High school football: Week 7 preview

SCOUTING TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS

Center Grove (5-1) at Pike (0-6)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Live video: ihsaatv.org/CGSportsNetwork

Recent history: The Trojans cruised to a 49-6 victory last fall, their fourth consecutive win over the Red Devils.

Sagarin ratings: Center Grove 99.04 (third in Indiana), Pike 71.35 (60th)

Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Tyler Cherry, RB Micah Coyle, RB Jalen Thomeson, WR Noah Coy, LB Owen Bright; Pike — QB LaKendrick Suttles, RB Jeremiah Berry, DL Ty Lofton, DB Elijah Davis, DB Anthony Leadford

What to look for: The Red Devils have plenty of individual talent; several of their players will play on Saturdays in the future. But for some reason, it just hasn’t translated into team success. Opposing offenses have gashed Pike for just over 35 points per game — a bad mix against a Center Grove team that’s been firing on all cylinders lately between the always-solid run game and the lethal Cherry-to-Coy aerial combo. Expect the Trojans’ train to keep chugging along tonight.

Plainfield (3-3) at Franklin (4-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Live video: ihsaatv.org/MidState/FranklinCommunity

Recent history: The teams have split their last four games, with Franklin earning a 33-20 win a year ago.

Sagarin ratings: Plainfield 71.10 (63rd), Franklin 79.69 (32nd)

Players to watch: Plainfield — QB Hunter Newell, RB Noah Hessong, RB Troy Larrison, DL Isaac Masquelier, LB Landon Drennan; Franklin — QB Greyson Betts, RB/LB John Shepard, WR Max Clark, RB/DB Beau Baker, LB Lance Jones

What to look for: After a rough 0-3 start, the Quakers have found their footing with three straight wins, including an overtime triumph over Decatur Central last week. The Grizzly Cubs, though, are also feeling pretty good about themselves after pulling off a win at previously unbeaten Martinsville behind freshman QB Betts, who filled in more than capably for the injured Clay Pinnick. Whichever quarterback starts tonight will have the added luxury of throwing to Clark, who’s back in the lineup for the first time since the season opener. Both teams need a win to keep pace in a wild Mid-State Conference race.

Greenwood (1-5) at Decatur Central (2-4)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Recent history: The Hawks have won nine in a row against the Woodmen, including last season’s 35-3 victory.

Sagarin ratings: Greenwood 50.29 (138th), Decatur Central 72.81 (53rd)

Players to watch: Greenwood — QB Brock Riddle, RB Alan Burnett, TE Carter Campbell, WR Ethan Pringle, DB Tanner Crouch; Decatur Central — QB Bo Polston, WR Tequan Taylor, DL M.J. Campbell, DL Slim Tyus, LB Aycen Stevens

What to look for: The Woodmen are trying to find some way to put a complete game together; they’ve looked strong in spurts but can’t seem to sustain any sort of momentum long enough to get a win. Not having Burnett in the lineup last week seriously hampered Greenwood’s ability to keep its usually strong ground game churning along; he should be back in action tonight, which should help matters considerably. If the Greenwood defense can pressure freshman QB Polston into some mistakes, there’s a chance this still could be an interesting game late.

Mooresville (5-1) at Whiteland (5-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Live video: ihsaatv.org/MidState/WhitelandCommunity

Recent history: The Warriors’ 24-14 road win last year was its third straight victory over the Pioneers.

Sagarin ratings: Mooresville 77.31 (40th), Whiteland 80.58 (27th)

Players to watch: Mooresville — QB Nick Patterson, WR Hogan Denny, WR Levi Dorn, LB Landon Clements, LB Kellen Copeland; Whiteland — QB Kevin Denham, RB Peyton Emberton, RB/LB Jakarrey Oliver, RB/DB Nyrius Moore-Smith, WR/DB Brady Stanifer

What to look for: A couple of ticked-off teams looking to get back on track after somewhat surprising losses a week ago. The Warriors’ struggles in defending Martinsville’s passing game last week don’t bode well heading into a showdown with Patterson, one of the top signal-callers in the state; the Pioneers, though, have sputtered somewhat on offense the last two weeks, and it cost them in a home loss to Franklin a week ago. Were those losses just a one-off, a by-product of looking ahead a bit to tonight’s showdown? Or were some real vulnerabilities exposed? The answers might determine who wins the Mid-State title.

