HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL // Scouting tonight’s semistates
Class 6A
Center Grove (12-0) at Ben Davis (7-5)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: IHSAAtv.org/CGSportsNetwork
Attendance: Tickets limited to immediate family members. None will be sold at the gate.
Recent history: The Trojans beat the Giants, 35-12, on Sept. 11 and won last year’s semistate meeting, 17-10.
Sagarin ratings: Center Grove 116.59 (first in Class 6A and in Indiana), Ben Davis 93.76 (fifth in 6A, seventh overall)
Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Tayven Jackson, RB Carson Steele, WR Connor Delp, DL Caden Curry, DL Austin Booker, LB Trey Clark; Ben Davis — QB J’uan Swanson, WR/DB Daylan Carnell, WR Donell Mason, DL Romel Williams, DB Charles Knuckols
What to look for: Written off as the product of an easy sectional draw, the Giants proved their legitimacy with a surprise regional victory over Carmel. Ben Davis is averaging 41.5 points during its current five-game win streak; can that red-hot offense make a dent in Center Grove’s dominant defense? Both of their scores in the regular-season meeting came in the closing minutes after the running clock was already in place; one came on a fumble return. It would likely take a rash of unforced errors and missed assignments for the Giants to pull off the upset, but as long as the Trojans don’t get sloppy they should be able to return to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Class 4A
Mooresville (12-1) at Roncalli (11-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Webcast: roncallimedianetwork.com
Radio: CBS Sports 1430
Attendance: Tickets were sold online in advance; none will be available at the gate.
Recent history: The teams haven’t met since the 2013 sectional, when Roncalli coasted to a 48-6 victory.
Sagarin ratings: Mooresville 90.74 (second in 4A, 11th in Indiana), Roncalli 91.56 (first in 4A, 10th overall)
Players to watch: Mooresville — QB Nicholas Patterson, RB Breken Greene, WR Gideon Brimmage, OL/DL Tommy O’Connor, OL/DL Jaelin Alstott-VanDeVanter; Roncalli — QB Aidan Leffler, RB Baron Huebler, WR Kyle Lockard, DL Owen Volk, DB Dominic Brown
What to look for: For the second week in a row, Roncalli faces another offense that comes in averaging over 40 points. The last one — Mt. Vernon — didn’t fare so well, but that group wasn’t as tested as the Pioneers, who are bigger, more physical and more battle-tested after coming through the Mid-State Conference with an overtime loss at Whiteland as their lone blemish. Mooresville’s defense is vulnerable against high-quality offenses, and Roncalli has one of those. Can it score enough to keep pace with the Pioneers? Can the Roncalli defense come up with multiple takeaways as it did in the regional? This figures to be one of the more closely contested games of the night.
