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Four teams remain: What to watch in Evansville-area high school football regionals

kyle sokeland and treasure washington, evansville courier & press
·4 min read

EVANSVILLE — Will any Southwestern Indiana high school football teams play on Thanksgiving weekend?

We are one week closer to answering that question. The IHSAA state tournament continues with the regional round this weekend. Only four teams – Castle, Memorial, Southridge and Mater Dei ‒ remain from the Courier & Press coverage area.

At least one area team has advanced to the semistate every year since 2017. That streak will be challenged with four ranked opponents on the schedule. Here is a look at each regional matchup and a key to victory for each local team.

Castle Knights looks to the sideline for the play as the Castle Knights play the North Huskies during the IHSAA Class 5A sectional championship game at John Lidy Field in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.
Castle Knights looks to the sideline for the play as the Castle Knights play the North Huskies during the IHSAA Class 5A sectional championship game at John Lidy Field in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

Class 5A: No. 3 Bloomington South (9-1) at No. 13 Castle (7-4)

Compared to previous years, this season hasn’t been the strongest for Castle. The Knights had more heartbreaking losses than wins against quality opponents. However, the Knights can still clinch their seventh regional title in program history (as well as their second in the past three seasons) if they beat Bloomington South this week at John Lidy Field.

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Castle’s defense had a game plan to contain North’s Angelo St. Louis, the SIAC’s second-leading rusher, and mastered it. The defense must now come up with ways to limit Panthers junior running back Gavin Adams. He has multiple 100+ yard games and double-digit touchdowns for Bloomington South this year. If the Panthers win their 12th regional title, Adams continuing his strong play on the field would be a major factor.

Castle and Bloomington South have met six times in the postseason since 2015.

Memorial’s Porter Rode (6) runs through a hole against Boonville during their IHSAA 4A Sectional Championship game at Bennett Stadium in Boonville, Ind., Friday night, Nov. 4, 2022. Memorial beat Boonville 33-14.
Memorial’s Porter Rode (6) runs through a hole against Boonville during their IHSAA 4A Sectional Championship game at Bennett Stadium in Boonville, Ind., Friday night, Nov. 4, 2022. Memorial beat Boonville 33-14.

Class 4A: No. 4 East Central (10-2) at No. 11 Memorial (9-3)

Memorial is making its sixth regional appearance in seven years. Only one other City program (Mater Dei) can claim a run like this in the IHSAA tournament era. This group peaked at the right time after dealing with early-season injuries that placed multiple starters on the sidelines.

Coming to Enlow will be a familiar opponent. The Tigers beat the Trojans at this stage last year on a field goal as time expired. The biggest key this time is obvious: Memorial's defense needs to play at an elite level. East Central averages 39.5 points per game with Josh Ringer doing most of the damage. The junior has 1,891 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. He scored five times in the first half of a sectional championship win over Martinsville, setting the program single-season record for points scored (204).

This is only the second meeting in series history. East Central surrendered six points in three sectional games.

Southridge's Reid Schroeder (28) runs the ball as the Southridge Raiders play the Gibson Southern Titans at Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Ind., Friday evening, Sept. 16, 2022.
Southridge's Reid Schroeder (28) runs the ball as the Southridge Raiders play the Gibson Southern Titans at Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Ind., Friday evening, Sept. 16, 2022.

Class 3A: No. 9 Lawrenceburg (11-1) at No. 10 Southridge (11-1)

This will be like looking in a mirror in several ways. Lawrenceburg is allowing only 5.9 ppg with seven shutouts in the past nine games. Guess the strength of this Southridge team? The Tigers' offense also is led by multiple talented backs ‒ Teagan Bennett and Alex Witte both have 14 touchdowns ‒ but it's capable of keeping it balanced. Sound familiar?

Southridge has once again been Southridge this season after last year's mirage. The Raiders may not have a true stud, but the roster is full of fast and tough players. Southridge needs to find success against a defense ranked No. 1 in the state regardless of class. Senior Reid Schroeder (1,055 yards and 23 touchdowns) gets the most shine. Watch out for quarterback Hudson Allen (15 touchdowns) though if the Raiders prevail.

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This is the third meeting in series history. Lawrenceburg has lost to a PAC opponent in the regional the past three years.

North Posey’s Trace Martin (29) tackles Mater Dei's Joey Pierre (25) as the North Posey Vikings play the Mater Dei Wildcats at the Reitz Bowl in Evansville, Ind., Friday evening, Nov. 4, 2022.
North Posey’s Trace Martin (29) tackles Mater Dei's Joey Pierre (25) as the North Posey Vikings play the Mater Dei Wildcats at the Reitz Bowl in Evansville, Ind., Friday evening, Nov. 4, 2022.

Class 2A: No. 6 Mater Dei (9-3) at No. 4 Triton Central (10-2)

Mater Dei has become quite familiar with Triton Central in the postseason. Friday will mark the fourth consecutive year they've met in the regional, and this will be the Wildcats' third trip to Fairland. The Wildcats have won in different ways in their last two meetings against the Tigers, from scoring a flurry of first-quarter points last year on the road to thriving on defense and special teams the year before at the Reitz Bowl.

The Triton Central team that Mater Dei will face is hungry and ready to avenge its loss from last season. The Tigers have special juniors on offense with quarterback Jace Stuckey and running back Ray Crawford. Senior wide receiver Brad Schultz also has compiled an almost 1,500-yard campaign and is a dynamic player. Considering on the other side Mason Wunderlich has established a special connection with Blake Herdes for Mater Dei, get ready for a high-scoring contest.

Mater Dei leads the all-time series 4-1 with the only loss occurring in 2019.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: What to watch in Evansville-area high school regionals