Indian Creek (1-0) at Greenwood (1-0)
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 Woodmen have won five consecutive meetings, with last year’s 41-6 win the fourth straight by 25 points or more.
Sagarin ratings: Indian Creek 62.11 (17th in 3A, 102nd in Indiana), Greenwood 68.60 (17th in 4A, 72nd)
Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Aidean Neathery, RB Connor Fruits, WR/DB Jordan Gorham, FB/LB Tyler Ross, DB/P Brandon Murray; Greenwood — RB Noah Apgar, RB Ethan Haessig, OL Collin Campbell, LB Gavin Ruppert, DB/KR Tanner Allen
What to look for: Both teams got physical in Week 1, with the Braves using Fruits to bully Batesville all night long and the Woodmen gradually wearing down Bloomington North with the duo of Apgar and Haessig. Expect more of the same power rushing attack on each side tonight. The big question for Indian Creek remains the same as it always is against Greenwood — will its linemen, most of which play on both sides of the ball, have the stamina to last four quarters against Woodmen players who aren’t pulling double duty?
Warren Central (0-0) at Center Grove (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: IHSAATV.org/CGSportsNetwork
Attendance: Limited to 25 percent capacity (900 home, 375 away). Tickets are sold out.
Recent history: The Warriors have won the last four regular season meetings, but the Trojans won last year’s regional on Warren’s home field, 28-14.
Sagarin ratings: Warren Central 94.70 (fourth in Class 6A, sixth in Indiana), Center Grove 96.62 (second in 6A, third overall)
Players to watch: Warren Central — WR/TE Mikal Clarke, DL Jaden Perkins, LB Andrew Nelson; Center Grove — QB Tayven Jackson, RB Carson Steele, DL Caden Curry, DE Austin Booker, LB Jackson Schott
What to look for: The annual rivalry between two of the state’s most powerful programs was put on hold for a week due to a quarantine situation at Warren. Center Grove broke its four-year Week 1 losing streak by hammering Decatur Central, 56-14, while the Warriors remained idle. The lack of on-field seasoning could hamper Warren Central, which is breaking in a lot of new players in key positions as is. This talented and experienced group of Trojans is not the team you want to have baptizing you — for the first time in recent memory, the Warriors will come into this meeting as a clear underdog. Center Grove knows better than anybody, though, not to take them lightly. Expect a war as always.
Shelbyville at Franklin
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.Â
Recent history: The Grizzly Cubs have won the last two matchups in convincing fashion, including a 69-0 blowout last season.
Sagarin ratings: Shelbyville 24.96 (61st in 4A, 285th in Indiana), Franklin 65.12 (18th in 5A, 85th overall)
Players to watch: Shelbyville — QB Jordan Marcum, RB Skylar Pickett, RB/DB Cael Lux, RB/LB Ethan Lambert; Franklin — QB Reed Roberts, RB Jalen Ward, WR Max Lancer, DE Harris Eason, DB Brodie Rinehold
What to look for: The Grizzly Cubs will be trying to bounce back after a difficult 21-7 loss at Danville in the opener — facing the Golden Bears, a very young team fresh off a lopsided defeat against Greensburg, should bring a pick-me-up. This game should give Roberts a chance to get his sea legs and gain some more confidence in the quarterback spot; as in the past two seasons, Shelbyville isn’t likely to offer much in the way of resistance. This should give Franklin a chance to build some momentum heading into its always-difficult league schedule.
Edinburgh (0-1) at North Decatur (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: Restricted to 750 total, including the teams. Tickets are expected to be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Chargers have won seven in a row since the Lancers’ 2013 sectional triumph, including the last six by a combined margin of 270-10.
Sagarin ratings: Edinburgh 22.82 (49th in A, 293rd in Indiana), North Decatur 42.79 (18th in A, 204th overall)
Players to watch: Edinburgh — QB/DB Riley Palmeter, RB/LB Austin Streeval, WR/DB Caleb Dewey, OL Zach Clarkson; North Decatur — QB/LB Carson Parmer, RB Reid Messer, RB/DB Logan Koehne, LB Jalen Lopez
What to look for: The Chargers have dominated the series the last six years and come in as a clear favorite again, but they are leaning heavily on sophomores on the offensive side of the ball. If the Lancers’ veteran skill players can create some momentum with takeaways early, that could rattle the home team a little bit. Edinburgh will be eager to redeem itself after last week’s game against Tindley got away in overtime; it will need to be careful about harnessing any lingering emotion and using it for good tonight instead of trying to overcompensate. The Lancers appear to be a bit more formidable offensively than in recent years, which could help keep them in it.
Franklin Central (1-0) at Roncalli (0-0)
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 Flashes have won the last two meetings, including a 31-19 triumph last fall. Roncalli had won the previous seven.
Sagarin ratings: Franklin Central 77.74 (17th in 6A, 35th in Indiana), Roncalli 68.21 (20th in 4A, 74th overall)
Players to watch: Franklin Central — QB Colin Badgero, RB Aataeveon Jordan, RB Josh Ruley, WR Bryan Marshall, LB Joe Herman; Roncalli — QB Aidan Leffler, RB Baron Huebler, WR Kyle Lockard, DL Owen Volk, DB Dominic Brown;
What to look for: The John Rodenberg era at Roncalli begins with a stiff test against a Flashes offense that looked extremely potent in last week’s opening win against Perry Meridian. Badgero threw for more than 200 yards, while Jordan and Ruley rushed for a combined 259. Roncalli has had the benefit of an extra week of preparation; will that outweigh the lack of actual game action? Rodenberg inherits a veteran offensive core that should be able to put points on the board against almost anybody; if Roncalli’s normally stout defense can slow the Franklin Central attack at all, the new coach has a decent shot at opening with a win.
Whiteland (1-0) at Gibson Southern (0-1)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday
Webcast: Gibson Southern had not made a link available as of press time. Please check @rolearyDJ or @GSTitans1 on Twitter today for updated information.
Radio: WVJC (89.1 AM), www.bashradio.com
Attendance: Whiteland was given an allotment of tickets, primarily for player families. No tickets will be sold at the gate.
Recent history: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Sagarin ratings: Whiteland 77.28 (ninth in 5A, 36th in Indiana), Gibson Southern 53.43 (30th in 3A, 153rd overall)
Players to watch: Whiteland — RB Dalton Murray, RB Desmen Singleton, OL Ethan Myers, LB Kayden Welling, DB Ewan Niccum; Gibson Southern — QB Brady Allen, RB Owen Bryant, WR Logan Murfin, LB Carter Green
What to look for: The Titans have a phenom at quarterback in Purdue-bound junior Allen, but he can’t go it alone, as evidenced by last week’s 48-6 loss at Columbus North. While that game was going on, Whiteland was across town powering its way to a 28-21 win at Columbus East. The Warriors will again rely on their sweep-heavy rushing attack, daring the smaller Titans to stop them. It’s unlikely to happen, especially with most of Gibson having to replace many of its top playmakers from a year ago. If Allen has time to work, he could keep the game competitive for a while, but expect Whiteland to grind the Titans into submission over the course of 48 minutes.
