BY PAUL CONDRY AND MATT KOPSEA
HOT OFF THE PRESS
While Indianapolis Marshall saw its program come to an end with the closing of the school this past spring, Wood Memorial and Trinity Lutheran both return to the field after a hiatus of one and two years respectively.
Indianapolis Northwest, Indianapolis Arlington, Indianapolis Broad Ripple, and Turkey Run will all be playing on the gridiron for the final time this fall. Northwest, Arlington, and Broad Ripple are scheduled to close at the end of the 2017-18 school year, while Turkey Run will consolidate with Rockville next year.
While Scottsburg competes in the state tournament for the first time, Bowman Academy will not get the chance after the school received a one-year post-season penalty in all sports by the Indiana High School Athletic Association because of numerous violations last spring.
Having to wait until 2018 to participate in the playoffs are Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, Rock Creek Academy, and Traders Point Academy.
As it turns out, only Carmel (Class 6A) and Fort Wayne Concordia (Class 3A) will have the chance to defend their state titles. That’s because Class 5A champion Westfield is now in Class 6A, Class 4A champ Indianapolis Roncalli has moved up to Class 5A, Class 3A winner Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter has shifted to Class 3A, and Class 1A titlist Linton-Stockton has been elevated to Class 2A.
North Posey is renaming its football field in honor of long-time coach Joe Gengelbach, who retired after the 2012 campaign with 256 career victories.
LONGEST CURRENT WINNING STREAKS
Indianapolis Roncalli and Linton-Stockton have a 15-game winning streak.
Fort Wayne Concordia has a 12-game winning streak
Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter has a 10-game winning streak.
Westfield has been victorious in eight straight games.
Carmel has won six games in a row.
LONGEST CURRENT LOSING STREAKS
Clarksville has a 25-game losing streak.
Hammond Bishop Noll has lost 24 straight games.
Hammond Clark and Prairie Heights have 22 losses in a row.
Wood Memorial have suffered 21 straight losses
Bowman Academy and Evansville Bosse have lost 14 straight games.
Rochester has dropped 13 consecutive contests.
South Dearborn, South Bend Clay, and Rock Creek Academy have suffered 12 losses in a row.
Bloomington North, Indianapolis Pike, Mount Vernon (Posey), Norwell, Oldenburg Academy, and Taylor have lost 11 consecutive games.
Crawford County has lost 10 straight games.
LONGEST CURRENT CONFERENCE WINNING STREAKS
Columbus East has run off 70 consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference victories.
Penn has won 36 straight Northern Indiana Conference games.
East Central has won 31 straight Eastern Indiana Conference games.
New Palestine has won 26 Hoosier Heritage Conference contests.
Bloomington South has captured 18 straight Conference Indiana games.
Gibson Southern has won 16 consecutive Pocket Conference contests.
Pioneer has come out on top in 16 straight Hoosier North Conference games.
Woodlan has taken 13 consecutive Allen County Conference contests.
West Washington has won 10 straight Patoka Lake Conference games.
LONGEST CURRENT CONFERENCE LOSING STREAKS
Benton Central has lost 22 consecutive Hoosier Conference games.
Clarksville has suffered 17 straight Mid-Southern Conference losses.
Blackford has dropped 14 consecutive Central Indiana Conference games.
CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON WINS
New Palestine 36, Pioneer 26, Gibson Southern 21, Woodlan 19, Lafayette Central Catholic 18, West Washington 18, Penn 14, Indianapolis Roncalli 12, Linton-Stockton 12, Mississinewa 12, NorthWood 12, Covenant Christian 11, Hanover Central 11, Carroll (Flora) 10.
CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON LOSSES
Clarksville 22, Hammond Bishop Noll 21, Hammond Clark 19, Prairie Heights 19, Wood Memorial 18, Blackford 18, Evansville Bosse 12, Bowman Academy 12, Rock Creek Academy 12, Mount Vernon (Posey) 11, Rochester 11, South Bend Clay 11, Taylor 11, South Dearborn 10, Jennings County 10.
BACK TO DEFEND THEIR CONFERENCE TITLES
Allen County: Woodlan. Central Indiana: Mississinewa. Circle City: Indianapolis Roncalli. Conference Indiana: Bloomington South. Duneland: LaPorte. Eastern Indiana (3A): Lawrenceburg. Eastern Indiana (4A): East Central. Great Lakes: East Chicago Central. Greater South Shore (North): Whiting. Greater South Shore (South): Hanover Central. Hoosier: Lafayette Central Catholic. Hoosier Crossroads: Brownsburg. Hoosier Heartland: Carroll (Flora). Hoosier Heritage: New Palestine. Hoosier Hills: Columbus East: Hoosier North: Pioneer. Indiana Crossroads: Indianapolis Scecina. Metropolitan: Warren Central. Mid-Indiana Football: Milan. Mid-Southern: Brownstown Central. Mid-State: Decatur Central. North Central: Kokomo, McCutcheon, and Harrison (West Lafayette). Northeast Corner (Big): Garrett. Northeast Corner (Small): Eastside. Northeast 8: New Haven. Northern Indiana (North): Penn. Northern Indiana (South): Mishawaka Marian. Northern Lakes: NorthWood. Northwest Crossroads: Hobart and Griffith. Patoka Lake: West Washington. Pocket: Gibson Southern. Sagamore: Tri-West. Southern Indiana: Evansville Central and Evansville Reitz. Southwest: Eastern Greene. Summit: Fort Wayne Snider. Three Rivers: Northfield. Tri-Eastern: Northeastern and Winchester. Wabash River: Fountain Central and North Vermillion. Western Indiana: Sullivan.
