Advertisement

Herald-Times football power poll for Week 3: Here's where area teams stand

Martinsville's Tyler Adkins (17) and Brayden Shrake (25) meet on a hand-off during the Artesians' rivalry matchup with Bloomington South on Aug. 26, 2022.
Martinsville's Tyler Adkins (17) and Brayden Shrake (25) meet on a hand-off during the Artesians' rivalry matchup with Bloomington South on Aug. 26, 2022.

Martinsville is this week's big riser, while the top of the small school poll is a three-team logjam between Owen Valley, Monrovia and Indian Creek that will sort itself out a bit this week. Here's where we stand after two weeks:

BIG SCHOOLS (4A-5A)

1. Mooresville (2-0)

Last week's ranking: 1.

The Pioneers remain on top as QB Nate Patterson tossed for 259 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another 84 yards and a score to negate three turnovers in a 38-17 win over Danville. Defense came up with three picks and pitched a shutout in the second half. Conference play opens vs. a Quakers team with two close losses to good teams. Friday: at Plainfield (0-2).

2. Martinsville (2-0)

Last week's ranking: 4

The Artesians turned the keys over to QB Tyler Adkins and he delivered with 242 yards and four TDs passing in a 27-14 win over Bloomington South. So did the defense that made things rough on South's offense, leaving it one-dimensional as the passing game struggled. It was 21-0 before the Panthers could respond late in the first half. Mid-State Conference play begins this week. Friday: at Greenwood.

More:Friday takeaways: Bloomington North receivers star in win over BNL

3. Bloomington North (1-1)

Last week's ranking: 3

North will be without star running back Cody Mikulich for a bit, but got good pop from JT Storm and Nolan Coy at running back. It helped a bunch that the Cougars had control on both sides of the line of scrimmage and did a good job disrupting BNL's passing game in a 35-14 win. Conference Indiana play starts this week. Friday: vs. Terre Haute South.

4. Bloomington South (1-1)

Last week's ranking: 2

South's defense got the test it expected from Martinsville in a 27-14 loss and it showed there's some work to do. Offensively, the front line had a bigger challenge than they did in their opener. Gavin Adams ran for 142 yards but QB's Zach David and Jarrin Alley were just 10-of-23 for 97 yards combined. CI opener features an opponent that threw for 226 yards vs. Northview and ran for 358 vs. Crispus Attucks. Friday: at Terre Haute North.

More:Who is the Herald-Times Athlete of the Week for Aug. 22-27?

5. Bedford North Lawrence (0-2)

Last week's ranking: 6.

Stars are still trying to put the pieces together in several areas. The line had a hard time keeping the Cougars out of the backfield in a 35-14 loss. A consistent run game never developed though QB Memphis Louden kept several drives alive with his feet. Defensively, the secondary was burned several times. But, BNL just played perhaps the two best teams it will see all season before it hits Hoosier Hills Conference play. Friday: at Jeffersonville.

5. Edgewood (1-1)

Last week's ranking: 5

Edgewood's injury situation is not good, leaving the Mustangs without two of their key two-way linemen, which ground-based Monrovia gladly exploited in a 42-10 win. It's a chance to give some youngsters good experience but more double-wing style football is on the menu this week with a squad from the Kankakee area of Illinois. Saturday: vs. Peotone (Ill.).

SMALL SCHOOLS (1-3A)

1. Owen Valley (2-0)

Last week's ranking: 1

The Patriots are red-hot on offense, piling up 134 points already. OV had its hands full with 1A ranked South Putnam, and led just 27-20 halfway through the third before pulling away. A win this week in its WIC Gold Division opener should get the Patriots some attention in the 3A state poll. Friday: vs. Indian Creek.

2. Monrovia (2-0)

Last week's ranking: 2

The Bulldogs had few troubles outmuscling undermanned Edgewood in a 42-10 win, getting a 200-yard rushing day from Dustin Kostrzewski on just 11 carries. That won't be the case this week. Monster game this week with 2A powerhouse Linton, which is averaging 60 points per game and whipped the Bulldogs last season. Friday: at Linton.

3. Indian Creek (2-0)

Last year's ranking: 3.

Indian Creek has been on the receiving end of physical poundings by rival Greenwood over the past several seasons, but not this time as the Braves held the Woodmen off the scoreboard in the fourth for a 21-20 win that came down to a missed extra point kick. They'll need that same effort to slow down Owen Valley in their WIC Gold Division opener. Friday: at Owen Valley.

4. Mitchell (0-2)

Last week's ranking: 4

Bluejackets struggled again, this time against one of the top teams in Class 1A, with three turnovers and a blocked punt. They trailed 14-0 just four minutes into the game and couldn't stop Ezra Mills (8 carries, 105 yards, 4 TDs). On to the next. Friday: at West Washington.

5. Eastern Greene (0-2)

Last week's ranking: 5

Eastern Greene remains a work in progress up front as North Knox RB Caleb Bottum piled up 274 rushing yards and four scores. Overall, the T-Birds gave up 489 yards on the ground. It looks like a different challenge this week in getting to the QB, as North Daviess' Brock Knepp hit North Central for 253 yards passing last week. Friday: vs. North Daviess.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Herald-Times football power poll Week 3: Here's where area teams stand