High school football // Scouting this week’s matchups

Carmel (1-1) at Center Grove (1-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Webcast: centergrovefootball.com (pregame 6:45 p.m.)

Recent history: Before the Trojans’ 24-21 triumph last year, Carmel had won nine of the previous 11 regular-season meetings. The schools have split their two postseason clashes during that span, with the Greyhounds taking a 2011 semistate and Center Grove beating Carmel to win the 2008 state championship.

Sagarin ratings: Carmel 99.99 (ninth), Center Grove 112.54 (fourth).

Players to watch: Carmel — QB Jake McDonald, Jr.; RB Jalen Walker, Sr.; WR Ethan Merriweather, Sr. Center Grove — RB/WR Russ Yeast, Sr., DB Tyler Watson, Jr.; DB Logan Bontrager, Sr.; LB Bailey Bennett, Sr.; LB Nick Arbuckle, Sr.

Keys to victory: Averaging 11.3 yards per carry through two games has made Russ Yeast a marked man. Carmel’s ability (or inability) to slow the Trojans senior in the open field be it on running attempts or kick returns will go a long way in determining the outcome of the 19th annual Copper Kettle clash.

Notable: Tonight’s game is one of 100 games nationwide chosen to be a part of this year’s Great American Rivalry Series. As part of that series, Carmel and Center Grove students took part in a weeklong Rivalry Fitness Challenge. The winning school will receive a trophy at halftime.

Brownsburg (2-0) at Franklin (0-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Broadcast: KORN Country 100.3 FM

Recent history: Brownsburg has won both of the recent regular-season games between the two — 34-27 in 2014 and 68-7 a year ago. The last meeting before those two came in 2000, when Franklin posted a 10-0 sectional victory over the Bulldogs.

Sagarin ratings: Brownsburg 87.82 (13th), Franklin 49.23 (135th).

Players to watch: Brownsburg — QB Hunter Johnson, Sr.; RB Carson Gill, Sr.; WR Bryce Kirtz, So.; WR Dequincy Davis, Jr. Franklin — QB Jake Moore, Sr.; RB Tyler Fromer, Jr.; RB Riley McCann, Jr.; DB Shane Reynolds, Jr.; DB Sam Barnett, Sr.

Keys to victory: Franklin’s linebackers and defensive backs will be tested early and often by Johnson, who has made a verbal commitment to play football at Clemson. The Grizzly Cubs must respond defensively if they are going to compete with the 10th-ranked team in Class 6A.

Notable: The Colts Friday Night Football Tour will be making a stop at Franklin Community High School for tonight’s game. Beginning at 5 p.m., there will be a QB challenge, pregame relay and Colts giveaways. The tour will be going to Indian Creek High School next week for a Sept. 9 game against Brown County.

Martinsville (0-2) at Greenwood (2-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Broadcast: WMYJ 100.5 AM

Recent history: The Woodmen are 6-4 in the series since 2006 and have won four of the past five. The four Greenwood victories have all been close, however, with margins of three, three, one and seven points.

Sagarin ratings: Martinsville 48.20 (144th), Greenwood 74.77 (46th).

Players to watch: Martinsville — QB Matthew Hoskins, Sr.; RB Greg Daniels, Sr.; DB Cade Scott, Sr. Greenwood — RB Brandon Rosado, Jr.; RB Isaiah Borjas, So.; DT Nick Young, Jr.; DB Dylan Rosado, Sr.; LB Nick Chesser, Sr.; DE Jake Patton, Jr.

Keys to victory: Greenwood can’t afford to underestimate the Artesians simply because Martinsville’s losing streak of 13 dates back to a sectional loss to Bloomington South in 2014. These games have been too close in the past.

Notable: Tonight is Special Olympics Night at Greenwood beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to come and join Special Olympics Johnson County and the Woodmen Touchdown Booster Club for a pregame tailgate party (please bring a veggie tray, salad or side if you are attending). At halftime, Special Olympics athletes will be honored.

Whiteland (0-2) at Decatur Central (1-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Webcast: wchs radio.cpcsc.k12.in.us

Recent history: The teams have split their past six meetings, with the home team winning each of the past four years. Whiteland is 6-4 against the Hawks under head coach Darrin Fisher.

