IHSAA football preview: Predictions, top players for Central Indiana's Class 4A teams
Roncalli won the Class 4A state title in 2020 and Mt. Vernon, after knocking off Roncalli in the regional, went on to win a 4A championship last season. Reclassification has shuffled the deck a bit in this class as Brebeuf Jesuit — the 3A state runner-up last season — moves up and Bishop Chatard moves down to 3A. New Palestine also moves down from 5A and into the same sectional as rival and the defending state champion Marauders. Mooresville moved into the same sectional field with Roncalli and Brebeuf.
Three regular-season games that will shape 4A:
New Palestine at Mt. Vernon, Sept. 9: This game not only will likely decide the Hoosier Heritage Conference, but also could serve as a sectional preview. Mt. Vernon ended New Pal’s 65-game regular season winning streak the last time the Dragons visited in 2020 and whipped New Pal 49-10 last season.
Mooresville at Decatur Central, Sept. 16: This red-hot rivalry will probably decide the Mid-State Conference race. A Pioneers’ win over the 5A Hawks was establish Mooresville as a legitimate state title contender.
Roncalli at Brebeuf Jesuit, Sept. 23: This Circle City Conference game is perhaps a sectional preview. These programs have net met in the tournament in 22 years. Roncalli is 4-0 all-time vs. Brebeuf in the tournament.
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(In order of projected finish; records from 2021)
Sectional 21
Roncalli (12-1): First-year coach Eric Quintana has an excellent senior class that has been part of teams that compiled a 25-2 record over the past two seasons. The Royals were 12-0 last year before losing 27-21 to Mt. Vernon in the regional. Senior running back Luke Hansen rushed for 1,458 yards and 17 TDs last season and will be running behind an experienced offensive line that includes senior tackle Trevor Lauck, center Luke Skartvedt and guard Brady Neu. Senior receiver Dylan Koglin (six catches, 79 yards) and senior quarterback Arik Moyers will be counted on at the skill positions. The defense lost its three top tacklers to graduation, but does return senior tackles Luke Swartz (72 tackles, 11 ½ tackles for loss) and Neu (53 tackles, six tackles for loss), senior linebackers Nolan Tunny (45 tackles, nine tackles for loss) and Joey Uberta, junior linebacker Ben Brandenburg and senior defensive backs Andrew Baugh (70 tackles, five interceptions) and George Marten.
Mooresville (8-3): Coach Mike Gillin goes into his sixth season at Mooresville and 42nd overall with a senior quarterback in Nick Patterson (2,970 passing yards, 37 TD passes; 374 rushing yards, seven rushing TDs last season) and other veterans in offense with senior running back Brandon Wilson (203 rushing yards, two TDs), senior receiver Wesley Reeves (25 catches, 354 yards, four TDs) and junior receiver Hogan Denny (36 receptions, 477 yards, four TDs). Along the offensive line, the top returners are seniors Logan Olinger and Chase Price and junior Logan Ryan. The top returners on defense are senior linebackers Kellen Copeland (41 tackles, nine sacks) and Aaron McClure (48 tackles), junior lineman Hunter Bennett (22 tackles, two sacks) and senior defensive back Julian Thompson (29 tackles) and Denny (54 tackles, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
Brebeuf Jesuit (12-3): Brebeuf made a massive improvement from a 5-5 season in 2020 to reaching the Class 3A state finals last season in Matt Geske’s season year as coach. There is a lot of talent returning on offense, including senior quarterback/athlete Nolan Buckman (2,993 passing yards, 37 TDs), senior running back Jack Maiers (860 rushing yards, eight TDs), senior tight end Jaren Bowling, senior lineman Logan Petrie and junior lineman Noah Bogle. Maiers and Bowling are back on defense at linebacker and Petrie and Bogle on the defensive line. Also returning are senior defensive back Devin McIlwain (27 tackles, three interceptions), senior linebacker Cole Williams (92 tackles, seven tackles for loss), senior lineman Conway Zhang (41 tackles, 9 ½ tackles for loss), senior lineman Finn Walters (73 tackles, five tackles for loss), senior defensive back Ryan Joyce (48 tackles, three interceptions) and senior defensive back Bryson Buford. Geske expects the defense to be one of the best in the state.
