Center Grove at Warren Central
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: Centergrovefootball.com
Recent history: The Warriors won last year’s season-opener at Center Grove 21-16, but the Trojans avenged that defeat with a 28-7 regional triumph.
Sagarin ratings (2016): Center Grove 114.19 (1st), Warren Central 113.14 (2nd)
Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Jackson Moore, RB Cam Petty, DL Austin Daming, CB Tyler Watson; Warren Central — QB Jayden George, OL Justin Britt, WR David Bell, DL Trent Taylor, LB Nigel Dobbs
Keys to victory: The Trojans are a team of unknowns at the moment, with just three of 22 starters back on offense and defense. The secondary will try to slow the 6-foot-2 Bell, a junior coming off a season in which he had 68 receptions for 1,201 yards and 17 touchdowns. A consistent pass rush would help.
Columbus North at Franklin
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Bull Dogs have won the past two season-openers handily — 52-7 last year and 54-7 in 2015.
Sagarin ratings (2016): Columbus North 92.95 (10th), Franklin 49.59 (140th)
Players to watch: Columbus North — QB Trenton Kelley, WR Jaylen Flemmons, CB J.D. Harris; Franklin — QB Drew Byerly, RB Tyler Fromer, WR Riley McCann, LB Manny Cheam, LB Tommy Reed
Keys to victory: If Franklin is going to break its recent dry spell, the turnaround needs to start on defense. Columbus North was one of four teams to score more than 50 points against the Grizzly Cubs last fall. Offensively, new Franklin coach Chris Coll hopes to establish the run early with Fromer.
Greenwood at Perry Meridian
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The home team has won all four meetings since the series began in 2013, with the Woodmen coasting to a 34-7 win in Week 1 last season.
Sagarin ratings (2016): Greenwood 67.98 (70th), Perry Meridian 59.32 (95th)
Players to watch: Greenwood — QB Seth Gallman, RB Brandon Rosado, DT Nick Young, DE Jake Patton, LB Tim Johns; Perry Meridian — QB Jalen Lee, RB Jeffery Wells, Dandre Miles, LB Tre Breaziel
Keys to victory: The Falcons will be debuting a brand-new stadium and should have a large and excited crowd on hand. Meanwhile, the Woodmen have a veteran team with sky-high expectations. Whichever side can avoid nerves — or falling into the trap of trying a bit too hard — will likely emerge with a win.
New Palestine at Whiteland
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: wchsradio.cpcsc.k12.in.us
Radio: KORN Country 100.3
Recent history: The Warriors are 6-5 against the Dragons under coach Darrin Fisher, but New Pal has won the past two meetings, including a 38-26 victory a year ago at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Sagarin ratings (2016): New Palestine 87.32 (17th), Whiteland 75.39 (40th)
Players to watch: New Palestine — WR Colby Jenkins, OL Austin Keele, LB Luke Ely, S Colin Faubion; Whiteland — RB Ryan Hammond, RB Preston Phillips, OL Garrett Curtis, RB Evan Hillman, LB Austin Cook
Keys to victory: Establishing long scoring drives that eat up time are a must for Whiteland. The Dragons, winners of 50 of 53 games under coach Kyle Ralph, have scored 50 or more points 31 times since the start of the 2013 season. Keeping New Pal’s offense on the sideline is key.
Indian Creek at North Putnam
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Sagarin ratings (2016): Indian Creek 41.39 (182nd), North Putnam 43.41 (168th)
Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Taylor Voris, WR/S Isaiah Lacey, WR/CB Brad Trietsch, DL Cameron Elmore, LB Grant Goforth; North Putnam — QB Hayden Rudes, RB/LB Ethan Christy, DL Jake Powell
Keys to victory: North Putnam is one of four Class 2A programs the Braves face during the regular season. Indian Creek’s defense must get off to a fast start, considering the Cougars return Rudes and Christy from a team that averaged 28.7 points a game in 2016.
Brown County at Edinburgh
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Eagles have won both meetings since the series resumed, edging the Lancers in last year’s opener, 21-20.
Sagarin ratings (2016): Brown County minus-5.41 (314th), Edinburgh minus-2.55 (310th)
Players to watch: Brown County — QB Noah Carter, RB/LB Colten Harper, OL/DL Layton Mosier; Edinburgh — OL/DL Alex Kirby, WR/DB Dillon Simpson, OL/DL Tavian Cosby, LB Zach Murphy
Keys to victory: With Kirby and Cosby returning, the Lancers hope to have an advantage along both the offensive and defensive lines. Edinburgh also has revenge on its mind after letting last year’s game with the Eagles get away in the second half.
Southport at Roncalli
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: rebelmedianetwork.com
Radio: CBS Sports-1430 AM
Recent history: The Rebels had lost three in a row and five of six in the series before claiming a 25-21 victory last season.
Sagarin ratings (2016): Southport 79.88 (32nd), Roncalli 87.17 (18th)
Players to watch: Southport — QB Eddie Schott, WR Justice Demers, CB Ahmet Minnich, LB Dennis Serrano; Roncalli — QB Conner Gore, RB Patrick McManama, WR Jacob Luedeman, DL Tony Schott, DL Jones Asher
Keys to victory: Southport threw the football a total of 30 more times than it ran it last season. Rebels’ pass rushers such as Asher and Harris will need to apply pressure to Schott, who passed for more than 2,300 yards as a sophomore in leading his team to a 6-5 record.
— By Ryan O’Leary
