SCOUTING TONIGHT’S REGIONAL GAMES
Class 6A
Warren Central (6-5) at Center Grove (9-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Live video: ihsaatv.org/CGSportsNetwork
Recent history: The Trojans won this year’s season opener 17-8 and have taken the last five meetings in this rivalry, including regional victories in 2019 and 2020.
Sagarin ratings: Warren Central 88.49 (14th in Indiana/ninth in Class 6A), Center Grove 98.26 (fourth/fourth)
Players to watch: Warren Central — QB Keith Jackson, RB Rodney Johnson, WR Joseph Walker, LB Lee Alexander, DB Joziah Edmond; Center Grove — QB Tyler Cherry, RB Micah Coyle, RB Jalen Thomeson, WR Noah Coy, LB Owen Bright
What to look for: Don’t look at the records. Ignore them completely. Sure, the Warriors’ regular-season mark isn’t glittering, but neither was Center Grove’s in 2019 when it avenged a Week 1 loss by taking the regional rematch. Warren Central always plays the Trojans tough, and it’ll be coming in on a high after steamrolling its two sectional opponents. Neither team was tested in its sectional final win; whichever side can find its sea legs first might have the upper hand. Center Grove should win its 13th regional title in 15 years, but nothing can be assumed when these two former conference rivals square off.
Class 5A
Plainfield (6-5) at Whiteland (10-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Live video: ihsaatv.org/MidState/WhitelandCommunity
Recent history: The Warriors rolled to a 45-14 road win on Oct. 7, their fifth consecutive victory over the Quakers; the teams have never met in the postseason.
Sagarin ratings: Plainfield 70.19 (61st/12th in 5A), Whiteland 90.37 (11th/second)
Players to watch: Plainfield — QB Hunter Newell, RB Noah Hessong, WR Grant Irwin, DL Isaac Masquelier, LB Landon Drennan; Whiteland — QB Kevin Denham, RB Peyton Emberton, RB/DB Nyrius Moore-Smith, WR/DB Brady Stanifer, OL/DL Tayton Schakel
What to look for: A Mid-State Conference team is advancing to semistate no matter what, but it’s hard to imagine a world in which that isn’t the Warriors. Having already turned the Quakers aside with relative ease five weeks ago, Whiteland should have little trouble doing so again. There’s some danger of a letdown after a convincing sectional triumph at Franklin last week, but with 30 seniors on the roster, Darrin Fisher’s team should be emotionally stable enough to move on and take this game seriously. Expect Whiteland to lay claim to the second semistate berth in school history and the first since 1999.
Class 4A
New Palestine (12-0) at Roncalli (11-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Live audio: athletics.roncalli.org/roncalli-media-network
Recent history: The two teams haven’t met since 2014, when the Dragons earned a 44-13 regional win on the way to a state title and a perfect season.
Sagarin ratings: New Palestine 91.28 (ninth/second in 4A), Roncalli 91.35 (eighth/second)
Players to watch: New Palestine — QB Daniel Tippitt, WR/DB Blaine Nunnally, WR Isaiah Thacker, OL/DL Michael Thacker, DB Eli Hook; Roncalli — QB Arik Moyers, RB Luke Hansen, OL Trevor Lauck, DL Luke Swartz, DB Judson Lawrie
What to look for: The de facto 4A state championship game? The Dragons and Royals have been the top two teams in the class virtually all season long, and while East Central still looms as a formidable potential semistate foe, whoever emerges from tonight’s battle will be favored to go the distance. New Pal will likely lean more heavily on its potent air attack after losing 1,500-yard rusher Grayson Thomas to a season-ending knee injury; Roncalli still has the state’s top ground threat in Hansen, but Moyers has proven himself more and more capable as a passing threat each week. This promises to be a fight to the finish, with turnovers perhaps the determining factor in a war between two powerhouses.
