HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL // Scouting tonight’s matchups
Carmel (1-1) at
Center Grove (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: IHSAATV.org/CGSportsNetwork
Attendance: Limited to 25 percent capacity (900 home, 375 away).
Recent history: The Greyhounds held off the Trojans, 20-17, to win the Class 6A state championship last November and also earned a 20-14 win in the regular season. Center Grove won in 2017 and 2018.
Sagarin ratings: Carmel 86.76 (sixth in Class 6A, 14th in Indiana), Center Grove 103.09 (first in 6A and overall)
Players to watch: Carmel — QB Zachary Osborne, WR Colton Parker, OL Justin Pickett, LB Hayden Cate, LB Andrew Turvy; Center Grove — RB Daniel Weems, RB/WR Connor Delp, DL Caden Curry, DB Mitchell Evans, DB Matt Soderdahl
What to look for: The Trojans won’t need any motivation for this one; losing a state title game against one of their biggest rivals should be enough to fuel them for the whole season. If last week’s 44-28 loss to Cathedral is any indication, Carmel might not be quite as powerful as it’s been in recent years — but you can never sleep on the Greyhounds. Center Grove’s defense has been nearly impenetrable thus far; can the offense hit full stride this week after an uneven performance against Warren Central last Friday?
Perry Meridian (0-2)
at Franklin (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: IHSAATV.org/MidState/FranklinCommunity
Attendance: Franklin has capped its stadium capacity at 250; tickets will not be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Grizzly Cubs have won both meetings since the Falcons joined the Mid-State, including a 60-35 victory last year.
Sagarin ratings: Perry Meridian 27.97 (32nd in 6A, 238th in Indiana), Franklin 63.71 (21st in 5A, 96th overall)
Players to watch: Perry Meridian — QB Gavin Hart, RB Aiden Warren, WR Reggie McDonald, DB JaJuan Dale, DB John Orina; Franklin — QB Reed Roberts, RB Jalen Ward, WR Max Lancer, DE Harris Eason, DB Brodie Rinehold
What to look for: The Grizzly Cubs, who hammered a struggling Shelbyville team last week, open Mid-State play against a Falcons team that has allowed 106 points in its first two games. Perry Meridian, led by former Indian Creek coach Brett Cooper, has a dynamic talent in McDonald and can put some points on the board — but it has struggled to stop opponents from doing the same. If Franklin can avoid turning the ball over, it should be able to score enough to outweigh anything that McDonald and company can do on the other end.
Martinsville (1-1)
at Greenwood (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: www.ihsaatv.org/MidState/GreenwoodCommunity/
Attendance: Limited seating, pre-sale only; contact the Greenwood athletic office at 317-889-4020 to see if any tickets are still available.
Recent history: The Artesians broke a four-year series drought in 2018, but the Woodmen returned the favor with a 31-18 road win last season.
Sagarin ratings: Martinsville 37.35 (47th in 4A, 209th in Indiana), Greenwood 75.84 (10th in 4A, 36th overall)
Players to watch: Martinsville — QB Tyrus Martin, RB Tyler Cox, WR Chase Mabry, LB Beau Hess, DB Larry Bland; Greenwood — RB Noah Apgar, RB Ethan Haessig, OL Collin Campbell, LB Gavin Ruppert, DB/KR Tanner Allen
What to look for: Expect the Woodmen to keep pounding away with their ground attack — Haessig and Apgar both topped 100 yards in each of the first two games, and Martinsville is likely to get a heavy dose of both. The Artesians, meanwhile, have a potent offense that has racked up a lot of yardage through the air and on the ground — but the team has also shot itself in the foot repeatedly with turnovers (5 INTs, 3 fumbles lost). Against a Greenwood team that likely won’t allow too many possessions, it’s not a good idea to squander any.
Whiteland (2-0) at
Decatur Central (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday
Attendance: Whiteland was given an allotment of tickets; none will be available at the gate.
Webcast: www.ihsaatv.org/MidState/DecaturCentral/
Recent history: The Hawks have taken the last four meetings, including a 43-36 comeback victory at Whiteland last season.
