CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (6-3) AT ELKHART (6-3)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Rice Field.
COACHES: Doug Dinan, 125-55 in 16th season at Carroll (Fort Wayne). Travon Curry, 14-5 in second season at Elkhart.
LAST CONTEST: Carroll (Fort Wayne) beat Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 35-10. Elkhart beat South Bend Adams, 21-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: First time playing football.
UP NEXT: Carroll (Fort Wayne) hosts Fort Wayne Snider (3-6) or goes to Fort Wayne Northrop (7-2). Elkhart travels to Fort Wayne Snider or Fort Wayne Northrop.
TOP PERFORMERS: Gabe Frisinger went 12-of-21 for 202 yards with four touchdowns and ran 10 times for 35 yards for the No. 10 Chargers against defending Class 3A state runner-up Bishop Luers. Tayshon Bardo hauled in three passes for 64 yards with a score for the Lions against Adams.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Elkhart is a very good football team as we witnessed firsthand when we scrimmaged them in August. Their three losses (Concord, Saint Joseph, and Penn) come to teams that have a combined record of 26-2. Each week they have performed at a high level both offensively and defensively. For us to be successful Friday night, we have to win the turnover battle. We have to control the line of scrimmage, and we have to make a difference with special teams.” – Carroll’s (Fort Wayne) Doug Dinan.
In order for Elkhart to come away with a victory on Friday night against a really good Fort Wayne Carroll team, we will have to execute on offense and get the ball in our playmaker’s hands. We also need to win line of scrimmage and create turnovers on defense.” – Elkhart’s Travon Curry.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 4
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (5-4) AT HOMESTEAD (6-3)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Walters Stadium.
COACHES: Michael Kelly, 47-18 in sixth season at Hamilton Southeastern, 61-34 in ninth season overall. Chad Zolman, 173-66 in 22nd season at Homestead.
LAST CONTEST: Hamilton Southeastern lost to Brownsburg, 35-7. Homestead beat Fort Wayne Concordia, 42-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Hamilton Southeastern beat Homestead, 20-14, on November 1, 2024 in sectional semifinal.
UP NEXT: Hamilton Southeastern plays at No. 9 Fishers (6-3) or entertains Noblesville (1-8). Homestead goes to Fishers or Noblesville.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Jacobs carried the ball three times for 41 yards with a touchdown and was 5-of-10 for 38 yards for the No. 11 Royals against top-ranked and defending state champion Brownsburg. Shane Bardwell ran the ball 10 times for 42 yards with three scores for the Spartans against Fort Wayne Concordia.
COACHES’ CORNER: “They return several starters from last year’s team. They are big, strong, and disciplined. There is a strong possibility their quarterback (Michael White) is going to be back for this game. Either way, they are going to be tough to defend defensively. We are going to need to control the line of scrimmage, limit their explosive plays, and contain their quarterbacks (White and Logan Frieden). On the offensive side of the ball, we are going to need to create explosive plays, play consistently well on the line of scrimmage, and finish drive with touchdowns.” – Hamilton Southeastern’s Michael Kelly.
“Hamilton Southeastern is a talented, well-coached group. They are solid in every phase of the game. We will need to play assignment sound football on defense and be efficient on offense if we are going to be successful in this game. The margin for error for us will be small, so we need to play at a very high level in all three phases.” – Homestead’s Chad Zolman.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
WARSAW (6-3) VS. CONCORD (8-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Everwise Freed Field
COACHES: Bart Curtis, 64-24 in eighth season at Warsaw, 265-126 in 35th season overall. Craig Koehler, 80-36 in 11th season at Concord.
LAST CONTEST: Warsaw beat Northridge, 34-19. Concord beat Plymouth, 45-14.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Concord beat Warsaw, 38-7, on September 19, 2025.
