Herald-Times football power poll for Week 5: Here's where they stand

jim gordillo, the herald-times

Tue, Sep 13, 2022, 6:51 AM·5 min read

Bloomington South is rising again. The Panthers are coming off a pair of blow-out wins and made another move in the Big School portion of this week's Herald-Times Power Poll.

In the small-school arena, Owen Valley tightened its grip on No. 1 and Eastern Greene pulled itself out of the basement.

BIG SCHOOLS (4A-5A)

1. Mooresville (4-0)

Last week's ranking: 1.

The Pioneers, stuck in a logjam atop the 4A state polls behind powerhouses New Palestine and Roncalli, kept rolling in a 42-12 win over Greenwood. Nate Patterson was responsible for all six TDs, rushing for four and throwing two more. LB Kellen Copeland racked up a season best 21 tackles. Friday: Big rivalry matchup looms with a road trip to Decatur Central, which is much better than a 2-2 record might indicate given the strength of its schedule.

2. Bloomington South (3-1)

Last week's ranking: 3

Two weeks, two blowout wins for the Panthers, who seem to have taken the lessons learned from their loss to Martinsville to heart and taken it out on Terre Haute North and Bloomington North. South ruled in all phases of the game against its crosstown rival. It will need a similar effort again this week. Friday: Conference Indiana home game vs. a Terre Haute South squad that put up 56 in its city rivalry game behind RB Josh Cottee (629 yards rushing) and QB Brady Wilson (822 passing).

Friday takeaways: Eastern Greene unleashes the beast in Lewis

3. Martinsville (3-1)

Last week's ranking: 2

Artesians had a rough night with Decatur Central, which controlled the clock and the ball, keeping Martinsville's offense off the field. And it sputtered the few times it did have possession until a drive produced a TD with 25 seconds left. The defense gave up fewer than 20 points for the fourth week, but penalties at crucial times sabotaged their effort. It won't get any easier this week or next. Friday: At 5A No. 6 Franklin (3-1), which was shutout 21-0 by No. 2 Whiteland, Martinsville's Week 6 opponent.

Martinsville's Hunter Stroud (3) brings down Decatur Central running back Jordan Cox during the Artesians' matchup with the Hawks on Sept. 9, 2022

4. Bloomington North (1-3)

Last week's ranking: 4

Two weeks in a row the Cougars have struggled in a number of areas, falling behind early and never really getting back in it vs. Terre Haute South or Bloomington South. Last week's 45-7 loss saw the return of Cody Mikulich at tailback, but also the loss of backups JT Storm and Nolan Coy, with sophomore Nate Peterson slotted as the next man up. Things will have to get better up front as North has given up 200+ rushing yards in back-to-back games. Friday: At Terre Haute North (1-3), which will bring the lumber in Damon Sturm (558 yards rushing).

Where are they now? Area college football players kick off fall seasons

5. Bedford North Lawrence (2-2)

Last week's ranking: 5

BNL found a secret sauce on the road Friday as Cal Gates rushed for 275 yards and three scores in a 45-21 rout of struggling New Albany. It started with an 80-yard romp on his first handoff and he was off to the races as the Stars moved to 2-0 in HHC play. Friday: Home vs. Seymour, with the ecstatic Owls coming off a dramatic last-second 22-15 win over Floyd Central.

6. Edgewood (1-3)

Last week's ranking: 6

A 57-7 loss to rival Owen Valley begins a long stretch against the best the Western Indiana Conference has to offer. Injuries still plague the Mustangs and turnovers did too vs. the Patriots, who took off to a 23-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Its defense will have its hands full again. Friday: At South Putnam (3-1), which has posted 157 points in its three wins and put up 34 in its loss to Owen Valley. Eagles have four backs with 100-plus yards this season.

Owen Valley's Eli Hinshaw makes the tackle and causes a fumble as Bryan Richardson (28) closes in during their 57-7 win over Edgewood on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.

SMALL SCHOOLS (1-3A)

1. Owen Valley (4-0)

Last week's ranking: 1

The Patriots had no problems in last week's Black and Blue game, roughing up Edgewood, 57-7. The offense remains balanced behind Brody Lester and RB Christian McDonald. A defense that gave up 34 points to South Putnam and 39 to Indian Creek will have to stiffen up this week as a huge game looms. Friday: Showdown vs. Northview (4-0) with the winner taking the lead in the WIC Gold Division. The Knights have given up just one TD each of the past three weeks.

2. Indian Creek (3-1)

Last week's ranking: 2.

Indian Creek steamrolled winless Brown County as expected, 55-0, on it's new turf field, beating the Eagles for a 20th straight time. A much greater challenge awaits this week. Friday: At 2A No. 7 Triton Central (3-1), which blasted Monrovia, 41-10, behind junior QB Jace Stuckey (1,065 yards) and receiver Brad Schultz, who caught six passes for 225 yards and three TDs.

3. Monrovia (2-2)

Last week's ranking: 3

The Bulldogs were popped again last week as 2A No. 7 Triton Central went bombs away for 258 passing yards on several big plays in a 41-10 win. The running game gained just 3.4 yards per carry. Friday: Another tough Indiana Crossroads Conference game awaits at Speedway (2-2).

4. Eastern Greene (1-3)

Last week's ranking: 5

The breakthrough game the T-Birds were looking for happened as tailback James Lewis had a record-setting night in a 56-30 win that ended an eight-game losing skid. It gives Eastern a chance to build some momentum heading into a tough row of foes and it may need some similar offensive fireworks to keep up with this week's opponent. Friday: At Clarksville, a team that is struggling to win having played a tough schedule, but has a tailback closing in on 5,000 career yards.

5. Mitchell (0-4)