East Central Indiana sectional football rundown: Scores, stats from every round 1 game
MUNCIE, Ind. — The first week of the IHSAA football sectional is over. Three East Central Indiana teams, Yorktown, New Castle and Shenandoah, emerged victorious while Monroe Central (5-3) was on bye and will play Sheridan next week. The rest saw their seasons come to an end Friday night.
Here are the scores from the first round, available statistics and tournament updates from every ECI team:
Huntington North 47, Muncie Central 21
Muncie Central came into the postseason riding a four-game winning streak and was seeking its first sectional victory since 2016.
Instead, the Bearcats fell behind early, trailing 40-7 at halftime, and were never able to come back. Muncie Central lost 47-21 and ended its season 4-6, its best record since 2016.
Huntington North 14 26 7 0 — 47
Muncie Central 0 7 7 7 — 47
Yorktown 10, Delta 7
In a rematch of their regular season game, Yorktown won 10-7 at Delta in the IHSAA Class 3A Sectional 27 first round.
The thrilling contest came down to the final play, when the Eagles, after converting a 4th-and-inches by the nose of the football, ran a toss play to senior running back Palmer Samuels at the goal line that was blown up by Tigers senior Kolton Nanko. He kept the runner inbounds, and with no timeouts remaining for Delta, the clock expired.
The Eagles were in control to start the game. After both teams earned a first down and punted on their opening drives, Delta then punted again, only for the odd bounce to hit off a Tiger and be recovered by the Eagles in the red zone. That good fortune soon led to a touchdown pass from junior Kaiden Bond to senior Caleb Elliot in the back of the end zone.
Delta had chances to pull away in the second quarter but came up empty twice. The Eagles began the frame with a methodical drive but fumbled in the red zone, and after soon getting a defensive stop, they missed a short field goal.
A game to remember: Yorktown and Delta football thrill in first sectional match since 2014
Yorktown put together a solid drive late in the half before Delta senior linebacker Dylan Manor pressured junior quarterback Mason Moulton, forcing his throw short of his receiver and into the hands of senior Blake Jones for an interception with little time remaining.
The Tigers’ offense came out of the halftime locker room looking reinvigorated. Junior running back Jalen Thomas, after being held in check in the first half, ran harder and took advantage of some running lanes, which eventually opened the passing attack as Moulton connected with Nanko for a 27-yard TD that tied the game 7-7.
Nanko then, as Delta was again driving into scoring position, stripped the running back to give his team possession. Thomas followed with a big run, only for the Tigers to fumble two shotgun snaps and turn the ball over on downs.
The Eagles soon fumbled on a 4th-and-1 quarterback sneak attempt, and Moulton found Nanko deep again to put Yorktown in scoring position as the third quarter ended. The Tigers couldn’t move the ball near the goal line, but Nanko converted a 28-yard field goal to give his team its first lead.
Both offenses stalled thereafter, but Delta eventually found itself driving in the game’s final few minutes. Some tough running eventually got the Eagles two yards shy of the goal line, and a run up the middle by Samuels converted a pivotal 4th-and-inches before their final play came short of the end zone. Yorktown is 7-3. Delta finished the season 3-7.
Yorktown is 7-3 and will play Garrett (3-7) in the sectional semifinal. Delta finished the season 3-7.
Yorktown 0 0 7 3 — 10
Delta 7 0 0 0 — 7
Hagerstown 39, Wes-Del 7
Wes-Del was tough early, but Hagerstown pulled ahead in the second half to secure a 39-7 victory.
Hagerstown went ahead 7-0 in the first quarter but the Warriors struck back with a touchdown on a run from Triton Blevins. The contest was tied 7-7 at halftime. From there, it was all Hagerstown, which racked up 342 rushing yards.
Offensively, the Warriors were led by Blevins (4-for-10, 86 passing yards, one TD), Trey Adams (63 receiving yards), Brock Nauman (34 rushing yards), Devin Grow (33 rushing yards), Lucas Young (29 rushing yards) and Corbin Price (23 rushing yards).
Defensively, Nauman (10 tackles) and Grayson Mealy (nine tackles) led the way. Three players, Grow, Travis Bunch (one fumble recovery) and Alec Thornburg, each recorded a tackle for loss.