Brownstown Central (4-2) at Indian Creek (4-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Recent history: Brownstown rolled to a 54-20 win last season, the lone meeting between the two schools since 2008.

Sagarin ratings: Brownstown Central 46.67 (157th), Indian Creek 51.73 (135th)

Players to watch: Brownstown Central — QB Carson Darlage, ; Indian Creek — QB Arjun Lothe, RB/DB Jalen Sauer, RB/DB Malachi Mink, WR Jaxon Ramey, OL/DL Daniel Foster

What to look for: Ground versus air. Brownstown comes in rolling up nearly 300 yards rushing per game, with seven different players getting in on the action. Leading the way is Darlage, who has been a far bigger threat with his legs than with his arm. Indian Creek, meanwhile, is doing the same thing with the pass, as Lothe has six different targets with double-digit receptions. The visitors will undoubtedly try to prolong drives and keep the ball out of his hands, so it’ll be up to the Creek defense to get some stops if the home team is to win this battle of the Braveses.

Edinburgh (4-2) at Traders Point Christian (3-3)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Recent history: The Knights have won three consecutive meetings, including a wild 37-35 victory last season.

Sagarin ratings: Edinburgh 14.66 (277th), Traders Point 39.76 (188th)

Players to watch: Edinburgh — QB/LB Caleb Murphy, RB/LB Jarrett Turner, WR/DB Braylon Bryant, WR/DB Caleb Dewey, WR/DE Keegan Smith; Traders Point — QB Cooper Simmons-Little, RB/LB Justin Kirk, WR/DB Phillip Moran, WR/DB Colton Pollard, DL Christian Hieser

What to look for: How will the Lancers bounce back, both physically and emotionally, after being stunned on their senior night by two Greenwood Christian pick-sixes? Their first winning season since 1993 once seemed all but assured; now, Edinburgh will have to pull an upset in one of its remaining two regular-season games to secure it before the sectional. Dewey, the team’s top playmaker, is back after a costly one-game suspension; he’ll be especially needed on defense against the Knights’ explosive passing attack. Finishing drives — the Lancers came up empty four times last week inside the GCA 26-yard line — will be important, because this probably won’t be a low-scoring game.

Greenwood Christian (2-0) at Clarksville (2-4)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Recent history: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Sagarin ratings: GCA 23.37 (253rd), Clarksville 33.20 (216th)

Players to watch: GCA — QB/DB Trey Dobson, RB/LB Evan McIntire, WR/DB Jaeden Garrett, WR/DL Charlie Overton, OL/DL Eli Tschetter; Clarksville — QB/DB Caleb Cummings, RB/LB Robert Lamar, WR/DB Morgan Capps, LB Anthony Davis

What to look for: Riding high after a win at Edinburgh last week, the Cougars face an even tougher road test this week against the Generals, who boast an explosive offense featuring a 1,000-yard passer in Cummings and the state’s No. 2 rusher in Lamar (1,450 yards). Capps (40 receptions, 3 INT) is a big-play machine on both sides of the ball. For the Cougars to keep pace, they’ll need to be able to sustain drives more effectively than they did last week, when the majority of their points were scored by the defense. Line play, offensively and defensively, will be key for GCA.

Louisville Male (3-2) at Roncalli (6-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Live audio: athletics.roncalli.org/roncalli-media-network

Recent history: This will be the first meeting between the two traditional powers.

Sagarin ratings: Roncalli 94.92 (sixth)

Players to watch: Male — QB Lucas Cobler, RB Daniel Swinney, WR/DB Demetrius Dunlap, OL William Spencer; Roncalli — QB Arik Moyers, RB Luke Hansen, OL Trevor Lauck, DL Luke Swartz, DB Judson Lawrie

What to look for: Don’t be fooled by the pedestrian record; the Bulldogs are legit. Need evidence? They own a 23-21 win over the same Louisville Trinity team that ended Center Grove’s 30-game win streak earlier this season. Male has a stingy defense that has yielded more than 10 points just once, but it’s going to be tested by the Royals’ punishing ground game, with Hansen — the state’s leader in rushing yardage — going to work behind a top-tier offensive line. This might prove to be exactly the caliber of test that Roncalli needs to get ready for a potential regional showdown with Class 4A No. 1 New Palestine later on.