IHSAA football sectionals: What to know, predicted winners for 2022 Class A tournament
High school football sectional play begins this week. We break down the Class A field with 10 numbers to know, predictions and more:
Defending champion: Lutheran (9-0)
No. 1 team: Lutheran (9-0)
End of regular-season power rankings: A new No. 1 heading into sectionals
Three storylines
>> Lutheran’s playground: There is not another class that has such a strong favorite as this one. The Saints defeated two legitimate 2A state title contenders in Scecina and Triton Central and are riding a 24-game winning streak. The offense is averaging 50.4 points per game. Coach Dave Pasch’s team opens at home with South Putnam (7-2) in Sectional 47.
>> Northern power: Adams Central (9-0), ranked second behind Lutheran, has been nearly as dominant as the Saints against a similarly tough schedule. The Flying Jets gave Lutheran a tough game last year in the state finals, losing 34-28. We could see the same matchup again.
>> Opportunity for local teams: Covenant Christian (6-3), just outside the top-10 and the 2020 state champion, would likely have to get through Lutheran in the Sectional 47 championship to advance. But other local teams outside of Sectional 47 like No. 6 Sheridan (8-1) in Sectional 45 and Park Tudor (6-3) in Sectional 42 are probably favorites to advance. Sheridan has not won a sectional in 10 years and Park Tudor in 17 years.
10 numbers
22: Combined touchdown receptions for Lutheran’s Micah Mackay (43 catches for 939 yards and 11 TDs) and Curbrian Shelby (24 catches for 642 yards and 11 TDs). Those are the top two targets for Lutheran sophomore Jackson Willis, who is completing 66.7% of his passes for 2,578 yards and 34 TDs, a big reason why Lutheran keeps humming.
8: Consecutive winning seasons for Adams Central under coach Michael Mosser, who is in his 14th season. The Flying Jets have won six sectional titles, four regional championships and a semistate under Mosser.
6: Shutouts posted this season by third-ranked North Decatur (9-0). The Chargers have 13 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. Senior James Evans has 56 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He also has 443 rushing yards and four TDs and 18 receptions for 268 yards and a TD. North Decatur opens with No. 7 Tri (8-1), the team that knocked the Chargers out last season.
4: Undefeated teams in the class. Joining Lutheran, Adams Central and North Decatur is No. 5 Tecumseh (8-0), which is the most unlikely of the group. Tecumseh, which was 3-7 last season, has not posted a winning season since 2014 and not won a sectional title since 2003. Providence (6-2) would probably be the toughest challenge for Tecumseh in the Sectional 48 championship.
1,497: Rushing yards for Sheridan senior running back Peyton Cross, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of nine games this season. Two weeks ago, Cross rushed for 367 yards and four TDs on 49 carries in a 35-27 win over Eastern (Greentown). He is also third on the team with 89 tackles.
444: Coaching victories for the state’s all-time leader, Sheridan’s Bud Wright. This might be the best chance for the sixth-ranked Blackhawks (8-1) to win a sectional title since 2012. Sheridan opens with Union City (2-7) before playing Monroe Central (5-3), which has a bye. Sheridan has nine state championships under Wright.
2,390: Passing yards for Traders Point Christian quarterback Cooper Simmons-Little, who has 28 passing TDs this season and 46 over the past two seasons. Traders Point (4-5) could be a sleeper pick n Sectional 42, opening with Clinton Central (0-9) and then likely facing North Vermillion (5-4).
31: Combined touchdowns passing (22) and rushing (nine) for Covenant Christian senior quarterback Tony Flatt. This season, Flatt has 1,697 passing yards and 22 TDs and 224 rushing yards and nine TDs. Covenant Christian opens at Parke Heritage (1-8) in Sectional 47.
76.6: The percentage of the Indiana Deaf offense junior quarterback Jayden DeFalco accounts for. DeFalco is completing 73.9% of his passes for 1,681 yards and 25 TDs and rushed for 514 yards and 13 TDs. Indiana Deaf (7-1) opens against Tindley (2-7) in Sectional 45.
14: Undefeated state champions in this class since 2004. Lafayette Central Catholic (four), Sheridan (two), Pioneer (two), Cardinal Ritter (one), Seeger (one), North Vermillion (one), Linton-Stockton (one), Covenant Christian (one) and Lutheran (one) make up that group.
All of the Class A predicted sectional winners
Sectional 41: North Judson. The Bluejays’ only loss is to 2A unbeaten LaVille in overtime.
Sectional 42: Park Tudor. Though North Vermillion or Traders Point will have a say.
Sectional 43: Carroll (Flora). Carroll’s only loss is by one point in OT to Sheridan. The Cougars won the sectional last season.
Sectional 44: Adams Central.
Sectional 45: Sheridan.
Sectional 46: North Decatur. It will come down to the first-round game against Tri.
Sectional 47: Lutheran.
Sectional 48: Tecumseh. Providence could also be the pick Those teams would meet in the championship.
This probably all sets up for a Lutheran vs. Adams Central state finals rematch.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football Class 4A playoffs preview: Storylines, predictions
