SCOUTING TONIGHT’S SECTIONAL FINALS
Class 6A
Center Grove (8-1) at Columbus North (5-5)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Trojans have won the last 10 meetings, all in sectional play. Each of the last four has been decided by at least 34 points, including a 49-14 drubbing in Columbus last November.
Sagarin ratings: Center Grove 103.92 (second in Indiana, second in Class 6A), Columbus North 69.36 (66th, 21st in 6A)
Players to watch: Center Grove — QB Tyler Cherry, RB Matthew Yoder, WR Noah Coy, LB Owen Bright, LB Kaden McConnell; Columbus North — QB Asher Ratliff, WR Braylon Thoman, DL Keller DeSpain, LB Jose Ramirez Casas, LB Luke Russell
What to look for: Yet another sectional championship for the Trojans. The only thing standing in between Eric Moore’s squad and a 13th straight title is the Bull Dogs, who have underwhelmed this season against mostly smaller schools and haven’t faced a team of this caliber. Tonight’s game should give Center Grove something it hasn’t had too many times this season — a chance to get its starters off the field a little early and rest up for a home regional next week.
Class 5A
Terre Haute South (5-5) at Whiteland (6-4)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Recent history: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Sagarin ratings: Terre Haute South 65.87 (77th in Indiana, 15th in Class 5A), Whiteland 72.06 (54th, 11th in 5A)
Players to watch: Terre Haute South — QB Brady Wilson, RB Zyeiar White, WR A.J. Watkins, LB Brandon Freeman, DB Treva Branch; Whiteland — RB Slate Valentine, WR Gunnar Hicks, DL Scott Harden, LB Jordan Palmer, DB Andrian Kolleigbo
What to look for: Both teams are trending upward at the right time, with each having won four of five. The Braves rallied past Franklin in last week’s semifinal, 14-10, while the Warriors had no trouble dismissing Terre Haute North on the road, 63-14. Whiteland isn’t quite back to full strength yet and might not be whole again for the rest of the season, but between a bye week and a blowout win the last two weeks it’s as well rested as any team can be in November. That and the home-field advantage could make the difference tonight.
Class 4A
Greenwood (6-5) at East Central (11-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Trojans have taken all seven meetings, with the most recent a 44-14 sectional victory in 2021.
Sagarin ratings: Greenwood 62.74 (93rd in Indiana, 23rd in Class 4A), East Central 98.51 (fourth, first in 4A)
Players to watch: Greenwood — QB Brock Riddle, RB/LB Alan Burnett, WR/LB Tanner Crouch, WR/DB Amare Middleton, LB Cole Basey; East Central — QB Cole Burton, RB Josh Ringer, WR Ryan Brotherton, LB Brayden Rouse, LB Dylan Maxwell
What to look for: Likely a decisive end to what has been a remarkable turnaround season. Justin Boser has taken Greenwood from one win to six in his first year, completely remaking the team’s offensive identity in the process. The Woodmen aren’t likely to cause too much trouble for the defending state champion Trojans, who posted five straight shutouts at one point and have outscored Indiana opponents by a 475-41 margin — but nobody else has, either. A loss won’t take away from everything else that Greenwood accomplished this fall.
Class 3A
Batesville (10-1) at Indian Creek (8-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: The Bulldogs were a 42-28 winner in Week 1 this season and defeated the Braves, 35-34, in a sectional semifinal clash last year. Batesville is 4-2 against Indian Creek since 2015.
Sagarin ratings: Batesville 73.65 (45th in Indiana, sixth in Class 3A), Indian Creek 61.69 (99th, 20th in 3A)
Players to watch: Batesville — QB Will Jaisle, RB/LB Gage Pohlman, WR/DB Cade Kaiser, DL Bobby Weiler, LB Carter Bohman; Indian Creek — QB Jalen Sauer, RB/DB Malachi Mink, WR Bobby Emberton, WR/DB Levi Pappas, LB Carter Modlin
What to look for: Indian Creek is coming in hot, having won eight of nine since an 0-2 start that included a road loss at Batesville. Sauer has been remarkable as a dual threat under center, and the Braves’ defense has stiffened up, allowing just 35 points over its last four outings. The combo of Jaisle and Pohlman has given opponents fits for the Bulldogs, who come in off a 20-14 win over previously unbeaten Lawrenceburg; if Indian Creek can slow those two down even a little bit this time out, it’s got a good chance at its first sectional title since it went back to back in 2010 and 2011.
