. Jason Ward, 55-19 in seventh season at Tri-West.
LAST CONTEST: Triton Central beat Hamilton Heights, 28-13. Tri-West beat Brebeuf Jesuit, 47-29.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Tri-West, 17-14, on November 11, 1988 for Class 2A regional crown.
UP NEXT: Triton Central hosts Monrovia (0-2). Tri-West plays at Speedway (0-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Braden Brown finished with 18 carries for 66 yards with two scores for the No. 7 (Class 2A) Tigers against Hamilton Heights. Wanson Hall ended with 11 rushes for 71 yards with a touchdown and one catch for 11 yards for the No. 7 (Class 3A) Bruins against Brebeuf Jesuit.
COACHES’ CORNER: “This is our first time playing Tri-West in the Hoosier Legends Conference. This game is key for both teams to stay on a path to be conference champs. It will be a tall task trying to harness a (NCAA) Division-One quarterback (Jack Sorgi) with many tools to his arsenal. Offensively and defensively, they are the quickest team we’ve faced and with the most complicated schemes. We have to clean up a lot from our previous two weeks to compete with the loaded Bruins. This is a week we used to play (Indianapolis) Lutheran and we get the ‘reward’ (no reward sarcasm) of now playing the Bruins. It’s two storied programs that always bring a level of excellence in all they do.” – Triton Central’s Tim Able.
“We are very excited to play in this new conference (Hoosier Legends) and Triton Central. It’s a team we know nothing about and get a chance to prep for a team that is unfamiliar. I feel they are a mirror image of our program but in Class 2A. I am sure we both feel we are a final eight or final four team in our respective classes. We are very proud programs and are competitive year in and year out. Having said that, this will be the best team we will have played in this early season. In the first two weeks, our defensive line has been very dominant. We have stopped the run and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback when passing. This will have to continue this week. We again will be out sized up front and will again have to rely on our speed and creativity up front. We do understand they have a very good receiver (Zeke Robertson) that has returned and has racked up some yards in the first two weeks. Our main concern on the defensive side is their quarterback (Matthew Wilkins) getting out of the pocket and taking off either looking down field for open receivers or running for first downs. There is no secret who we are hitching our wagon onto. (Quarterback) Jack Sorgi has been very good the first two weeks of the season. Our offense has been very explosive and scoring quick. Nothing will change this week. From what we have seen, Triton Central jumps in and out of a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. Based on what they play, we may need to run the ball this week and not just air it out based on their defense. We have very explosive playmakers on the field, but what people don’t know is our best athlete got hurt on the first drive of week one, and yet we are still dangerous on offense. This may be the week our explosiveness goes away and we need to run the ball and grind out a victory.” – Tri-West’s Jason Ward.
TWIN LAKES (2-0) AT TIPTON (2-0)
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. EDT, Tipton Stadium.
COACHES: Kevin O’Shea, 12-11 in third season at Twin Lakes, 251-121 in 33rd season overall. Aaron Tolle, 145-86 in 21st season at Tipton.
LAST CONTEST: Twin Lakes beat Delphi, 41-6. Tipton beat Elwood, 48-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Twin Lakes, 14-7, on September 6, 2024.
UP NEXT: Twin Lakes entertains Lafayette Central Catholic (1-1). Tipton goes to Western (1-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Ledger Shaffer hauled in six receptions for 90 yards with a pair of scores for the Indians against Delphi. Quinn Tolle finished 11-of-14 for 114 yards and ran eight times for 42 yards and two scores for the Blue Devils against Elwood.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We’ll have to be very disciplined defensively. Tipton runs their spread run game very well. On offense, we’ll need to control their blitz and run the ball effectively. As always, we’ll need to limit turnovers and mistakes.” – Twin Lakes’ Kevin O’Shea.
“For Tipton to be successful this Friday, we are going to need to slow down Twin Lakes’ high-powered offense. We will need to keep their quarterback (Cooper Dold) in the pocket, not give up big plays, and hopefully cause a couple of turnovers. Offensively, I think it will be very important to keep possession of the ball and score each time in the red zone.” – Tipton’s Aaron Tolle.