Sagarin ratings: Whiteland 74.51 (47th), Decatur Central 73.92 (51st).

Players to watch: Whiteland — RB Anthony Schantz, Sr.; RB Edwin Cisneros, Sr.; RB Ryan Hammond, Jr.; OL Tarnjeet Singh, Sr.; DT Ryder Emberton, Sr.; DB Kyle Schantz, So. Decatur Central — QB Bryce Jefferson, Jr.; WR Nick Canavan, Sr.; DB Larry Tracy, So.; LB Trent Grogan, Sr.

Keys to victory: Hawks quarterback Jefferson presents all sorts of problems for Whiteland’s defense. Through two games, the junior averages 209 yards per game passing and another 73.5 running the football.

Notable: According to Sagarin, Whiteland’s strength of schedule ranks third in the state, trailing only Warren Central and Indianapolis Tech. The Warriors opened their season against powerhouses New Palestine and Center Grove.

Indian Creek (0-2) at Owen Valley (0-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Recent history: This will be the first meeting between the two schools as Indian Creek makes its Western Indiana Conference debut.

Sagarin ratings: Indian Creek 40.12 (182nd), Owen Valley 30.59 (221st).

Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Taylor Voris, Jr.; RB Brandon Perkins, Jr.; WR Isaiah Lacey, So.; WR Bryce Hogue, Sr.; LB Grant Goforth, Jr. Owen Valley — QB Daniel Burkett, Jr.; RB Chase Lacoursiere, Jr.; WR Ian Townsend, Sr.; LB Logan Trimble, Sr.

Keys to victory: Indian Creek, which has been outscore 86-28 in its first two games, must treat its game against the Patriots as the start to an entirely new season now that the conference portion of their season has arrived. The last time Indian Creek and Owen Valley both lost their first two games was 2011.

Notable: Indian Creek will be trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak under head coach Mike Gillin.

Edinburgh (0-2) vs. Oldenburg Academy (0-2)

(At Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Recent history: The Lancers claimed a 35-27 victory in 2014, but the Twisters dominated both meetings last season, winning 49-8 in the regular season and 47-12 in the sectional.

Sagarin ratings: Edinburgh minus-13.35 (314th), Oldenburg Academy minus-15.69 (316th).

Players to watch: Edinburgh — RB Zach Smiley, Sr.; QB Bryce Burton, Sr.; WR Jake Atha, Jr.; DL Zane Smith, Sr.; LB Noah Martin, Sr. Oldenburg Academy — QB Eli Sporleder, So.; WR Matthew Sedler, Fr.; LB Kyle Kline, Jr.

Keys to victory: The Lancers must find a way to be as strong in the second half of games as they’ve been in the first half of losses to Brown County and North Decatur.

Notable: Playing the game at Mount St. Joseph University (5701 Delhi Rd, Cincinnati) is the closest thing to a home game Oldenburg Academy will play this season. Its other eight regular-season games are on the road.

Indianapolis Chatard (1-1) at Roncalli (2-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Webcast: portal.stretchinternet.com/roncalli

Recent history: The series has gone in cycles since it began in 1969. Roncalli won 12 of 13 meetings between 1993 and 2001, but the Trojans have dominated since, taking 13 of 16. The Rebels did claim a 31-6 victory in a 2014 sectional clash, but Chatard won last year’s game, 31-8.

Sagarin ratings: Chatard 89.70 (12th), Roncalli 76.79 (43rd).

Players to watch: Chatard — QB Billy Dury, Sr.; RB Gabe Coleman, Sr.; WR Graham Jaeger, Sr.; K David Whittemore, So. Roncalli — RB Kenny Gillum, Sr.; RB Nate Fischer, Sr.; QB Derek O’Connor, Sr., Luke Smock, Sr.; LB Christian Brueggeman; DB Alex Kuntz, Sr.

Keys to victory: The Rebels must be prepared to face an angry Chatard outfit out to atone for last week’s 35-0 loss at Lawrence Central. It was the first time the Trojans had been shut out since Week 5 of the 2010 season (24-0 at Cincinnati Elder) and the first time losing by 30 or more points since Week 6 in 2007 (30-0 at Cincinnati St. Xavier).

Notable: During Roncalli’s five-game losing streak to Chatard in the regular season, the outcomes have been decided by an average of 17.2 points.