Lebanon (7-4): Lebanon posted its best record since 2017 under sixth-year coach Jeff Smock, but will be replacing a large group of seniors. One of the top returners is senior Landon Fouts (59.9% completion rate, 1,699 passing yards, 15 TDs), who has top target, sophomore Kaden Lark (29 catches, 473 yards, four TDs), coming back. Senior running back Carson Toole returns after missing last season. Other expected contributors on offense will be sophomore running back Brendan Shockley, junior receivers Sam Kyker and Trey Ries, senior linemen Trevon Bell and Nabih Soumah and junior lineman Eli Bridges. Leading the defense will be senior linebacker Makai Smith (65 tackles, two interceptions), senior safety Jake Burns (34 tackles), junior linebackers Chris Hernandez and Mason Crew (34 tackles, one interception), sophomore linebacker Levi Poland (two forced fumbles), seniors Bell and Soumah on the line and sophomore lineman Jaden Ranney. Sophomore Lark is also a standout in the secondary (34 tackles, one interception).
Northview (9-2)
Shortridge (3-5): The Blue Devils took a step forward last year under Jovan McCray, who is entering his fourth season as coach, ending a 19-game losing streak and winning a sectional game for the first time in seven years. McCray is expecting another step forward this season with an offense that returns senior receivers Nate Bateman (17 catches, 205 yards, three TDs) and Elias Diallo (20 catches, 138 yards). The defense will be led by senior defensive end Josh Edmondson (12 tackles for loss, six sacks), senior free safety Malachi Flournoy (30 tackles, two interceptions) and junior linebacker DeWayne Williams (seven tackles for loss, three sacks).
Crispus Attucks (3-6): Third-year coach Ramon Stallings has high expectations for this team with seniors returning on offense in quarterback Diego Pettiford, running back Kerry Joseph, lineman Perry Arnold, wide receiver Jayzon Davis and tight end/receiver Keeshum Cox. The defense will be led by senior cornerback Duane Pollard, sophomore free safety Dejuan Elliott, junior linebackers Darnell Taylor and Tony Wooden and junior cornerback Michael Dye.
Washington (3-6): Tracey Pendelton, the former coach at since-closed Howe, takes over a program that has not posted a winning season since it restarted in 2012.
Sectional 22
Mt. Vernon (14-1): Coach Vince Lidy led the veteran and speedy Marauders to a Class 4A state championship last season — the first in program history. The roster numbers are up and expectations are high again. Speed again will be a strength with senior Eli Bridenthal (31 catches, 621 yards, six TDs), senior and Purdue recruit George Burhenn (28 catches, 443 yards, five TDs; 197 rushing yards) and senior running back Ashton Julian (234 rushing yards, four TDs) returning. Other contributors will be senior running back Kellan LaBelle, junior receiver Tre Jones (seven catches, 137 yards, three TDs) and senior linemen Kyler Grill, Ben Roembke and Travis Taylor. Junior tight end Tyler Etherington will also play a role. Linebacker LaBelle (40 tackles, four sacks) and Julian (28 tackles), defensive backs Bridenthal (21 tackles) and Burhenn (44 tackles) will lead the defense, along with senior lineman Tyler Kimberly (32 tackles) and senior defensive back Ren Davis (26 tackles, one interception).
New Palestine (8-4): The Dragons bring back a lot of experience going into Kyle Ralph’s 10th season as coach, including junior running back Grayson Thomas (1,288 rushing yards, 19 TDs), a two-year starter at running back. Senior and Ball State recruit Isaiah Thacker (34 catches, 693 yards, five TDs) is also poised for a big season. Leading the way up front on offense will be Louisville commit and senior Luke Burgess and junior Ian Moore, a four-star prospect with multiple Division I offers. Senior Blaine Nunnally (29 catches, 398 yards, three TDs) is also a three-year starter on defense and was third on the team in tackles last season with 84, including six for a loss. Senior linebacker Eli Hook (94 tackles, 14 ½ tackles for loss, five sacks) and sophomore lineman Michael Thacker (89 tackles, 22 tackles for loss) will be leaders on the defense, along with senior linebacker Eian Roudebush (63 tackles, six tackles for loss), who will also factor in at quarterback.
Greenfield-Central (7-4): Fourth-year coach Travis Nolting looks to build off the program’s first winning season since 2016 with an offense led by senior fullback Andrew Zellers (1,090 rushing yards, 10 TDs), senior running back Brayden Herrell (884 rushing yards, six TDs), junior receiver Kirk Knecht (four receptions, 169 yards in seven games), senior quarterback Brodie Mayberry (270 rushing yards, two TDs) and all-conference junior center Brayden Flener. The defense also has plenty of experience, led by all-state defensive end Brad Allen (50 tackles, 16 sacks), senior cornerback Owen Anderson (37 tackles, four interceptions), junior linebacker Jake Hinton (35 tackles) and linebacker Zellers (26 tackles).
