SCOUTING THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHUPS
Greenwood at Seymour
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Recent history: The Woodmen were a 35-7 winner in last year’s showdown, the first time the teams had met since the 2001 sectional.
Sagarin ratings (2022): Greenwood 44.58 (168th in Indiana), Seymour 49.07 (145th)
Players to watch: Greenwood — QB Brock Riddle, RB Alan Burnett, DL Gabe Folco, LB Cole Basey, DB Tanner Crouch; Seymour — QB Bret Perry, RB Nicholas Wheeler, WR Jack Pennington, WR Kyle Hileman, LB Mitch Mellencamp
What to look for: The Woodmen steamrolled the Owls in last season’s opener, their lone victory of the year. Seymour went on to win the Hoosier Hills Conference title for the first time in 21 years, and most of the offensive firepower from that squad returns. Greenwood, likewise, brings back a senior-dominated offense, though under a new coach (Justin Boser) and a new system. Both teams are capable of putting points on the board; whichever side is able to muster a few defensive stops at the right time is likely to come out on top.
Whiteland at Jeffersonville
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Recent history: The Warriors and Red Devils have yet to meet on the gridiron.
Sagarin ratings (2022): Whiteland 89.05 (13th), Jeffersonville 31.69 (226th)
Players to watch: Whiteland — RB Slate Valentine, WB/DB Maalik Perkins, WR Gunnar Hicks, LB Jordan Palmer, DB Andrian Kolleigbo
What to look for: This looks like a mismatch on paper, with the Class 5A state runner-up matched up against what was the worst team in Class 6A last fall. The Warriors, though, will be breaking in an almost entirely new cast of characters on both sides of the ball after graduating more than 30 seniors. Perkins, Hicks and Valentine provide at least some semblance of a known quantity on offense, and that trio should be able to put up numbers as long as an inexperience line is up to the task. Whiteland should take care of business here and give us a clearer look at the future in the process.
Indian Creek at Batesville
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Recent history: The Braves won last year’s opener at home, 37-25, before dropping the rematch in a 35-34 sectional semifinal heartbreaker.
Sagarin ratings (2022): Indian Creek 48.72 (148th), Batesville 49.11 (144th)
Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Jalen Sauer, RB/DB Malachi Mink, RB/LB Levi Pappas, WR/DB Jaxon Ramey, DL Logan Porter; Batesville — QB Will Jaisle, RB/DB Gage Pohlman, WR/LB Cade Kaiser, WR/DB Damien Dance, LB Carter Bohman
What to look for: A big-time grudge match. Indian Creek was riding high after a strong regular season in Casey Gillin’s first year on the sideline, but the Bulldogs killed the good vibes with a sectional revenge win. The home team brings back all of its top offensive skill guys, so they should be able to move the ball and score some points. Can the Braves, who also return plenty of talent but start a new QB1 in converted running back Sauer, keep pace?
Tindley at Edinburgh
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Recent history: The teams have split their four meetings since 2019, with the Lancers’ 14-6 triumph last year the largest margin of victory for either team in that span.
Sagarin ratings (2022): Tindley 7.57 (287th), Edinburgh 7.87 (286th)
Players to watch: Tindley — QB Deon Richmond, WR Keshawn McGill, WR/DB James Majors Jr., OL/DL Karsa Fairley; Edinburgh — QB Caleb Murphy, RB/DB Connor Ramey, WR/DB Jackson Hartwell, OL/DL Dakota Graw
What to look for: If the series history is any indication, a fight to the finish. The Lancers graduated a ton of senior talent but claim to have better chemistry this time around; Murphy has a year under his belt at quarterback and has two outstanding athletes to feed the ball to in Hartwell and Ramey. The Tigers always have speed at the skill positions, but Edinburgh coach Tyler DeSpain believes he has the run game this year to slow the game down and control possession. As long as they don’t get crippled by turnovers and penalties — both issues in the past — then the Lancers should have a good shot here.
Greenwood Christian at Park Tudor
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Recent history: This will be the first time that the two PAAC schools have met in football.
