CLASS 6A
No. 3 Center Grove at No. 5 Warren Central, 7 p.m.
Center Grove Trojans (0-0)
Head coach: Eric Moore, 17th season at Center Grove (147-54), 21st overall (195-59)
Last season: 9-4
Conference: Metropolitan Interscholastic
Players to watch: Cameron Tidd, Sr., DL; Jovan Swann, Sr., DL; Devin Wilson, Sr., DL; Zach Wells, Jr., DL; Dan Root, Jr., DL; Connor Steeb, Sr., DB; Will Smithey, Sr., DB; Bailey Bennett, Jr., LB; Jackson Sodrel, Sr., LB; Nick Davis, Jr., OL; Clay Hadley, Jr., OL; Chris Barnett, Sr., OL; John Richardson, Sr., OL; Joey Siderewicz, Sr., QB; Zak Smith, Sr., WR; Quinten Stirsman, Sr., WR; Cory Heinrichs, So., TE; Titus McCoy, Jr., RB; Trevor Hohlt, Jr., RB; Nathanael Snyder, Sr., K; Drew Conrad, Sr., P.
Warren Central Warriors (0-0)
Head coach: Jayson West, third season at Warren Central (21-6), eighth overall (73-18)
Last season: 9-3
Outlook: Meeting in the season-opener for the third straight year, the MIC titans both have state championship aspirations.
The Warriors won last year’s showdown 12-9 in overtime.
Directions: Take U.S. 31 north to Interstate 465 east and then north to the Washington Street (U.S. 40) exit. Turn left and go east on Washington Street to Post Road and turn left (north). Go north on Post Road to 16th Street. Turn right on 16th Street, go about a half-mile, and the school is on the left.
CLASS 5A
South Dearborn at No. 7 Whiteland, 7 p.m.
Whiteland Warriors (0-0)
Head coach: Darrin Fisher, 11th season at Whiteland (74-42), 25th overall (135-114)
Last season: 8-4
Conference: Mid-State
Players to watch: Shaw Cloud, Sr., RB; Brandon Patterson, Sr., RB; Jace Carpenter, Jr., QB; Tyler Johnson, Sr., OL; Jake Sayer, Sr., OL; Austin Bates, Sr., OL; Chase Jones, Sr., DB; Djimmon Ogega, Sr., DB; Ryder Emberton, Jr., DL; Braxton Short, Sr., DL; Quetin Truex, Sr., LB; Jacob Walters, Sr., LB; Jacob Ballain, Jr., K.
South Dearborn Knights (0-0)
Head coach: Rand Ballart, first season (0-0)
Last season: 2-8
Conference: Eastern Indiana
Outlook: With a wealth of experience, including 36 seniors, the Warriors enter the season with expectations of contending for a state title. By comparison, South Dearborn has had two winless seasons the past three years and managed only two wins last season.
Columbus North at Franklin, 7 p.m.
Franklin Grizzly Cubs (0-0)
Head coach: Adam Reese, third season (8-12)
Conference: Mid-State
Last season: 3-7
Conference: Mid-State
Players to watch: T.J. Ahlefeld, Jr., QB; Phoenix Campos, Sr., RB; Tyler Fromer, So., FB; Gabriel Terriquez, Sr., OL; Skylar Marshall, So., OL; Alex VanDyke, Jr., OL/DL; Gavin Eason, So., OL; Garrett Eason, So., C; Zach Dowell, Sr., LB; Alex Blackwell, Sr., DB; Jacob Lamping, Jr., DL; Lane Voris, Jr., DB.
Columbus North Bull Dogs (0-0)
Head coach: Tim Bless, 16th season at Columbus North (98-73), 18th overall (110-82)
Last season: 5-6
Conference: Conference Indiana
Outlook: Franklin, which suffered heavy graduation losses, opens with a traditionally strong opponent in Columbus North. The Bull Dogs received votes in the preseason Class 6A poll.
CLASS 4A
Greenwood at Perry Meridian, 7 p.m.