UP NEXT: Warsaw travels to Fort Wayne North (5-4) or hosts Goshen (2-7). Concord plays at Fort Wayne North or Goshen.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brody Duncan scampered for 62 yards with two touchdowns for the Tigers against Northridge. Reese Breveard rambled 13 times for 97 yards with a score and registered four tackles and an interception for the No. 6 Minutemen against Plymouth.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We have to figure out a way to tackle their athletic players in the open field and cover their athletic receivers for lengthy periods of time. We also need to figure out a way to not give them the football back after three or four offensive snaps and to not get ‘out-coached’ again by Craig (Koehler) and the Concord coaching staff.” – Warsaw’s Bart Curtis.
“We are going to need to be able to make in game adjustments. We are confident that they will have wrinkles on both sides of the ball that we have yet to see. As always, turnovers are magnified even more when you play against these flexbone teams. We need to win the turnover margin. Special teams will be big. Field position is magnified against the flexbone as well, so we need to win in the kicking game.”- Concord’s Craig Koehler.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 13
NEW PALESTINE (9-0) AT PLAINFIELD (7-2)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Red Pride Field.
COACHES: Kyle Ralph, 150-14 in 13th season at New Palestine. Tyler Bless, 22-8 in third season at Plainfield.
LAST CONTEST: New Palestine beat Delta, 56-7. Plainfield beat Martinsville, 14-7.
PREVIOUS MEETING: First get-together on the gridiron.
UP NEXT: New Palestine hosts No. 2 Indianapolis Cathedral (6-3) or Anderson (1-8). Plainfield goes to Cathedral or Anderson.
TOP PERFORMERS: Caiden Jacobia raced six times for 65 yards with a touchdown for the No. 1 and defending Class 4A state champion Dragons against Delta. Zander Nattam came up with nine catches for 99 yards with two scores for the No. 10 Quakers against Martinsville.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Plainfield is once again a really good, talented, and well-coached football team. It’s playoff football and we open on the road in what will be a tough environment. We need to have a tremendous week of prep to try and extend our season.” – New Palestine’s Kyle Ralph.
“We will have to play well in all three phases of the game on Friday to earn a 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 New Palestine’s formations and personnels to stop their running 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.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 19
COLUMBIA CITY (6-4) AT FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER (8-2)
KICKOFF: 7 pm ET, Shields Field.
COACHES: Brett Fox, 67-60 in 12th season at Columbia City. Jason Garrett, 68-28 in eighth season at Bishop Dwenger.
LAST CONTEST: Columbia City beat DeKalb, 16-10. Bishop Dwenger beat Leo, 31-7.
LAST MEETING: Bishop Dwenger beat Columbia City, 38-0, on October 25, 2024 in sectional quarterfinals.
UP NEXT: Columbia City or Bishop Dwenger entertains Fort Wayne South (3-7) or No. 1 East Noble (10-0)
TOP PERFORMERS: Trace Parrish had 29 rushes for 156 yards for the Eagles against No. 13 DeKalb. Carter Zent hauled in a 43-yard touchdown pass for the No. 8 Saints against No. 10 Leo.
COACHES’ CORNER: “On Friday night, we will have to play a complete game. We have to be ready for a physical matchup that will challenge us not only in the physical aspect, but also mentally as well. We have to be ready to be in a dog fight that will last for all four quarters. It is a privilege to be one of 32 teams still playing, but our focus will be on trying to be one of 16 (teams) remaining after Friday night.” – Columbia City’s Brett Fox.
“We will need to execute at a high level in all three facets. In particular, we must be very disciplined on defense. We must win the line of scrimmage and turnover battle while reducing penalties.” – Bishop Dwenger’s Jason Garrett.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 24
EVANSVILLE REITZ (7-3) AT HERITAGE HILLS (9-1)
KICKOFF: 8 p.m. EDT, The Jungle.
COACHES: Cory Brunson, 46-22 in sixth season at Evansville Reitz, 80-62 in 13th season overall. Todd Wilkerson, 119-45 in 14th season at Heritage Hills.
LAST CONTEST: Evansville Reitz beat Evansville Central, 37-13. Heritage Hills beat Washington, 56-7.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Have never met before on the gridiron.
