Indiana high school football: 3 things, 5 players to watch in Week 3 of IHSAA season

The Week 3 high school football schedule is not quite as jam-packed as last week, but there are several intriguing games and storylines to track. Here are three things I will be looking for on Friday night:

Can Center Grove keep streak alive?

Yes, I picked Center Grove to win at Louisville Trinity and extend its winning streak to 31 games. But that prediction appears tenuous after Class 6A top-ranked Center Grove (2-0) was pushed into the fourth quarter in wins over Warren Central (17-8) and Carmel (31-27).

But despite the foot injury to Drew Wheat, the Trojans have been able to run the ball successfully with senior Micah Coyle (304 yards and two touchdowns in two games) and senior Jalen Thomeson (18 carries for 106 yards and two TDs vs. Carmel). First-year starter Tyler Cherry has also been solid (58.1% passer for 262 yards and two TDs) through two weeks.

Trinity, which won 15 state championships in Kentucky over a 20-year span from 2001-20, is coming off a 6-8 season in 2021 and is off to a 1-1 start this year. The Shamrocks defeated Carmel 17-7 in Week 1 as Luke Sasser ran for 117 yards on 21 carries and the defensive limited Carmel to seven first downs and 193 total yards. But Trinity’s offense sputtered last week in a 28-3 loss at Cincinnati Moeller.

Unlike some other area powers (Carmel, Warren Central, Cathedral among them), Center Grove typically has not played out-of-state teams, adding some intrigue to this matchup. The most-recent program to win 30 consecutive games was New Palestine. The Dragons lost in their attempt for No. 31, though, falling 35-22 at Mt. Vernon on Sept. 11, 2020.

The longest overall winning streak in state history is Bloomington/Bloomington South’s 60-game streak from 1967-73. During the tournament era (1973-present), Lafayette Central Catholic’s streak of 47 games from 2009-12 is at the top. Sheridan won 44 consecutive games from 2005-08 and Warren Central won 34 consecutive games from 1983-86.

Which teams have the potential for a breakthrough?

Three teams off to strong starts that could really make an impression with a Week 3 win:

Whiteland: Can Whiteland back up its 24-13 win over Lawrence North with a win at Mid-State Conference rival Decatur Central? A win here and next week at home over Franklin would put Whiteland in a good spot as a favorite in the conference and a legitimate state title contender in 5A.

Greenfield-Central: It feels like the Cougars are on the verge of a breakthrough under coach Travis Nolting after last year’s 7-4 season. Two of those losses were to Mt. Vernon. With 4A No. 1 New Palestine steamrolling again, a sectional title may be out of reach. But a win at Mt. Vernon would be big for the program.

Noblesville: The Millers are 2-0 but have not won a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game since 2020 and have not won one against a team other than Franklin Central since 2018. Can Noblesville get it done at 2-0 Fishers?

Five players to watch

Keep an eye on these five players in key games on Friday night:

Lee Alexander, Warren Central: It was a big week last week for Alexander, who made 14 tackles in a 44-26 win over Detroit King and now has 27 tackles, one interception and one caused fumble through two weeks. Alexander, who moved from safety to linebacker this season, also committed to Navy last week. Warren Central looks to keep the momentum going at North Central (0-2) this week.

Jeremiah Berry, Pike: Pike is off to an 0-2 start, but was competitive in losses to Zionsville (31-24 in double overtime) and Fishers (28-17). Ben Davis (1-1) will bring another difficult challenge Friday night. Berry, a senior running back, has 143 rushing yards and a touchdown through two weeks. The Red Devils will need a consistent running game to have a chance against the Giants.

Will Fremion, Guerin Catholic: The senior receiver has been a favorite target of Guerin quarterback Ryan Zimmerman, catching 14 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns in wins over McCutcheon and Lafayette Central Catholic. Guerin, ranked fifth in Class 3A, looks to keep the good vibes going when 2A sixth-ranked Heritage Christian visits.

Josh Mickens, Lawrence Central: If Lawrence Central (0-2) is going to end its five-game losing streak to rival Lawrence North (1-1) and take back the Bell trophy, it will need a strong effort from the 6-5, 225-pound defensive end and LSU commit. Mickens has 15 tackles through two games, a 12-7 loss to Hamilton Southeastern and a 42-27 loss to Westfield. Lawrence Central hosts the Wildcats, the same location where Lawrence North won 28-20 in last year’s sectional for its first sectional title since 1990.

Logan Shoffner, Noblesville: Noblesville is 2-0 for a second consecutive year going into a Week 3 game against Fishers. The Millers did not win again last year, starting with a 16-13 loss to the Tigers. Noblesville, going on the road, will need a good game from the 5-6, 150-pound Shoffner, who runs behind a massive offensive line. Through two games, he has 311 rushing yards and three TDs, averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football: Three things to watch in Week 3