Indiana high school football roundup: Scores, highlights, stats from regional games

The IHSAA football state tournament has reached the regional round.

IndyStar was all over Central Indiana as the road to Lucas Oil Stadium continued. Catch up on Friday night's regionals here.

On longtime assistant coaches: 'You fall in love with a different group of kids every year.'

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6A: Ben Davis 32, Brownsburg 14

Three takeaways from Ben Davis’ 32-14 victory over visiting Brownsburg on Friday night in a Class 6A regional game.

Play of the game

Brownsburg was badly in need of a stop, trailing 11-0 late in the first half, when Ben Davis was faced with a fourth-and-14 from the Bulldogs’ 21-yard-line. J’Uan Swanson found Dillon Moore on a wheel route up the sideline. The wind held the ball up, but Moore came back to it and caught it while seated on the ground at the Brownsburg 1. Chris Patterson scored on the next play to give Ben Davis an 18-0 lead with 2:09 in the half.

Turning point

It did not take long. Ben Davis’ first drive of the game set the tone. It included a 31-yard pass on third-and-2 from Swanson to Brady Simmons that seemed to energize the Giants. The 13-play, 84-yard drive was capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Chris Patterson, who also ran in the 2-point conversation. Ben Davis led 8-0 and never looked back.

Standout performer

Dillon Moore made two big interceptions in the first half to end Brownsburg drives and also made a big catch on fourth down – as noted above – to set up another score. Swanson was also outstanding passing on a blustery night. But I’ll give it to Simmons, a senior who had five catches for 193 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception in the second half. -- Kyle Neddenriep, IndyStar

► FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Ben Davis says it's 'ready to go take the next step.' We'll find out vs. Center Grove

Brownsburg 0 0 0 14 — 14

Ben Davis 11 7 7 7 — 32

Scoring plays

BD – Chris Patterson 5 run (Patterson run)

BD – Ben Rudolph 36 FG

BD – Patterson 1 run (Rudolph kick)

BD – J’Uan Swanson 45 run (Rudolph kick)

BD – Brady Simmons 80 pass from Swanson (Rudolph kick)

Br – Freddy Hawthorne 19 pass from Jayden Whitaker (pass failed)

Br – Hawthorne 24 pass from Whitaker (Brady Probst pass from Whitaker)

Rushing — Brownsburg: Garrett Sherrell 21-86, Caleb Marcus 8-32, Whitaker 7-(-11). Ben Davis: Swanson 5-69, Alijah Price 13-60, Patterson 7-35, Donahvon Troutman 4-12, Dillon Moore 1-2.

Passing — Brownsburg: Whitaker 9-24-2 130. Ben Davis: Swanson 15-26-1 260; Patterson 0-1-0 0.

Receiving — Brownsburg: Hawthorne 3-52, Jordan Turley-Ford 2-28, Marcus 2-23, Sherrell 1-15, Alex Hoover 1-12. Ben Davis: Simmons 5-193, Donell Mason 5-57, Marques Reese 4-27, Moore 1-20.

6A: Center Grove 29, Lawrence North 19

Play of the Game

It came from the losing side, but everyone loves some trickeration. On fourth and 16 from the Center Grove 30-yard line, Lawrence North quarterback Montez Jones completed a short pass to David Ragas at the 24. Ragas turned and tossed the ball back to a sprinting Israel Jackson up the left sideline for a hook and lateral. Jackson reached the 11-yard line, converting the first down midway through the third quarter. Jones scored on the Wildcats next play, cutting their deficit to 3.

Turning Point

Special teams miscues plagued Lawrence North early on and Drew Wheat's 31-yard punt return touchdown with 1 second remaining in the first quarter seemed like a back-breaker at the time. The Wildcats already spotted Center Grove six points after Jackson Griffin returned a backward punt 30 yards to the end zone. The Trojans' second special teams score put them up 22-7, giving them cushion to withstand the late-charging Wildcats and pull out the victory.