Wes-Del ended its season 1-9.
Wes-Del 0 7 0 0 — 7
Hagerstown 7 0 19 13 — 39
New Castle 21, Beech Grove 13
New Castle picked up just its third win of the season when it mattered most, beating Beech Grove 21-13.
The Trojans trailed 13-0 early in the second quarter, but scored all 21 of their points in the same frame. The second half, which included plenty of drama, ended up with no points but it didn't matter for the Trojans, who advanced to the sectional semifinals.
Offensively, New Castle was led by Quintin Boatright (12-for-27, 117 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, two TDs and two interceptions), Gavin Frazier (54 receiving yards), Haidyn Bulmer (46 receiving yards) and Tyson Lewis (37 receiving yards). Defensively, Brevan Thrine (11 tackles), Tylin Thrine (10 tackles) and Wyatt Maiden (10 tackles).
New Castle is 3-7. It will play Connersville (6-4) in the sectional semifinals.
Beech Grove 6 7 0 0 — 13
New Castle 0 21 0 0 — 21
Western 44, Jay County 0
Jay County's season ended with a 44-0 loss to Western.
Jay County finished with a 2-8 record.
Western 21 23 0 0 — 44
Jay County 0 0 0 0 — 0
Shenandoah 41, Indianapolis Ritter 0
Shenandoah kept its winning ways rolling, beating Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 41-0. The Raiders have now won five of their last six games.
The Raiders jumped ahead early and had an 18-0 lead heading into halftime. Their defense was dominant throughout and the offense put up 23 more points in the second half.
Shenandoah, which picked up 375 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, was led by Mayson Lewis (105 rushing yards, three TDs), Evan Fries (117 rushing yards, one TD) and Carson Brookbank (73 rushing yards).
Defensively, Gabe Lowder (seven tackles), Levi Jackson (six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss), Dylan Ayres (five tackles, two tackles for loss) and Gavin Wilson (one interception) led the Raiders. Shenandoah had five quarterback hurries, six tackles for loss and three passes defensed.
Shenandoah is 6-4. It will play Heritage Christian (6-3) in the sectional semifinal.
Ritter 0 0 0 0 — 0
Shenandoah 6 12 17 6 — 41
Bluffton 42, Blackford 14
Blackford saw its season end in a 42-14 loss against Bluffton.
The Bruins trailed 21-6 at halftime, with its lone score coming on a 2-yard Bryan Hernandez touchdown run. They capitalized on a fumble early in the third quarter and Braxton Malott hammered in a 1-yard touchdown run to bring them within 21-14. From there, Bluffton scored 21 unanswered points in the victory.
Blackford, offensively, was led by Hernandez (112 rushing yards, one TD), Austin Smith (46 rushing yards), Nicholas Ely (35 rushing yards) and Gage Dow (35 rushing yards). Defensively, Donovan Soto (seven tackles), Ely (5.5 tackles) and Hernandez (5.5 tackles) led the way.
Blackford ended its season 1-9.
Bluffton 7 14 14 7 — 42
Blackford 0 6 8 0 — 14
Lapel 49, Winchester 19
Winchester and Lapel went back-and-forth in the first quarter, one in which Lapel led 14-12, but the Bulldogs pulled away in a dominant 49-19 victory.
The Golden Falcons responded on an early Bulldogs score with a 1-yard TD run by Aidan Weatherhead. Evan Duncan responded with a 14-yard TD at the end of the first quarter. Winchester's next score, a 2-yard TD run by Weatherhead, came late in the fourth quarter.
Offensively, Winchester was led by Adam Moore (8-for-16, 44 passing yards, two interceptions), Weatherhead (76 rushing yards, two TDs), Duncan (41 rushing yards, one TD). Defensively, the Golden Falcons were led by Jorge Vasquez (five tackles), Carter Campbell (4.5 tackles) and Brock Goforth (four tackles).
Winchester ended its season 4-6.
Winchester 12 0 0 7 — 19
Lapel 14 28 7 0 — 49
Robby General covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high school sports for The Star Press. Contact him via email at rgeneral@gannett.com or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Indiana high school football: Sectional scores, stats from ECI games