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
SCHOOL PREVIOUS COACH NEW COACH
Anderson Prep Academy Jeff Dorman Randy Albano
Benton Central Ed Robson Mike Hammons
Bluffton Randy Hudgins Brent Kunkel
Boone Grove Tony Tinkel Dan Kukulski
Calumet Rik Richards Richard Good
Carroll (Flora) Mark Brown Kevin Sayler
Caston Brady Jones-Brian Hooker Tony Slocum
Clinton Central Isaac Sturgis Justin Gardiner
Cloverdale Tony Meyer Tom Winders
Corydon Central Andrew Smith Aaron Humphrey
Eastside Mike Eshbach Todd Mason
Edgewood Jerry Bland Brian Rosenburg
Edinburgh Derrick Ball Jason Burton
Elkhart Central Levon Johnson Josh Shattuck
Evansville Harrison Cory Brunson Lane Oxley
Fort Wayne North Mike Cochran Mike Brevard
Frankfort Joel Sienicki Eric Davis
Franklin Adam Reese Chris Coll
Frankton Randy England Bobby Ryan
Hammond Bishop Noll Colin McCullough Wayne Racine
Hammond Clark Eric Schreiber Nick Testa
Indian Creek Mike Gillin Brett Cooper
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard Vince Lorenzano Rob Doyle
Indianapolis Broad Ripple Ethan Schreiber James Brown
Indianapolis Howe Earnest Tucker Terry Pendleton
Indianapolis Northwest Abe Tawfeek Jonas Williams
Indianapolis Roncalli Bruce Scifres Scott Marsh
John Glenn Damon Groves Austin Foust
Lake Central Brett St. Germain Tony Bartolomeo
Lake Station Adam Hudak Jason Wolfe
Lafayette Central Catholic Kevin O’Shea Don Coller
Lebanon Neil Kazmierczak Jeff Smock
Martinsville Brad Rose Carter Whitson
Mooresville Chad Dockery Mike Gillin
Mount Vernon (Fortville) Doug Armstrong Neil Kazmierczak
Mount Vernon (Posey) Paul Maier Cory Brunson
Muncie Central Adam Morris Scott Pethtel
New Albany Sean Coultis Steve Cooley
New Castle Will Ragle Kyle York
North Central (Ind.) Kevin Kreinhagen Kevin O’Shea
North Miami Mark Lefebvre Joe Grant
North Posey Paul Rynkiewich Waylon Schenk
North Putnam Greg Barrett Sam Carnes
North White Jim Davis Kirk Quasebarth
Northwestern Alex Stewart Steve Disler
Oldenburg Academy Wes Gilman Kevin Ferneding
Paoli Brian Balsmeyer Jeremy Lowery
Pike Central Dustin Powell Erik Mattingly
Princeton Waylon Schenk Jared Maners
Richmond Matt Holeva Abe Tawfeek
Riverton Parke Jake Weber Brad Sanders
Rochester Joe Grant Brian Hooker
Rock Creek Academy Donald Barnett Jason Rotenberger
Seymour Josh Shattuck Michael Kelly
Shenandoah Scott Widner Jordan McCaslin
South Bend Clay Craig Redman Will Porter
South Central Eric Stephens Buzz Schoff
South Vermillion Will Porter Greg Barrett
Springs Valley Justin Scheller Mark Hammond
Sullivan Trent Olson Blaine Powell
Tippecanoe Valley Darin Holsopple Stephen Moriarty
Traders Point Christian Kyle Johnson Adam Stevenson
Tri-County Eric Davis Sam Zachary
Tri-West Chris Coll Tyler Bruce
Trinity Lutheran Anthony Levy Mike Wilson
Turkey Run Steve Stewart Bruce Scaggs
Union County Rusty Hensley Joel Hofmann
Vincennes Lincoln Jon Heiden Levi Salters
Winamac Tim Roth Craig Barr
Wawasee Josh Ekovich Mike Eshbach
Western Ron Jankovich Alex Stewart
Wheeler Tony Klimczak Adam Hudak
Wood Memorial Caleb Cherry-Derek Archer Bret Kramer
WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES: Larry “Bud” Wright (Sheridan) 401, Russ Radtke (New Prairie) 339, Mike Gillin (Mooresville) 305, Bob Gaddis (Columbus East) 290, Mo Moriarity (Bloomington South) 284, John Hart (Brownsburg) 276, Rick Wimmer (Fishers) 245, Jeff Adamson (Eastbrook) 242, Reed May (Brownstown Central) 240, Rick Streiff (Indianapolis Cathedral) 235, Scott Mannering (Twin Lakes) 227, Leroy Marsh (Munster) 224, Eric Moore (Center Grove) 221, George Gilbert (Tri-Central) 218, Mike Johnson (Logansport) 216, Kevin O’Shea (Indianapolis North Central) 214, Mark Bless (Avon) 205, Mike Goebel (Evansville Mater Dei) 204, Scot Shaw (Elkhart Memorial) 202.
MILESTONES
CLOSING IN ON 200: Brett Colby (Kokomo) 196, Bart Curtis (Mishawaka) 195, John Hendryx (Knox) 190.
CLOSING IN ON 150: Darrin Fisher (Whiteland) 148, Chris Meeks (Rensselaer Central) 145, Steve Weber (Bedford North Lawrence) 142.
CLOSING IN ON 100: Kevin Mills (Crawford County) 99, Mike Kirschner (Ben Davis) 95, Chris Barrett (Terre Haute North) 95, Jared Sauder (Leo) 94, Brian Crabtree (North Vermillion) 93, Bob Miller (Fairfield) 92, Jayson West (Warren Central) 90.