Player of the Game: The Center Grove Pass Rush

The ability to completely take away one part of a team's offense is the sign of a dominant defensive unit. Center Grove's pass rush led by Caden Curry, along with James Schott, Owen Green and Trel Specker completely eliminated Lawrence North's deep passing game. Every time LN quarterback Montez Jones tried a deep drop back, one of the Trojans rushers broke free, chasing Jones down or forcing a hurried throw. The Trojans rushers combined for five sacks, including a game-sealing sack on fourth down in the fourth quarter. -- Akeem Glaspie, IndyStar

► FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Special teams the difference as Center Grove survives Lawrence North upset bid

Center Grove 22 0 0 7 — 29

Lawrence North 7 6 6 0 — 19

Scoring plays

LN — Ali Richardson 4 run (Matthew Dempsey kick)

CG — Jackson Griffin 29 blocked punt return (Caden Curry run)

CG — Drew Wheat 26 run (Nolan Foley kick)

CG — D. Wheat 32 punt return (Foley kick)

LN — Richardson 2 run (pass failed)

LN — Montez Jones 11 run (kick failed)

CG — Curry 3 run (Foley kick)

Rushing — Lawrence North: Ali Richardson 21-62, Jones 6-55, Israel Jackson 3-12. Center Grove: Micah Coyle 5-50, Daniel Weems 11-48, D. Wheat 6-39, Curry 1-3, B. Wheat 1-(minus-6), Tayven Jackson 6-(minus-10), Team 2-0.

Passing — Lawrence North: Jones 18-34-0, 223. Center Grove: Jackson 13-18-0, 147.

Receiving — Lawrence North: Omar Cooper 6-72, Cam Myers 2-70, Mario Lomax 5-38, David Ragas 4-32, Jayden Longest 1-11. Center Grove: Eli Hohlt 3-62, Brandon Wheat 6-32, Harrison Stomps 2-30, Daniel Weems 1-13, Zach Greller 1-10.

6A: Westfield 37, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 14

The No. 2 Shamrocks (11-1) continued their march toward a second straight Class 6A state championship game by dominating the No. 6 Chargers (10-2), getting 151 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns from running back Micah Hauser and two more TDs from Trevon Hatchett. Maximus Webster didn’t connect on a TD pass, but ran for a score and threw for 216 yards to turn a 10-0 halftime lead into a 37-8 fourth-quarter lead before yielding a late scoring pass.

Westfield 7 3 13 14 — 37

Carroll 0 0 8 6 — 14

Scoring plays

W — Maximus Webster 2 run (Caleb King kick)

W — King 36 FG

W — Micah Hauser 4 run (kick failed)

C — Aiden Lazoff 36 pass from Jeffrey Becker (Jameson Coverstone pass from Becker)

W — Trevon Hatchett 5 run (King kick)

W — Hatchett 1 run (King kick)

W — Hauser 23 run (King kick)

C — Hansen Haffner 11 pass from Becker (run failed)

Rushing — Westfield: Hauser 25-151, Webster 10-48, Hatchett 9-36, Ja’Veyon Averitte 2-1, Brock Stewart 4-(minus-4). Carroll: Becker 12-46, others not available.

Passing — Westfield: Webster 11-20-0, 216. Carroll: Becker 23-38-2, 266.

Receiving — Westfield: Gabriel Aramboles 5-112, Nic Depasquale 3-50, Ian Burch 2-46, Hauser 1-8. Carroll: Cooper Rudolph 8-96, Lazoff 1-36, Haffner 1-11, others not available.

5A: Cathedral 23, New Palestine 7

New Palestine 0 7 0 0 — 7

Cathedral 10 10 3 0 — 23

Scoring plays

C — Ben Gomez 45 FG

C — Brennan Wooten 7 pass from Danny O’Neil (Gomez kick)

NP — Isaiah Thacker 62 pass from Damon Hockett (Brendan Tanksley kick)

C — Gomez 26 FG

C — Seth Mencer 45 run (Gomez kick)

C — Gomez 27 FG

Rushing — Cathedral: Mencer 18-133, Carson Johnson 10-45, O’Neil 10-30, Hosia Smith 4-12. New Palestine: Grayson Thomas 7-6, Elan Roudebush 4-(minus-6), Hockett 7-(minus-38).

Passing — Cathedral: O’Neil 19-25-0, 160. New Palestine: Hockett 13-32-2, 157; Roudebush 4-7-0, 29.

Receiving — Cathedral: Jaron Tibbs 9-99, Tazz Garrett 3-26, Michael Page 4-17, Wooten 1-7, Mencer 1-7, Daniel Hughes 1-4. New Palestine: Thacker 6-89, Blaine Nunnally 4-52, Caleb Byers 3-29, Kyler Kropp 3-20, Thomas 1-20.

► FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Defense, timely TD run keeps Cathedral repeat hopes alive with regional win over New Pal

5A: Zionsville 35, FW Dwenger 14

Gage Bankert Soars

With the Zionsville’s lead running back Colin Price out with a hamstring injury, Gage Bankert had to step up in place of his injured teammate and Bankert delivered with two touchdowns and 170 yards rushing in the first half.

Bankert’s first touchdown run of 9 yards capped off 61 rushing yards on the opening drive of the game lasting 6:01.

