HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL // Scouting this week’s matchups
Franklin (2-1) at Whiteland (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: IHSAATV.org/MidState/WhitelandCommunity
Attendance: The allotments for both teams are sold out. No tickets will be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Grizzly Cubs pulled out a 15-13 home win last fall, ending a 22-game losing streak against the Warriors.
Sagarin ratings: Franklin 70.94 (ninth in Class 5A, 49th in Indiana), Whiteland 74.64 (fifth in 5A, 37th overall)
Players to watch: QB Reed Roberts, RB Jalen Ward, WR Max Lancer, DE Harris Eason, DB Brodie Rinehold; Whiteland — QB Brant Kunz, RB Chase Valentine, OL Ethan Myers, LB Kayden Welling, DB Ewan Niccum
What to look for: Franklin got itself untracked with convincing wins the past two weeks but now faces its toughest test of the season so far against the rival Warriors, who will be eager to bounce back after turnovers doomed them to a 27-14 loss at Decatur Central. This has become a far more evenly matched series of late, especially in the trenches, and whichever side can control the line and avoid mistakes will likely come out on top. Whiteland should get an extra boost from finally playing in front of its home crowd for the first time this season.
Center Grove (3-0) at Ben Davis (1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: themicnetwork.in
Attendance: Center Grove received an allotment of seats for player families. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.
Recent history: The Trojans have won the last three and six of the last seven, including 2019 wins of 48-20 (Week 4) and 17-10 (semistate)
Sagarin ratings: Center Grove 110.84 (first in 6A and overall), Ben Davis 74.26 (16th in 6A, 38th overall)
Players to watch: Center Grove — RB Daniel Weems, RB/WR Connor Delp, DL Caden Curry, DB Mitchell Evans, DB Matt Soderdahl; Ben Davis — QB J’uan Swanson, WR/DB Dillon Moore, WR/DB Daylan Carnell, DB Charles Knuckols
What to look for: The Giants finally broke out of an early-season funk with a 48-24 thrashing of Pike, but they struggled on both ends of the field in early-season losses to Avon and Brownsburg. That doesn’t bode well coming into a date with the Trojans, who are coming off of consecutive shutouts of Warren Central and Carmel. Carnell and Moore are capable playmakers on both sides of the ball, and they’ll test the Center Grove secondary. A Trojan win would be coach Eric Moore’s 200th at the school.
Greenwood (2-1) at Mooresville (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: www.ihsaatv.org/MidState/Mooresville/
Attendance: Greenwood was given a block of tickets for player families; none will be sold at the gate.
Recent history: The Pioneers have taken three in a row, including last year’s 31-7 triumph. Greenwood had won the previous 10 meetings.
Sagarin ratings: Greenwood 70.95 (10th in 4A, 48th in Indiana), Mooresville 84.09 (fourth in 4A, 21st overall)
Players to watch: Greenwood — RB Noah Apgar, RB Ethan Haessig, OL Cameron Ford, DE Dylan Mayhew, LB Gavin Ruppert; Mooresville — QB Nicholas Patterson, RB Breken Greene, WR John Clampitt, DE Tommy O’Connor, LB Luke Bullock
What to look for: Mike Gillin’s Mooresville squad has a balanced offense with a power back in Greene and a dual-threat QB in Patterson. With that unit putting up more than 43 points a game, Greenwood’s best shot at upsetting the 4A No. 1 Pioneers is to shorten the game with its own formidable power running game. The Woodmen are capable of doing so, but they’ll also need to come up with a few defensive stops and avoid getting into another back-and-forth shootout after last week’s 35-34 overtime loss to Martinsville.
Brown County (3-0) at Indian Creek (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: Capped at 50 percent capacity. Tickets can be purchased online (https://www.ticketracker.com/store?schoolId=1857&departmentId=359); any still remaining will be sold at the gate.
Recent history: The Braves have won 17 straight, most of the last few by large margins; last year’s 42-14 win was the closest game in the series since 2013.
Sagarin ratings: Brown County 21.46 (52nd in 3A, 263rd in Indiana), Indian Creek 57.16 (17th in 3A, 118th overall)
Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Aidan Neathery, RB Connor Fruits, RB/DB Brandon Murray, WR/DB Jordan Gorham, FB/LB Tyler Ross; Brown County — QB Seth Oliphant, RB Kody Walsh, RB Waunblee Roux, WR Travis Ely, LB Hunter Funkhouser
What to look for: The Eagles are out to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1995, although it has come against one of the weaker schedules in the state. They’ll get their first real test tonight against a Braves team that has handled them with ease in the recent past. Indian Creek is still somewhat handcuffed offensively by an ankle injury to workhorse Fruits, who played at about 60 percent last week — but the passing game has shown some big-play capability at times behind the arm (and legs) of Neathery.
Roncalli (1-1) at Columbus North (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: Will be available at www.bcscschools.org or on the Bartholomew County School Corporation Facebook page
Radio: CBS Sports 1430, roncallimedianetwork.com
Attendance: Roncalli received an allotment for player families; tickets will not be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Bull Dogs won 14-0 last season and 9-7 in 2018.
Sagarin ratings: Roncalli 79.73 (seventh in 4A, 29th in Indiana), Columbus North 76.67 (15th in 6A, 33rd overall)
Players to watch: Roncalli — QB Aidan Leffler, RB Baron Huebler, WR Kyle Lockard, DL Owen Volk, DB Dominic Brown; Columbus North — QB Luke Hammons, RB Blake Huffman, WR Keegan Castetter, LB Luke Bless, DB Avrin Holt
What to look for: The two recent meetings between these clubs have been fairly closely contested, and this one shouldn’t be any different. Each side has a talented dual-threat QB (Leffler and Hammons) as well as a durable back capable of piling up yardage (Huebler and Huffman). The Bull Dogs have allowed 63 points over the last two weeks, so Roncalli should be able to find some success offensively; can its defense hold up against a team that scores almost 40 a game?
Switzerland County (2-0) at Edinburgh (0-3)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Attendance: Capped at 50 percent of capacity. Tickets are expected to be available at the gate.
Recent history: The Pacers have won four straight meetings, but the last two have been incredibly close, including last year’s 22-14 win in double overtime.
Sagarin ratings: Switzerland County 4.60 (57th in 2A, 304th in Indiana), Edinburgh 12.48 (49th in A, 288th overall)
Players to watch: Switzerland County — QB/DB Damion Courter, RB/DB Nick Gatto, RB/LB Dakota Wallace, WR/LB Hunter Records; Edinburgh — QB/DB Riley Palmeter, RB/LB Austin Streeval, WR/DB Caleb Dewey, OL Zach Clarkson, DB Colin Richardson
What to look for: The Lancers have had a pair of winnable games get away this season and now face a Pacers team that they had a chance to beat each of the last two years. Palmeter and Dewey put up some absurd numbers last week through the air, hooking up 12 times for 195 yards and three TDs, so the Lancers are certainly capable offensively. The next step will be coming up with the defensive stops needed to close games out. Winning tends to be contagious, and Edinburgh has winnable games this week and next. Getting at least one of those would do wonders for this team’s confidence going forward.
