Scouting Friday’s high school football regionals

<p><strong>Class 6A</strong></p><p><strong>Warren Central (4-5) at Center Grove (11-0)</strong></p><p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p><p>Webcast: <a href="http://IHSAAtv.org/CGSportsNetwork">IHSAAtv.org/CGSportsNetwork</a></p><p>Attendance: No tickets will be sold at the gate.</p><p>Recent history: The Trojans earned a 20-0 victory over the Warriors on Aug. 28 and won last year’s regional clash, 28-14. Warren Central had won the previous four meetings.</p><p>Sagarin ratings: Warren Central 88.74 (eighth in Class 6A, 14th in Indiana), Center Grove 117.98 (first in 6A and overall)</p><p>Players to watch: Warren Central — QB Prince Powell, WR Mikal Clarke, LB Daniel Harrell, DL/LB DeJuan Echoles, LB Andrew Nelson; Center Grove — QB Tayven Jackson, RB Carson Steele, WR Connor Delp, DL Caden Curry, DB Matt Soderdahl</p><p>What to look for: Most likely not a shootout. With the exception of a midseason swoon that included losses to Lawrence North and Carmel, the Warriors have been very tough defensively, and they avenged two of their five regular-season defeats in winning their sectional. That defense will need to keep Warren Central in contention like it did during their Week 2 trip to Center Grove, when it trailed just 3-0 at the half. Will the Trojans be able to get more offense going early on this time? Eric Moore knows better than to judge Warren by its record; this could very well be the toughest test Center Grove faces this postseason.</p><p><strong>Class 5A</strong></p><p><strong>Whiteland (9-1) vs. Cathedral (10-1)</strong></p><p><strong>At Arsenal Tech</strong></p><p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p><p>Webcast: IndianaSRN.org</p><p>Attendance: Any tickets still available must be purchased in advance at <a href="https://indianapolis-cathedral-hs.ticketspice.com/regional-football">https://indianapolis-cathedral-hs.ticketspice.com/regional-football</a></p><p>Recent history: The Fighting Irish, who lead the all-time series 5-0, most recently defeated the Warriors in a 2014 regional, 48-14.</p><p>Sagarin ratings: Whiteland 94.83 (second in Class 5A, seventh in Indiana), Cathedral 112.66 (first in 5A, second overall)</p><p>Players to watch: Whiteland — QB Brant Kunz, RB Chase Valentine, TE Max Sullivan, LB Kayden Welling, DB Ewan Niccum; Cathedral — QB Nathan McCahill, RB Jake Langdon, WR Camden Jordan, LB Hudson Miller, DB Zane Hill</p><p>What to look for: The best private school team and the best public school team in Class 5A both posted convincing sectional victories last week, with the Warriors crushing New Pal 48-13 and the Irish dominating Decatur Central 42-7. Cathedral, which nearly knocked off Center Grove in the regular-season finale, is the overwhelming favorite here, but Whiteland has momentum and confidence as well. If it can establish the run and control the tempo of this game, then it might be able to put itself in position for the upset. The Warriors’ secondary will be tested by McCahill (2,421 yards passing, 32 TDs) and a deep Irish receiving corps.</p><p><p><strong>Class 4A</strong></p><p><strong>Roncalli (10-1) at Mt. Vernon (12-0)</strong></p><p>Kickoff: 7 p.m.</p><p>Webcast: IndianaSRN.org</p><p>Radio: roncallimedianetwork.com, CBS Sports 1430</p><p>Attendance: Tickets were sold online in advance; none will be available at the gate.</p><p>Recent history: The Marauders were a 25-17 regional winner last season, their first victory in five tries against Roncalli.</p><p>Sagarin ratings: Roncalli 89.26 (second in 4A, 13th in Indiana), Mt. Vernon 88.53 (third in 4A, 17th overall)</p><p>Players to watch: Roncalli — QB Aidan Leffler, RB Baron Huebler, WR Kyle Lockard, DL Owen Volk, DB Dominic Brown; Mt. Vernon — QB Gehrig Slunaker, RB/DB Keagan LaBelle, RB Rylan Cole, WR Ashden Gentry, OL/DL Mekhi Richmond</p><p>What to look for: The two highest scoring offenses in Class 4A, with the Marauders (43.2 ppg) just ahead of Roncalli (41.8) in that category. Both are extremely well balanced and have been nearly impossible to stop, especially recently. Mt. Vernon has posted the bigger victory margins but has also faced a less rigorous schedule. These might be the two best teams in 4A, and with two powerful offenses squaring off, the outcome may well hinge on which defense can get stops or create a momentum-swinging turnover at the right time.</p>