Whiteland (2-6) at Greenwood (6-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Radio: KORN Country 100.3
Webcast: warriorbeatsportsnetwork.weebly.com
Recent history: The Woodmen had dropped four meetings in a row before picking up a 21-10 road win last season.
Sagarin ratings: Whiteland 58.01 (110th), Greenwood 70.34 (56th)
Players to watch: Whiteland — QB Iyan Pelfree, RB Ryan Hammond, RB Jake Perry, LB Austin Cook, DB Camron Ciampa; Greenwood — QB Seth Gallman, RB Brandon Rosado, TE Conner Battinau, DE Jake Patton, LB Bryce Taylor
Keys to victory: Defenses will decide this one. Can Greenwood’s experienced and physical front seven slow a red-hot Hammond and the Warriors’ ground game? And can Whiteland tighten up a unit that’s yielded more than 40 points six times, including each of the past four weeks?
Center Grove (4-4) vs. Cathedral (3-5) at Tech
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: centergrove football.com
Recent history: The Trojans are 3-0 against the Irish, but all three games have been tight — none more so than last year’s 44-41 overtime thriller.
Sagarin ratings: Center Grove 99.92 (third), Cathedral 96.70 (fifth)
Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Jackson Moore, RB Carson Steele, WR Jacob Keith, DL Austin Daming, CB Tyler Watson; Cathedral — QB Roman Purcell, RB Chon’Dre Cissell, WR Derrick Hall, LB Jackson Barrow, DB Dylan Stewart
Keys to victory: The Fighting Irish might appear down at first glance, but they’ve played a brutal schedule featuring some of the top teams in the Midwest.
Even if star running back and Notre Dame commit Markese Stepp still is sidelined by injury, Cathedral has plenty of playmakers left on both sides of the ball.
Franklin (1-7) at Decatur Central (7-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Hawks have won six in a row, including a 75-33 rout last season. Franklin’s most recent victory in the series came in 2010.
Sagarin ratings: Franklin 52.59 (134th), Decatur Central 85.34 (17th)
Players to watch: Franklin — QB Drew Byerly, RB Tyler Fromer, WR Riley McCann, LB Manny Cheam, S Clayton Coll; Decatur Central — QB Bryce Jefferson, RB Tyrone Tracy, LB/S Nick Pickett, DB Larry Tracy
Keys to victory: The Grizzly Cubs have been playing much better football lately, nearly knocking off Greenwood last week. They’ll need to summon some defensive magic to slow the dynamic backfield duo of Jefferson and Tyrone Tracy — or hope the Hawks are due for a letdown after knocking off Roncalli.
Sullivan (7-1) at Indian Creek (6-2) in WIC championship
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Golden Arrows won a 63-42 shootout in the title tilt last year, Indian Creek’s first season in the WIC.
Sagarin ratings: Sullivan 59.59 (99th), Indian Creek 49.76 (141st)
Players to watch: Sullivan — QB Jack Conner, RB/LB Wes Bedwell, WR Dakota Caton, LB Jason Wallace; Indian Creek — QB Taylor Voris, RB Michael Perkins, WR/S Isaiah Lacey, WR/CB Brad Trietsch, LB Grant Goforth
Keys to victory: The Braves have been able to score against everyone in the WIC, but the Golden Arrows were the one team they couldn’t stop from scoring. Conner is a dual threat who will crack 2,000 yards passing; will an Indian Creek defense coming off back-to-back shutouts be able to slow him down just enough?
Trinity Lutheran (1-5) at Edinburgh (0-8)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Cougars beat the Lancers 46-34 in 2014 before dropping football for two years.
Sagarin ratings: Trinity Lutheran minus-10.53 (321st), Edinburgh minus-12.68 (323rd)
Players to watch: Trinity Lutheran — QB/WR Jacob Rowe, RB/QB Tyler Goecker, WR Jack Marskberry, LB/RB Bryce Lister, DB Nathan Thomack; Edinburgh — QB Tyson Sackman, RB/LB Zach Murphy, RB Austin Streeval, WR Hunter Dean, WR/DB Dillon Simpson
Keys to victory: The Cougars represent Edinburgh’s best chance at a victory this season, but they’re coming in hot off of an unexpected win against Indianapolis Shortridge last week. The Lancers have been able to move the ball through the air of late, and they’ll need to use that to put some points on the board early and slow Trinity Lutheran’s momentum.
Guerin Catholic (6-2) at Roncalli (7-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: rebelmedia network.com
Radio: CBS Sports-1430 AM
Recent history: The Rebels were a 28-21 winner last year in the first meeting between the two new Circle City Conference rivals.
Sagarin ratings: Guerin Catholic 61.28 (94th), Roncalli 97.04 (seventh)
Players to watch: Guerin Catholic — QB Luke Keller, RB Thomas Kaser, OL/DL Samuel Ashton, LB Charlie Bock DB/RB Dylan Crossen; Roncalli — QB Conner Gore, RB Elijah Mahan, WR Jacob Luedeman, LB Jones Asher, LB Cade Morgan
Keys to victory: This would have lined up as a trap game for the Rebels with a sectional-opener against the new Class 5A No. 1 in the state coaches’ poll, Cathedral, looming. But Roncalli isn’t likely to be overlooking anyone after losing to Decatur Central. Guerin has been stingy defensively, allowing fewer than 14 points a game, but it also hasn’t faced an opponent of Roncalli’s caliber.
