<p><strong>Center Grove at Warren Central</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Webcast: centergrovefootball.com</p>
<p>Radio: KORN Country (100.3 FM)</p>
<p>Recent history: The Warriors have won four of five and took both of last year’s matchups, including a narrow 27-20 semistate triumph at home.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Center Grove 105.30 (second in Indiana), Warren Central 121.08 (first)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Tayven Jackson, RB Carson Steele, OL Ethan Crowe, DE Caden Curry, LB Gavin Boyd; Warren Central — RB Randy Wells, WR Derek Allen, WR DeMarcus Brown, OL Dennis Prater, DL Marquise Cross</p>
<p>What to look for: The Trojans’ 2018 season ended with a narrow defeat against a loaded Warriors team that dominated the state during an unbeaten title run. Now, Warren Central is trying to reload after losing almost all of its key talent to graduation, while Center Grove looks very much like a championship contender. The offense should be a strength, with Steele leading a deep stable of backs running behind a veteran line. The Trojans might still have some question marks defensively; we’ll see if some answers pop up tonight.</p>
<p><strong>Danville at Franklin</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Recent history: The teams haven’t met since 1960, when they battled to a 25-25 draw.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Danville 49.95 (139th), Franklin 55.32 (113th)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Danville — QB/DB Luke Wooten, RB Chandler Schubert, WR Tyler Dostin, DB Braydon Clapp; Franklin — QB Drew Byerly, WR Peyton Ruble, DE Harris Eason, LB Brendan Couch, LB Noah Crow</p>
<p>What to look for: The Warriors have questions at quarterback but return a 1,000-yard rusher in Schubert. Their defense will be tested by fourth-year Franklin starter Byerly, who is capable of doing damage with his arm or his legs. The Grizzly Cubs have gotten progressively more competitive each year under head coach Chris Coll; is this the year that progress starts to show in the results? They’ll need some of last year’s bit players to step into starring roles, especially on defense.</p>
<p><strong>Greenwood at Bloomington North</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Webcast: woodmenbroadcasting.com</p>
<p>Recent history: The Cougars won last year, 31-15, in the first meeting between the two teams.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Greenwood 53.74 (117th), Bloomington North 57.29 (99th)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Greenwood — QB Oliver Rau, RB Ethan Haessig, WR Luke Raker, OL Noah Dixon, LB Joe Bassler; Bloomington North — QB Reece Lozano, RB Benjamin Heitink, RB/DB Xavier Trueblood, DL Noah Ponce, LB Caleb McCoy</p>
<p>What to look for: Both of these teams are looking to bounce back from down seasons, but the Cougars appear to have more proven commodities back on paper, especially on what looks to be a potentially stout defense. The Woodmen will try attacking that defense with some relatively new faces, including Haessig, who ran for 213 yards in limited action a year ago. Can Rau and Raker get Greenwood’s passing game going and open up the field?</p>
<p><strong>Columbus East at Whiteland</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Recent history: The Warriors broke a two-game series losing streak by opening last season with a 26-20 road win.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Columbus East 83.24 (25th), Whiteland 76.86 (39th)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Columbus East — QB Cole Gilley, RB Mark McDonald, WR Dalton Back, LB Parker Harrison, DB Tyler Settle; Whiteland — RB Melvin Taylor, RB Gavin Lutz, DL A.J. Beil, LB Jacob Schultz, DB Jacob Brown</p>
<p>What to look for: The Warriors surprised many with their season-opening victory in Columbus last year; they won’t be able to catch anyone sleeping this time around, but they might not need to. Whiteland looks very strong on paper defensively and should again cause opponents nightmares with their ground game. The Warriors have another potential star at tailback in the lightning-quick Taylor, who is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Another win over the always-tough Olympians would send a signal that Whiteland will be a force this season in Class 5A.</p>
<p><strong>Tindley at Edinburgh</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Recent history: The Tigers lost to the Lancers in their first two seasons of football, 49-12 in 2012 and 59-26 in 2013, but the teams haven’t met since.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Tindley minus-0.85 (307th), Edinburgh minus-8.76 (315th)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Tindley — RB Kamryn Jennings; Edinburgh — QB Tyson Sackman, RB/LB Austin Streeval, RB/LB Lennon DeLoach, WR/DB Darius Bennett, WR/DB Riley Palmeter</p>
<p>What to look for: The Tigers figure to be a fair opening test for Edinburgh, as they too have traditionally struggled with numbers. With lack of depth an issue for both sides, the Lancers have an opportunity to make some waves with veteran QB Sackman and a solid array of skill players. Tindley tends to start seasons strong, though — the team is 5-1 in August games the last three years, winning each of its openers in that stretch.</p>
<p><strong>Southport at Roncalli</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Webcast: rebelmedianetwork.com (audio only; video available on Roncalli’s YouTube and Facebook pages)</p>
<p>Recent history: The Cardinals’ 36-28 victory a year ago was their fourth in the last six games between the two schools.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Southport 73.09 (49th), Roncalli 68.88 (65th)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Southport — QB Ryan Lezon, TE Matt Munoz, DB Neill Boatright, DB Jordan Tweedy; Roncalli — QB Aidan Leffler, RB Baron Huebler, RB Lucas Hoffman, OL Daniel Heinrich, DE Jack Wardzala</p>
<p>What to look for: The Cardinals graduated QB Eddie Schott, but Lezon, a 1,000-yard receiver last year, takes over under center. The greater unknowns, though, involve the Rebels, who are trying to bounce back from an uncharacteristically rough 2018 season. Leffler and Huebler are young but experienced, and Wardzala should again be a handful for opposing offensive linemen. Southport is always solid, so we should find out quickly whether the old Roncalli is back.</p>
<p><strong>Indian Creek at Evansville Mater Dei</strong></p>
<p>Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday</p>
<p>Recent history: Mater Dei has won both meetings between the schools, including a 31-22 win at Indian Creek in last year’s opener.</p>
<p>Sagarin ratings (2018): Indian Creek 52.37 (124th), Evansville Mater Dei 56.73 (104th)</p>
<p>Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Roman Purcell, RB Owen Sego, WR/DB Owen Neathery, WR/DB Jordan Gorham, OL/DL Cameron Elmore; Evansville Mater Dei — Cole Happe, RB Brady Boring, WR/DB Luke Kassenbrock, DL Colin Givens, LB Dakx Lannert</p>
<p>What to look for: The Braves have some big holes to fill, but one appears to have been filled with the news that Purcell, a Warren Central transfer who started for Cathedral as a sophomore, is eligible to play. Indian Creek coach Brett Cooper hasn’t announced a QB starter but says Purcell will "definitely play." Mater Dei has a veteran backfield duo in Happe and Boring, but all four of the team’s top receivers graduated. Will the Braves stack the box and dare Happe to air it out?</p>