UP NEXT: Evansville Reitz or Heritage Hills goes to Evansville Harrison (3-7) or No. 11 Jasper (8-2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Jerimiah Wilford tallied two tackles and two interceptions for the Panthers against Evansville Central. Jayden Worley accounted for four carries for 43 yards with a touchdown and two tackles for the No. 4 and defending Class 3A state champion Patriots.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Heritage Hills is a very good team. We need to do all the little things right, take care of the football, and cause some turnovers. This should be a physical football game. We need to be more physical than them.” – Evansville Reitz’s Cory Brunson.
“It is amazing that Heritage Hills and Evansville Reitz have never faced each other at the varsity level. I know the Heritage Hills community is buzzing about this matchup. For Heritage Hills to be successful this Friday night, we must play great defense. Reitz brings an explosive run game to the table showcasing freshman running back Amyr Wilford. We will need to get to the football and tackle well to limit explosive run plays. We will look for leadership from linebacker Hayden Smith (58 tackles), safety Aiden Fischer (57 tackles), and defensive lineman Tyler Raven (41 tackles with 14 for loss and 5.5 sacks). Offensively, we need to be patient and take what the defense gives us. We need our playmakers to make plays, led by quarterback Jett Goldsberry (Ole Miss commit with 998 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, 1,644 passing yards with 22 touchdowns), wide receivers Tyler Ruxer (Oklahoma commit with 40 receptions for 625 yards and seven touchdowns), Peyton Gray (28 receptions for 529 yards and 12 touchdowns), and Micah Toler (nine receptions for 302 yards and four touchdowns), and running backs Dalton Pledger (63 rushes for 490 yards and four touchdowns) and Tyce Winchell (37 rushes for 388 yards and six touchdowns). Our senior group of offensive linemen (Trenton Collins, Hayden Smith, Peyton Martin, Austin Braun, and Gabe Jackson have paved the way for 2,669 rushing yards and 52.9 points per game) also need to have a great night. We always look for our special teams to create positive momentum in the game.” – Heritage Hills’ Todd Wilkerson.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
GRIFFITH (9-1) AT KNOX (10-0)
KICKOFF: 8 p.m. EDT, Community Field.
COACHES: Phil Mason, 21-10 in third season at Griffith, 179-103 in 25th season overall. Russ Radtke, 52-21 in sixth season at Knox, 423-158 in 49th season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Griffith beat Hammond Bishop Noll, 62-8. Knox beat Jimtown, 50-21.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Knox beat Griffith, 66-28, on November 1, 2024 in sectional semifinals.
UP NEXT: Griffith or Knox entertains Calumet (6-4) or Mishawaka Marian (3-7).
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Bullion tossed for 164 yards with three scores for the No. 8 Panthers against Bishop Noll. Keagan Everage rolled up seven tackles for the No. 4 Redskins against Jimtown.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Knox is a really good football team. What they do on offense is amazing and No. 2 (Myles McLaughlin) is a great player. We must force them into long drives and not give up the big play. We must make the most of every possession. Our goal is to score 42-48 points. If we can do that and force them to punt two or three times, I think we win. We can’t turn the ball over or hurt ourselves with penalties. We have a great opportunity and our kids are looking forward to the challenge.” – Griffith’s Phil Mason.
“Griffith is very formidable opponent. They’ve only lost one game and have a lot of talented players. We’re playing them at home and anytime you get a playoff game at your place, you have to take advantage of it.” – Knox’s Russ Radtke.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 32
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (9-0) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (9-1)
KICKOFF: 8 p.m. EDT, Jewell Field.
COACHES: John Hurley, 157-71 in 18th season at Evansville Memorial. Nick Hart, 142-28 in 14th season at Gibson Southern.
LAST CONTEST: Evansville Memorial beat Castle, 37-7. Gibson Southern beat Vincennes Lincoln, 50-12.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Evansville Memorial beat Gibson Southern, 56-28, on November 2, 2018 in sectional finals.
UP NEXT: Evansville Memorial or Gibson Southern plays at Southridge (6-4) or Evansville Mater Dei (5-5).
TOP PERFORMERS: Grayson Carter accumulated 13 tackles for the top-ranked Tigers against Castle. Gunner Alexander managed 10 tackles for the No. 3 Titans against Vincennes Lincoln.
