IHSAA football preview: Predictions, top players for Central Indiana's Class A teams
A year after Covenant Christian won its first state title in program history, Lutheran knocked off Covenant Christian in the sectional championship on its way to the Saints’ first state title. Those teams will again battle it out in Sectional 47, though keep an eye on Park Tudor. The Panthers moved out of the same sectional with Covenant Christian and Lutheran and will come from the north side of the bracket instead.
Three regular-season games that will shape Class A:
Covenant Christian at Traders Point Christian, Aug. 26: Traders Point is just 2-6 all-time vs. Covenant Christian, but came close last year in a 26-22 loss. Another chance here in Week 2.
Lutheran vs. Scecina, at Roncalli, Sept. 23: Lutheran swept its way through the Indiana Crossroads Conference last year, including a win over Scecina, which tied for second with Speedway and Monrovia. This game could again decide the ICC.
Park Tudor at Covenant Christian, Oct. 7: Park Tudor took a major step forward last season, including a 35-29 win over Covenant Christian. Though they play in separate sectionals, this will be another good measuring-stick game for both teams.
(In order of projected finish; records from 2021)
Sectional 42
Park Tudor (8-3): Spencer Summerville goes into his fourth season as coach with a team he believes can contend for a state championship. Junior quarterback/running back DJ Gordon (1,353 passing yards, 17 TDs; 710 rushing yards, 13 TDs) is the top returning producer on offense, along with senior Jonathan Harris (291 rushing yards, four TDs; 18 catches, 268 yards, two TDs) and senior receiver Charlie Perine (21 catches, 339 yards, five TDs). Senior quarterback Rod Wheeler transferred in after playing three games last year at North Central (295 passing yards). The veteran defense is led by junior linebacker William Harris (82 tackles, two fumble recoveries), senior linebacker Tommy Crossin (77 tackles), senior defensive end Bryson Hobbs (37 tackles), senior defensive back Van Smith (65 tackles, one interception) and defensive back Harris (49 tackles, six interceptions).
North Vermillion (5-5)
Carroll (Flora) (9-4)
Traders Point Christian (5-6): Third-year coach Sam Carnes expects a big jump from senior quarterback Cooper Simmons-Little (44.8% completions, 2,154 passing yards, 18 TDs). He will have some experience around him with senior guard Calvin Falk and junior center Nick Bartels, along with senior receiver Phillip Moran (46 catches, 733 yards, five TDs). The defense will be led by senior safety Daniel Schoonveld (128 tackles), senior defensive end Christian Hieser (55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks) and junior linebacker Justin Kirk (61 tackles), who will also start at running back. Hauk Johnson, a senior linebacker, will return after missing last year due to a knee injury.
Covington (8-3)
Clinton Prairie (6-5)
Fountain Central (3-7)
Attica (0-7)
Sectional 45
Sheridan (7-3): The state’s all-time winningest coach, Bud Wright, goes into his 58th season with 436 career victories. Wright’s team will be led by senior and four-year starter Peyton Cross (517 rushing yards, five TDs), senior running back Jacob Jones, senior tight end Keagan Hampton and an offensive line of seniors Dagan Johnson, Gavin Petro, Joey Robinson and Cole Watts. The Blackhawks have four players — juniors Mason Robinson and Zach Bales and sophomores Caleb Alexander and Owen Bell — fighting for the starting quarterback job. Jones (106 tackles, eight tackles for loss) and Cross (62 tackles, seven tackles for loss) return on the defensive line along with Hampton at outside linebacker (42 tackles, six tackles for loss). Sheridan has not won a sectional since 2012, but realignment should benefit the Blackhawks.
Monroe Central (10-1)
Tindley (4-5): The Tigers should be benefit from a move out of a sectional with Covenant Christian and Lutheran and have a chance to compete in Melvin Graham’s third season as coach. Junior Deon Richmond (958 passing yards, eight TDs) is a dual threat at the quarterback position. The offensive line returns four starters and senior running back DeVion Hampton (680 rushing yards, six TDs). The top players on defense are junior lineman Karsa Fairley, senior linebacker Byron Stanfield and junior defensive back KeShawn McGill.
Union City (6-5)
Indiana Deaf (5-4): The Orioles enjoyed a winning season under coach Michael Paulone. Quarterback Jayden DeFalco passed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore.
Hagerstown (1-8)
Wes-Del (0-8)
Sectional 46
Tri (11-3)
North Decatur (6-5)
Edinburgh (5-5): In Tyler DeSpain’s third season as coach, the long-downtrodden Lancers posted their first .500 record since 1993, though Edinburgh had the unfortunate luck of facing state champion Lutheran in the first round of the sectional. DeSpain will bring back senior receiver Caleb Dewey (56 catches, 1,079 yards, 12 TDs), senior running back/receiver Jarrett Turner (57 catches, 613 yards, six TDs) and senior receiver Braylon Bryant (21 catches, 180 yards, three TDs). Sophomore Caleb Murphy is expected to slide into the starting quarterback role vacated by graduated senior Riley Palmeter, who is now at Marian. Dewey (29 tackles, three interceptions), Turner (34 tackles) and Bryant will lead the defense, along with senior defensive end Keegan Smith (32 tackles).
Milan (4-7)
South Decatur (2-6)
Knightstown (1-8)
Cambridge City Lincoln (0-5)
Sectional 47
Lutheran (15-0): The Saints are the defending state champion, though coach Dave Pasch will have quite a bit of talent to replace. Lutheran does return seven starters on offense, including experience up front with senior tackles Jacob Roberts and Louis Mobley, senior guard Jack Beard, senior center Hunter Johnson and senior tight end Spencer Bauer. Senior receiver Micah Mackay (41 catches, 954 yards, 13 TDs) is a standout and senior running back Joe Davis rushed for 1,298 yards and 11 TDs last season. Sophomore Jackson Willis is the projected starter at quarterback. The defense returns eight starters with Roberts at tackle (68 tackles, 10 sacks), Beard (57 tackles, four sacks) and Kam Patterson (31 tackles, four sacks). The linebackers are an experienced group with seniors Spencer Bauer (111 tackles, six tackles for loss) and Jake Akins (83 tackles, seven sacks) and junior Jonny Hall (98 tackles, two interceptions). In the secondary, Mackay (58 tackles, five interceptions) and senior Cur’Brian Shelby (72 tackles, two interceptions) return.
Covenant Christian (7-5): After winning a state championship in 2020, Covenant Christian lost by a touchdown last season in the sectional title game to Lutheran, which went on to win state. Coach Evan Cottle believes he has a team capable of making a deep tournament run with senior quarterback Tony Flatt (2,521 passing yards, 30 TDs; 281 rushing yards, five TDs) returning, along with senior running back John Nabors (1,335 rushing yards, 19 TDs; 15 catches, 253 yards, one TD), senior receiver Gavin Tindall (30 catches, 597 yards, six TDs), junior receiver Luke Munoz (10 catches, 188 yards, two TDs), junior receiver Landen Ross and senior linemen Eli Carlson and Cole Thomas. The defense will be led by defensive tackles Carlson and Thomas, senior defensive end Temi Adelekan (20 tackles), senior linebackers Nabors (84 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4 ½ sacks) and Wyatt Bowman (46 tackles) and Tindall (44 tackles, seven interceptions) and Munoz (29 tackles) in the secondary.
South Putnam (8-3)
North Central (Farmersburg) (6-6)
Parke Heritage (10-3)
Riverton Parke (4-7)
Cloverdale (0-8)
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football Class A preview, predictions, top players
