Win or lose, the Whiteland and Center Grove football programs will make history Friday night.
This is likely the first time two Johnson County teams are playing sectional games on the road against Columbus schools on the same night.
In Class 5A, Whiteland travels to fourth-ranked and once-beaten Columbus East to determine a champion in Sectional 14.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
Less than four miles away, at Columbus North, the Class 6A No. 6 Bull Dogs host third-ranked and defending state champion Center Grove in the title matchup in Sectional 8.
The Warriors and Trojans have their work cut out for them.
Columbus East features two outstanding juniors in quarterback Josh Major and running back Jamon Hogan. Major has run for 13 touchdowns and thrown for nine, while Hogan has run for 1,478 yards and 28 touchdowns.
This is exactly the type of challenge Whiteland should be prepared for, considering it opened the regular season with games against New Palestine and Center Grove.
“Everything you do, you’re trying to get to this point,” Warriors coach Darrin Fisher said. “We’re playing well, and we get healthier as the weeks go by. When guys get to practice, our timing gets better and our execution gets better.
“We’ve talked a lot about mental toughness. When you need it, you can reach down and get it. This has been a very resilient bunch of kids.”
Whiteland is coming off a 34-0 shutout of Franklin in which senior tailback Edwin Cisneros rushed for 146 first-half yards to complement the team’s robust defensive effort.
Whichever team prevails advances to next week’s Class 5A regional against Zionsville or Plainfield.
At Columbus North, the Bull Dogs look to end a four-game postseason skid against Center Grove. The Trojans have eliminated coach Tim Bless’ program four of the past five seasons by a combined score of 168-45.
Columbus North’s most recent triumph was a 23-7 decision in sectional play in 2007.
The Bull Dogs allow 13.4 points a game, meaning they field one of the more stubborn defenses in Class 6A. Senior linebacker Tucker Payne leads the way with 86 tackles, while senior defensive back Harley Huser is close behind with 81.
“They’re a program a lot like us. They work very hard in the offseason, and everything seems to be working for them this year,” Center Grove coach Eric Moore said of the Bull Dogs. “They have great size on the defensive line and are playing well in all three phases of the game right now.
“I just have so much respect for Columbus North. It’s a tough team that plays hard. Our goal is to win a state championship, so our kids see the importance of this game.”
Center Grove has won five consecutive sectionals — the past three in 6A and 5A titles in 2011 and 2012 — and 11 overall.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Road warriors" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Center Grove and Whiteland have never been in Columbus on the same night to play sectional football games. A look at how the Trojans and Warriors have fared in recent road games against Columbus East and Columbus North:
<strong>Center Grove</strong>
Oct. 21, 1994: Columbus North 31, Center Grove 13
Nov. 8, 2002: Center Grove 35, Columbus North 0
Oct. 30, 2009: Center Grove 21, Columbus East 14
Oct. 31, 2014: Center Grove 54, Columbus North 7
Oct. 23, 2015: Center Grove 34, Columbus North 7
<strong>Whiteland</strong>
Nov. 1, 2002: Whiteland 40, Columbus East 23
Oct. 29, 2010: Whiteland 59, Columbus East 22
Oct. 19, 2012: Columbus North 35, Whiteland 33
Oct. 30, 2015: Columbus East 28, Whiteland 14
[sc:pullout-text-end]