Pendleton Heights (5-5): Coach Jed Richman started 14 sophomores last season, which should pay off with an experienced — yet still young — group this year. Junior Isaac Wilson will move from receiver to quarterback and has a couple of experienced running backs behind him in juniors James Malone (386 rushing yards, two TDs) and Dresden Roberts (237 rushing yards, two TDs). Junior receivers Reese Reddington (17 catches, 193 yards, two TDs) and Caden Sims (14 catches, 310 yards, four TDs) and senior receiver Jalen Jordan (nine catches, 182 yards, two TDs) also return as starters with seniors Sam Mossoney and Ian Stephens and juniors Reis Schnepp and Jaythan Howard along the line. The defense is also experienced, led by junior linebackers Nick Trout (38 tackles, Roberts (52 tackles, three sacks) and Eli Arthur, senior lineman Sidiki Traore and junior linemen Bryant Davis and Peyton Pollock and junior Clint Miller (34 tackles, two interceptions) in the secondary.
Beech Grove (3-7): Brandon Winters enters his second season as coach with a speedy group that will be led up front by third-year starter David Sims and returning starter Jack Broadwell, both seniors, along the offensive line. Senior Skylar Thacker will transition to quarterback from receiver after catching 20 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown last season. Also returning on offense are senior tight end/receiver Aeden Crawley (21 catches, 284 yards, one TD) and junior receiver Hunter Parr-Stokes. On defense, the Hornets will bring back returning starters on the defensive line in senior Aaron Norman and junior Julius Florence and junior linebacker Cantrell Byrd. Senior safety Lawrence Lewis is the team’s leading returning tackler. Junior Brion Murray will be a first-year starter at linebacker.
New Castle (2-8)
Richmond (2-9)
Connersville (3-9)
Sectional 23
East Central (10-3)
Martinsville (7-5): Brian Dugger goes into his third season as coach with a group that should be ahead on offense led by senior quarterback Tyler Adkins (2,292 passing yards, 28 TDs), senior receivers Garrett Skaggs (44 catches, 635 yards, seven TDs) and Luke Cheatham (35 catches, 419 yards, two TDs) and junior running back Brayden Shrake (382 rushing yards, six TDs). Sophomore Josh Jones is a promising tight end. The defense will be led by senior linebacker Devon Brenner (97 tackles, 4 ½ sacks), senior defensive end Nic Crone (45 tackles, 4 ½ sacks), junior cornerback Logan Poppy (35 tackles), junior defensive back Ben Field and sophomore defensive back Hunter Stroud. The Artesians reached the sectional championship game last year before losing to East Central.
Greenwood (2-8): The Woodmen struggled to their lowest win total since coach Mike Campbell’s first season in 2006. Senior tight end Carter Campbell, a junior all-stater last season, is the top returner on offense after catching 23 passes for 275 yards and two TDs last season. Junior Brock Riddle (402 passing yards, five TDs) earned experience last year at quarterback. The defense will build around junior middle linebacker Cooper Smith (55 tackles), senior linebacker Scott Raker (60 tackles) and junior free safety Tanner Crouch (39 tackles).
Silver Creek (5-4)
Bedford North Lawrence (4-6)
Shelbyville (1-6): Brian Glesing goes into his second season at Shelbyville with another young team that ended a 26-game losing streak last year. The Golden Bears will be led by senior running back Cael Lux (478 rushing yards, four TDs), junior quarterback Eli Chappelow (292 passing yards), junior running back Axel Conover (106 rushing yards), senior receiver Jackson Parker (16 catches, 196 yards, one TD), junior receiver Alex Macharia (nine catches, 101 yards, one TD) and senior tight end Riley Fortune. Starters on the offensive line are junior center Jacob Harker, junior guard Jacob Dupont and junior tackle Elias Jones. The defense returns senior linebackers Jordan Marcum (34 tackles), Lux (28 tackles) and Fortune and junior linebacker Conover (30 tackles). Junior Jaylen Sturgill returns on the defensive line and in the secondary will be Chappelow at safety, Parker (three interceptions) at one cornerback and junior Grant Schene at the other corner.
Jennings County (1-9)
Edgewood (2-8)
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football 4A preview, predictions, top players