Sagarin ratings: Whiteland 74.03 (10th in 5A, 46th in Indiana), Decatur Central 75.77 (7th in 5A, 37th overall)
Players to watch: Whiteland — QB Brant Kunz, RB Chase Valentine, OL Ethan Myers, LB Kayden Welling, DB Ewan Niccum; Decatur Central — QB Peyton Horsley, RB Kaleb Hicks, WR/DB Javon Tracy, OL/DL Christian Sweeten, DB Ngui Dodo
What to look for: Decatur Central used Perry Meridian as its frustration sponge after a Week 1 loss at Center Grove, exploding for a 66-14 win. That offense will test the Warriors, who pitched more than 30 minutes of shutout ball in a 24-7 victory at Gibson Southern last Saturday. Whiteland’s best bet, as usual, will be to extend drives with its ground game and limit the opportunities for Horsley and Tracy to break big plays. If the Warriors can contain those two the way they bottled up Purdue commit Brady Allen last weekend, they should have a good chance to come out on top.
Indian Creek (1-1)
at Owen Valley (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: Indian Creek received a block of pre-sale tickets. None will be sold at the gate.
Recent history: The Braves have taken all four meetings since joining the WIC in 2016, rolling to a 52-0 win a year ago.
Sagarin ratings: Indian Creek 58.16 (16th in 3A, 113th in Indiana), Owen Valley 44.99 (31st in 3A, 177th overall)
Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Aidean Neathery, RB Connor Fruits, , RB/DB Brandon Murray, WR/DB Jordan Gorham, FB/LB Tyler Ross; Owen Valley — QB Brody Lester, RB Christian McDonald, WR Kahner Welch, DE Eli Hinshaw, DB Jerry McBee
What to look for: Though the Braves have dominated this game in the recent past, Indian Creek coach Steve Spinks cautions against expecting another blowout. The Patriots have improved significantly after going 1-19 the past two seasons, and they’ve got a competent backfield duo in Lester and McDonald. The Braves struggled to move the ball in last week’s loss to Greenwood after Fruits left early with an ankle injury; if he isn’t fully healthy, this game could end up being a good bit closer than most expect.
Oldenburg Academy (1-0) at Edinburgh (0-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: Capped at 50 percent of capacity. Tickets are expected to be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Twisters have claimed the last three meetings, including a 26-12 triumph a year ago.
Sagarin ratings: Oldenburg Academy 24.00 (36th in Class A, 260th in Indiana), Edinburgh 7.71 (54th in A, 297th overall)
Players to watch: Oldenburg Academy — RB/DB Tyler Oesterling, RB/DB Dominic McFee, RB/DB Pros Moorman, OL/LB Mark Wolfe; Edinburgh — QB/DB Riley Palmeter, RB/LB Austin Streeval, WR/DB Caleb Dewey, OL Zach Clarkson, DB Colin Richardson
What to look for: The Twisters ran over Rock Creek in Week 1, rushing for 300 yards, before taking last week off. That ground attack will test a Lancers team still licking its wounds after a lopsided 58-8 setback at North Decatur. Edinburgh showed some promise in its opener against Tindley; perhaps getting back on its home field — where it will play its next four games and six of its last seven — will be the cure for what ails.
Bishop Chatard (2-0)
at Roncalli (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: roncallimedianetwork.com (free)
Radio: CBS Sports 1430
Attendance: Limited to 25 percent capacity; Tickets will not be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Trojans, who won this game 53-7 a year ago, have taken the last two meetings and six of the last eight.
Sagarin ratings: Chatard 84.96 (second in 3A, 17th in Indiana), Roncalli 75.76 (11th in 4A, 38th overall)
Players to watch: Chatard — WR Thomas Coleman, WR/DB Jack Annee, LB Joe Calvert; Roncalli — QB Aidan Leffler, RB Baron Huebler, WR Kyle Lockard, DL Owen Volk, DB Dominic Brown
What to look for: The Class 3A No. 1 Trojans come in having won 13 games in a row, including a state championship, and its defense dominated in a shutout win over perennial 4A power East Central last Friday. Will the Rebels — who got a career-high 266 yards rushing and four touchdowns out of Huebler in a rout of Franklin Central last week — be able to sustain drives against that unit? The winner of this game has gone on to win the Circle City Conference title in each year of the league’s existence.