Sagarin ratings (2022): GCA 3.91 (292nd), Park Tudor 50.12 (136th)
Players to watch: GCA — QB/DB Trey Dobson, RB/DB Nathan Goins, RB/LB Evan McIntire, OL/DL Luke Chitty; Park Tudor — QB D.J. Gordon, WR Carson Ritz, LB William Harris, DB Nathan Harris
What to look for: The toughest test that the Cougars have faced in their young football history. The Panthers are coming off of a nine-win season and a sectional championship, and they’ve got a good bit of experienced talent back from that team, which posted a 51-0 win over the same Shortridge team that beat GCA 50-0. On paper, it’s a mismatch — but Cougars coach Andre Dobson hasn’t shied away from a challenge since arriving here, and he’s going to keep pushing his squad to grow up quickly.
Southport at Roncalli
Kickoff: 7 p.m. today
Live audio: athletics.roncalli.org/roncalli-media-network
Recent history: The Royals dominated last season’s Week 1 matchup, rolling to a 46-7 victory. They’ve won the last two meetings since taking a 35-10 loss in 2019.
Sagarin ratings (2022): Southport 33.76 (219th), Roncalli 92.43 (eighth)
Players to watch: Southport — QB Bryce Calvert, RB Josiah Ottinger, WR Carter McGaha, DL Addison Meredith, LB Malachi Kennedy; Roncalli — QB Jayden Buchanan, RB/LB Ben Brandenburg, WR Christian Swiezy, DL Sam Neu, LB J.J. Prendergast
What to look for: This was once a toss-up game; the Cardinals and Royals have split the last 18 meetings evenly. But Southport has fallen on hard times in the last year or so, and this now looks like exactly the kind of game that a very young Roncalli needs to find its footing. Brandenburg takes over as the feature back behind young signal-caller Buchanan, who came up in the Center Grove feeder system. The Royals have a lot of new faces in big roles; tonight should offer them a chance to get their feet wet in a relatively low-stress environment before things get real in a hurry next week.
New Albany at Franklin
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. today
Radio: KORN Country (100.3 FM)
Recent history: This will be the first matchup between the two schools.
Sagarin ratings (2022): New Albany 34.55 (216th), Franklin 75.59 (40th)
Players to watch: New Albany — QB Kenny Watson, RB Dakota Johnson; Franklin — QB Clay Pinnick, RB Alex Leugers, WR Luke Bechert, DL Blake Smythe, LB Lance Jones
What to look for: Much like Whiteland and Roncalli, Franklin has a ton of graduation-created holes to fill. Fortunately for the Grizzly Cubs, they get to open with a home game against what was a Class 5A bottom-feeder last fall. Pinnick will share time with sophomore Greyson Betts at quarterback after neither took a firm hold of the No. 1 job in the preseason; one of the main tasks for either will be handing the ball to Leugers, who could be primed for a big season after an injury-shortened 2022. The many new faces on Franklin’s defensive line and in the secondary get their first real taste of varsity action tonight — how will they respond?
Center Grove vs. St. Edward (Ohio)
at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
Kickoff: noon Saturday
Live video: OHSAA.boxcast.com (pay-per-view)
Recent history: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two traditional powerhouses.
Sagarin ratings (2022): Center Grove 105.32 (second)
Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Tyler Cherry, WR Noah Coy, DL Ryder Woolwine, LB Owen Bright, LB Kaden McConnell; St. Edward — QB Casey Bullock, OL Deontae Armstrong, OL Devontae Armstrong, OL Ben Roebuck, DL Loghan Thomas
What to look for: One of the most anticipated prep matchups anywhere in America this weekend, and perhaps one of the toughest tests that the Trojans have faced in the past few years. The Eagles are loaded with top-end talent, and their massive offensive line (which features three players heading to either Ohio State or Michigan) will be a huge challenge for Center Grove’s relatively untested defensive front. Bright and McConnell will need to play big. If St. Ed can’t be stopped, it’ll be on a Cherry-led Trojan offense to trade touchdown for touchdown. Eric Moore’s teams aren’t often underdogs, but this one is. Don’t read too much into it if the Trojans come away with a loss.
