SCOUTING TONIGHT’S MATCHUPS
Greenwood (4-3) at Franklin (4-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: Including last year’s 41-6 Franklin win, each of the last four meetings have been decided by 28 points or more; the Grizzly Cubs have taken three of those, with the last Greenwood win in 2020.
Sagarin ratings: Greenwood 62.29 (99th in Indiana), Franklin 64.49 (87th)
Players to watch: Greenwood — QB Brock Riddle, RB/LB Alan Burnett, WR/LB Tanner Crouch, WR/DB Amare Middleton, LB Cole Basey; Franklin — QB Clay Pinnick, RB Alex Leugers, WR Quentin Richards, DL Blake Smythe, DB Jake Dinkens
What to look for: The Woodmen have been one of the great feel-good stories of the fall, enjoying a major offensive reinvention under first-year coach Justin Boser. Their defense, though, has struggled, yielding 63 points to Decatur Central last Friday and 209 over the last four games. Can they do better against a Franklin team that boasts a 1,000-yard rusher in Leugers but has been wildly inconsistent? Both teams are looking for a bounce-back win after Week 7 losses; only one can get it.
Lawrence North (5-2) at Center Grove (6-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: Despite some close calls here and there, the Trojans have won 18 straight in the series dating back to the Wildcats’ last victory in 2005; Center Grove won last fall at home, 38-14.
Sagarin ratings: Lawrence North 89.99 (ninth), Center Grove 96.14 (fifth)
Players to watch: Lawrence North — QB Tanner Aspeslet, RB Izayveon Moore, WR Davion Chandler, LB Daione Lunsford, LB Tyshawn Woodson; Center Grove — QB Tyler Cherry, RB Rylan Cook, WR Noah Coy, LB Owen Bright, LB Kaden McConnell
What to look for: For all of the difficulty that the Wildcats have given the Trojans in recent years, it’s pretty stunning that Center Grove has kept the upper hand for nearly two decades. Lawrence North recovered from a two-game skid with a rout of Warren Central last week; Moore has been arguably the state’s top freshman, and there’s enough of a passing attack to keep teams from stacking the box on him. The Wildcats have been fairly stout on defense, a 62-14 loss to Ben Davis aside; can they slow down the Trojans?
Plainfield (6-1) at Whiteland (3-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Warriors have taken the last six meetings, including two last fall (45-14 in Week 8 and 49-14 in a Class 5A regional).
Sagarin ratings: Plainfield 82.54 (24th),Whiteland 68.26 (66th)
Players to watch: Plainfield — QB Hunter Newell, RB Luke Starnes, WR Ja’mir Bouie, LB Landon Drennan, DB Carter Fergerson; Whiteland — QB Ollie Taylor, RB Slate Valentine, DL Scott Harden, LB Jordan Palmer, DB Andrian Kolleigbo
What to look for: Can the banged-up Warriors get up off the mat and play giant killer against the Mid-State leaders? Valentine is approaching 1,000 yards but he’s been the lone consistent source of offense; that wasn’t enough last week in a 21-7 loss at Mooresville and it won’t be tonight against the Quakers. Whiteland has won its last 13 October games and 16 of its last 17; can it summon that usual magic now that the calendar has flipped again?
Edinburgh (1-6) at North Decatur (4-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: This is the first meeting since the Chargers ran their series win streak to eight with a 58-8 rout in 2020.
Sagarin ratings: Edinburgh minus-1.37 (303rd), North Decatur 43.51 (182nd)
Players to watch: Edinburgh — QB/DB Connor Ramey, RB/DB Jackson Hartwell, WR/DB Gabe Bennett; North Decatur — QB Mason Morris, RB/DB Kaiden Muckerheide, RB/LB Kaleb Phelps, OL/DL Owen Wiseman
What to look for: The Chargers were a semistate team last year and have beaten the three Class A teams they’ve played this fall by a combined 120-20 score; they’re coming off of a 38-0 shutout of North Daviess, which beat the Lancers by four touchdowns. Edinburgh should have a little bit of confidence after its shorthanded rout of Irvington Prep; they’ll need to carry all of that into tonight’s battle against a much, much tougher opponent. Hartwell is back after sitting out last week; Ramey may be a game-time decision.
Fort Wayne Blackhawk (0-6) vs. Greenwood Christian (4-3)
At Center Grove Middle School North
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Sagarin ratings: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 0.01 (301st), GCA 25.32 (254th)
Players to watch: Blackhawk — QB/LB Chip Bennett, RB/DL Jaylen Strong, RB/LB Gage Bennett; GCA — QB/DB Trey Dobson, RB/DB Nathan Goins, RB/LB Evan McIntire
What to look for: The Braves have only scored more than 10 points twice this season, with one of those coming last week in a 43-38 loss across the border in Ohio. Their defense has surrendered at least 33 points in every game. That’s not a recipe for success against a Cougar team brimming with confidence after consecutive running-clock victories. GCA coach Andre Dobson has to like his team’s chances of a third such game in a row, and of clinching a winning record in Year 2.
Cathedral (5-2) at Roncalli (3-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The two traditional Catholic powerhouses haven’t played since 2018, when the Fighting Irish won a Class 5A sectional tilt, 30-10. This is the first regular-season meeting since 2010.
Sagarin ratings: Cathedral 97.12 (fourth), Roncalli 78.85 (30th)
Players to watch: Cathedral — QB Danny O’Neil, RB Jalen Bonds, WR Keith Long, LB Oscar Kirch, LB Max Finn; Roncalli — QB Collin Ash, RB Zach Dozier, RB/LB Ben Brandenburg, WR Christian Swiezy, LB J.J. Prendergast
What to look for: The Royals, coming off of a 43-0 defeat at Louisville Male, are trending in the wrong direction just as they hit the toughest part of a brutal regular-season schedule. The Fighting Irish may not be quite as formidable as they were two years ago, but they’re still one of the state’s top teams and possess arguably the state’s top QB in O’Neil, who’s committed to play for Deion Sanders at Colorado. Putting up a good showing tonight is a must for Roncalli with a Week 9 date looming against defending Class 4A state champion East Central.
Indian Creek (4-3) at Sullivan (4-3)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Recent history: The Braves pulled out a wild 50-49 victory last season, their second in five tries against the Golden Arrows.
Sagarin ratings: Indian Creek 53.91 (133rd), Sullivan 47.37 (158th)
Players to watch: Indian Creek — QB Jalen Sauer, RB/DB Malachi Mink, WR Bobby Emberton, WR/DB Levi Pappas, LB Carter Modlin; Sullivan — QB Blake Fraker, RB/LB Laytin Huff, WR/DB D.J. Gaines, WR/DB Seth Pirtle, WR/LB James Propes
What to look for: We know the Braves can score; they’ve gotten at least 35 points in each of their last five games. But the defense has dictated outcomes — Indian Creek has allowed a total of 60 points in its four wins and 133 in its three losses. Sullivan has won its last two, but against WIC bottom-feeders Owen Valley and Edgewood; do the Golden Arrows have the firepower to keep up with Sauer and Creek’s high-octane spread offense?