Greenwood Woodmen (0-0)
Head coach: Mike Campbell
Last season: 4-6
Conference: Mid-State
Players to watch: John Gallman, Sr., RB; Brandon Rosado, So., FB; A.J. Reingardt, Jr., QB; Lyle Nixon, Sr., OL; Thomas Bowling, Jr., C; Jackson Daugherty, Sr., WR/DB; Anthony Carver, Sr., WR/DB; Brayton England, Sr., LB; A.J. Montgomery, Jr., LB; Patrick Lowenstein, Sr., DL; Jordan Anderson, Sr., DL; Dylan Rosado, Jr., DB; Will Wolf, Jr., DB; Spencer Schmidt, Jr., K; Damon Maynard, Jr., P.
Perry Meridian Falcons (0-0)
Head coach: Scott Marsh, seventh season at Perry Meridian (22-40), eighth overall (22-50)
Last season: 2-8
Conference: Conference Indiana
Outlook: Meeting for the third straight year in the season-opener, the Woodmen won last year’s game against the Class 6A Falcons 56-28.
Greenwood received votes in the preseason Class 4A poll and is bidding for its first winning season since 2012.
Directions: Take U.S. 31 north to Banta Road and turn right on Banta. The school is at Shelby Street and Banta.
No. 4 Roncalli vs. No. 9 Class 6A Southport, at Lucas Oil Stadium, 8:30 p.m.
Roncalli Rebels (0-0)
Head coach: Bruce Scifres, 26th season, 224-83
Last season: 7-6
Conference: Independent
Players to watch: Nate Fries, Sr., RB; Robbie Strader, Sr., QB; Louie Hibner, Sr., OL; Garrett Shura, Sr., OL; Tyler Reed, Sr., DL; Tyler Lucas, Sr., DL; Jake Franklin, Sr., LB; Nate Eble, Sr., LB; Gabe Otley, Sr., LB; Caleb Bowling, Sr., DB; Justin Saylor, Sr., DB.
Southport Cardinals (0-0)
Head coach: Bill Peebles, 11th season (54-53)
Last season: 9-3
Conference: Conference Indiana
Outlook: Meeting Southport for the eighth straight year in the season-opener, the Rebels are looking for their first win in the series since 2012.
Roncalli is coming off its first sectional championship since 2005.
CLASS 3A
Indian Creek at Knightstown, 7 p.m.
Indian Creek Braves (0-0)
Head coach: Mike Gillin
Last season: 9-1
Conference: Mid-Indiana Football
Players to watch: Gynson Robley, Sr., QB; Bryce Hogue, Jr., WR/DB; Austin Coy, Sr., WR/LB; Elijah Dunn, Sr., RB/WR; Isaiah Lacey, Fr., WR/DB; Brandon Dunn, So., RB/DB; Joey Willis, So., RB; Nick Clevenger, Sr., OL/DL; Noah Maness, Jr.., OL/DL; Hunter Pottoroff, Sr., DL; Joe Clevenger, LB; Grant GoForth, So., LB; Austin Worth, So., LB; Jordan Summers, Sr., DB; Brad Trietsch, So., DB.
Knightstown Panthers (0-0)
Head coach: Kevin Miller, third season (10-11)
Last season: 4-6
Conference: Mid-Indiana Football
Outlook: With only six returning starters from last year’s 9-1 team, the Braves expect a bumpy ride early in the season.
But in Knightstown, they meet an opponent they defeated by lopsided scores in the two previous season-openers.
Directions: Take I-65 north to I-465 east to I-70 east. Take I-70 east to State Road 109 exit (Exit 115) and turn right. Follow into Knightstown and to west Main Street (U.S. 40) and turn right. The school is ahead on the left at 8149 U.S. 40 West.
CLASS A
Brown County at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh Lancers (0-0)
Head coach: Derrick Ball, first season (0-0)
Last season: 3-7
Conference: Independent
Players to watch: Bobby Simpson, Sr., QB; Jentry Lange, Sr., QB/DB; Shane Smith, Sr., RB/DE; Marcus Ruch, Sr., WR/DB; Carigan St. Pierre, Sr., OL/DL; Sean Bacha, Jr., OL; Noah Martin, Jr., OL; Grant Godsey, Fr., DB; Zach Giles, Fr., DL; Bryce Burton, Fr., DB.
Brown County Eagles (0-0)
Head coach: Ethan Schreiber
Last season: 0-10
Conference: Western Indiana
Outlook: The Lancers enter the season under the direction of first-year, and first-time, varsity head coach Derrick Ball.
In Brown County, the Lancers open with a struggling Class 3A opponent that went winless last season.