COACHES’ CORNER: “ Nick Hart has built a quality program that competes at a high-level year in and year out. Gibson Southern plays with great tempo on offense and is very physical on defense. To come away with a victory Friday night, we’ll need to stop the run, protect the football, and create big plays in all three phases of the game. It’s going to take a complete team effort to advance, and it will be a tremendous atmosphere on Friday night.” – Evansville Memorial’s John Hurley.
“Evansville Memorial is a great program that has a tradition of advancing far in the tournament. Anytime you go 9-0 in the SIAC (Southern Indiana Athletic Conference), you have a great football team. They are great defensively and make it really difficult to score. We are going to have to be extremely efficient offensively to put points on the board. Their offense is extremely efficient and have the ability to run and throw the ball with success. We are going to have to be really sound in what we do defensively in order to get some stops.” – Gibson Southern’s Nick Hart.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
ANDREAN (8-1) AT WHEELER (8-1)
KICKOFF: 8 p.m. EDT, Bearcat Field
COACHES: Chris Skinner, 86-38 in 10th season at Andrean. Nick Testa, 22-8 in third season at Wheeler, 30-30 in sixth season overall.
LAST CONTEST: Andrean beat Lowell, 19-3. Wheeler beat Lake Station, 70-7.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Andrean beat Wheeler, 19-0, on November 1, 2024 in sectional semifinal.
UP NEXT: Andrean or Wheeler goes to Rensselaer Central (8-2) or Bremen (6-4).
TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Gore completed 7-of-10 for 95 yards with a touchdown for the No. 5 59ers against No. 12 (Class 4A) Lowell. Tyne Vettickal registered three catches for 91 yards with three scores for the No. 11 Bearcats against Lake Station.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Wheeler is a well-coached, fundamentally sound football team. Offensively, they have threats in both the running game and passing game. (Running back) Levi Murray is a good football player, so we’ll need to maintain gap integrity as best as possible to prevent him from hitting creases. Their quarterback, Logan Fox, does a good job of distributing the football to the appropriate targets. Their leading receiver, Tyne Vettickal, is a good athlete who runs crisp routes. Communication in our secondary will be important in preventing big plays in the pass game. Their defense does a good job of shooting gaps and getting penetration in the backfield. They have a handful of players with five-plus tackles for loss which speaks to their disruptive nature upfront. We’ll need to understand assignments upfront to give our backs and receivers time to work. We’ll also need to look back at last year’s game as well to see where we can make adjustments.” – Andrean’s Chris Skinner.
“Andrean is one of the best teams in the state. They are well-coached and have multiple (NCAA) Division 1 kids, so we will have to put together our best game in all three phases. Offensively, we will have to control the ball and look to make big plays when the opportunities are there. Andrean’s defense is elite, so we will need our best players to step up and make plays. We can’t turn the ball over or hurt ourselves with penalties. Staying ahead of the chains will be important so we don’t become one dimensional. Defensively, we will need to tackle well. Andrean has some big physical backs and a big offensive line, so we need to match their physicality and then be able to pressure the quarterback when they throw. Our defense has done a great job of creating turnovers this year and we will have to get a couple this game. Finally, we can’t give up any big returns in special teams. We have to make them drive the length of the field.” – Wheeler’s Nick Testa.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 36
EASTBROOK (10-0) AT ROCHESTER (9-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Barnhart Field.
COACHES: Jeff Adamson, 329-106 in 37th season at Eastbrook. Ron Shaffer, 39-12 in fifth season at Rochester.
LAST CONTEST: Eastbrook beat Alexandria, 37-36 (OT). Rochester beat Elwood, 44-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Eastbrook beat Rochester, 48-20, on October 26, 2018 in sectional semifinals.
UP NEXT: Eastbrook hosts Tipton (6-4) or No. 12 Eastern (Greentown) (9-1). Rochester travels to Tipton or Eastern (Greentown).
TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Slater had three receptions for 50 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown pass at the end of regulation, for the No. 4 Panthers against No. 12 Alexandria. Trenton Meadows caught a 61-yard touchdown pass and ran four times for 56 yards with another tally for the No. 8 Zebras against Elwood.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Rochester is a big, physical, and fast football team that is very disciplined in all three phases of the game. We will need to be very disciplined against their stout running game and be sure we have guys holding their gaps on every snap. On offense, we are giving up a lot of size, so our guys will need to be very quick off the ball and be sure we stay on blocks. Special teams will be very important as well to help keep us in good field position.” – Eastbrook’s Jeff Adamson.
“Eastbrook is one of the top programs in the state for Class 2A football. We will have to play mistake-free football for 48 minutes. The battle on the line of scrimmage must be won on both sides of the ball. We must be disciplined and play assignment football on defense, and execute on special teams to secure the win.” – Rochester’s Ron Shaffer.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 42
FRONTIER (10-0) AT PIONEER (9-1)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, The Panther Pit.
COACHES: Jack Barron, 18-1 in second season at Frontier. Adam Berry, 97-26 in 10th season at Pioneer.
LAST CONTEST: Frontier beat Tri-County, 50-14. Pioneer beat Caston, 35-0.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Pioneer beat Frontier, 62-6, on September 26, 2014.
UP NEXT: Frontier welcomes Carroll (Flora) (6-3) or Taylor (6-3). Pioneer goes to Carroll (Flora) or Taylor.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Brown tallied seven carries for 90 yards with three touchdowns in the No. 2 Falcons’ 49-0 win over South Newton. Juan Solano finished with eight tackles for the No. 3 Panthers against Caston.
COACHES’ CORNER: “Pioneer is a very well-coached team with a lot of experience. Their Wing-T rushing attack is a force to be reckoned with. They have also put together some great defensive performances with a handful of shutout victories as well. We will have our hands full, but we believe we have the size-speed to run with them. For us to win, it comes down to the basics of football, turnover margin, explosive plays, and winning special teams. If we can be successful in those categories, we feel we have every opportunity to go get a program-changing victory.” – Frontier’s Jack Barron.
“Discipline on offense and defense is the first key to victory. We need to continue to build what we have been doing offensively and we have to be balanced. Our offensive line will have to have a great night of communication as Frontier will utilize some blitzes and some movement up front. Their offense is very high powered and can score in a hurry. It starts with their dual-threat quarterback (Ayden Justice). He does a tremendous job running their offense and has weapons all over the place. Our defensive backs will need to have their best night of coverage and reading their keys. And as always, the best pass coverage is a great pass rush, so we need our defensive line to put pressure on him.” – Pioneer’s Adam Berry.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 48
SPRINGS VALLEY (10-0) AT PROVIDENCE (7-2)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. EDT, Murphy Stadium.
COACHES: Jason Lowe, 42-11 in fifth season at Springs Valley. Daniel McDonald, 51-18 in sixth season at Providence.
LAST CONTEST: Springs Valley beat Forest Park, 46-0. Providence beat North Knox, 41-14.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Providence beat Springs Valley, 35-20, on October 25, 2024 in sectional quarterfinal.
UP NEXT: Springs Valley or Providence plays at Tecumseh (6-4) or No. 8 North Daviess (9-1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Landon Weeks snatched two interceptions and returned one of them for a score for the top-ranked Blackhawks against Forest Park. Lincoln Kruer carried the ball 10 times for 81 yards for the No. 5 and defending state champion Pioneers against North Knox.
COACHES’ CORNER: “We are excited about being a top five team and playing the defending Class 1A state champions. It is a huge test for our kids, but they have put themselves in a position to play in a game like this against a high-quality opponent. Providence is well-coached and their players play extremely hard. We will need to keep our physicality as high as its been all year and we will have to do that consistently throughout the night. We cannot have negative plays or penalties as Providence has capitalized on them all season. As with all football games, this game will come down to who can control the line of scrimmage and run the football with success. Providence does have big play capability and we will need to keep those to a minimum. Excited for our football program to be where they are and getting the attention they are getting.” – Springs Valley’s Jason Lowe.
“Springs Valley is an extremely well-coached, physical football team. They have earned their number one ranking. We have to play disciplined, physical football to defend their running game, which has been very impressive this season.” – Providence’s Daniel McDonald.