Bishop Dwenger Strikes Back

On the ensuing kickoff, Henry O’Keefe took 18 seconds off the clock to return the ball 92 yards to score Bishop Dwenger’s only touchdown of the first half. O’Keefe then ran another kickoff almost all the way back for a touchdown before Zionsville kicker AJ Vinatieri made a touchdown-saving tackle.

However, a Bishop Dwenger holding penalty brought the ball back to their own side of the field.

Eagles Defense Shines

Zionsville’s defense kept the pressure on Bishop Dwenger the entire night and won the turnover battle with four turnovers.

Bohde Dickerson’s second quarter interception to George Quandee led to a Bankert touchdown run to make the score 21-7.

The second half kickoff to Bishop Dwenger resulted in a fumble that led to a Christian Abney touchdown run.

Dickerson threw his second interception of the game to Aiden Krein and fumbled with 2:19 left in the game with Zionsville’s Owen Readinger sealing the win with the fumble recovery. -- Christopher DeHarde, for IndyStar

►FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Zionsville senior RB spent 'all year biding his time,' then blew up in regional win

FW Dwenger 7 0 0 7 — 14

Zionsville 7 14 7 7 — 35

Scoring plays

Z — Gage Bankert 9 run (A.J. Vinatieri kick)

FWD — Name N/A 89 kickoff return (Ryan Ward kick)

Z — Christian Abney 2 run (Vinatieri kick)

Z — Bankert 11 run (Vinatieri kick)

Z — Abney 9 run (Vinatieri kick)

FWD — Name N/A 18 pass from Name N/A (Joseph Bulanda kick)

Z — Hanson Hinshaw 25 run (Vinatieri kick)

Rushing — Zionsville: Bankert 42-241, Abney 10-47, Hinshaw 3-31, Case Anderson 1-10, Luke Murphy 3-(minus-16). Dwenger: Team 21-18.

Passing — Zionsville: Murphy 2-3-0, 16; Abney 1-2-0, 9. Dwenger: Team 12-30-2, 109.

Receiving — Zionsville: Trey Firestone 2-16, Gunnar Hartwig 1-9. Dwenger: Team 12-109.

4A: Mt. Vernon 27, Roncalli 21

No. 4 Mt. Vernon upended top-ranked Roncalli on Friday to advance to semistate. here is what you need to know from the game.

Turning point

The Royals seized momentum late in the second quarter with Luke Hansen running in a 13-yard touchdown to make it a three-point game before the defense forced a punt to reclaim possession for the Marauders with about a minute left.

Roncalli was unable to capitalize on that extra opportunity, but was able to steadily move the ball on the opening drive of the second half, before Mt. Vernon's defense dug in and forced a punt.

Then the Marauders offense went back to work, methodically pounding away at the Roncalli defense for chunks of yards at a time.

They converted a fourth down to reach the 19 and set up a two-yard touchdown run by senior Keagan LaBelle a few plays later.

Mt. Vernon had stabilized following a wobbly finish to the first half and prevented its opponent from parlaying that late-second quarter momentum swing into a significant surge.

Player of the game

Ethan Yeley, Mt. Vernon. Let's show the kicker some love. Yeley converted all three PATs, plus a couple field goals, including a 38-yard attempt that made it a 13-point game with 4:35 remaining.

Play of the game

Roncalli's Joe Milto and Daniel O'Connor combined for a wild interception late in the first quarter. After Mt. Vernon forced a turnover on downs, Milto went airborne and tipped a pass to the sideline into the air. Then, seeming out of nowhere, O'Connor came crashing in and corralled the tipped ball, briefly juggling it before pulling it in as he hit the turf. -- Brian Haenchen, IndyStar

► 'Everyone doubted us': Mt. Vernon knocks off No. 1 and defending state champs Roncalli

Roncalli 7 7 0 0 — 21

Mt. Vernon 14 3 7 0 — 27

Scoring plays

R — Luke Hansen 2 run (Luke Russell kick)

MV — Travon Hagler 1 run (Ethan Yeley kick)

MV — Eli Bridenthal 5 run (Yeley kick)

MV — Yeley 27 FG

R — Hansen 13 run (Russell kick)

MV — Keagan LaBelle 2 run (Yeley kick)

MV — Yeley 37 FG

R — Aidan Leffler 3 run (Russell kick)

Rushing — Roncalli: Hansen 18-112, Leffler 18-87, Caden Gore 3-10; Mt. Vernon: LaBelle 19-68, Gehrig Slunaker 6-(minus-4), George Burhenn 5-107, Ashden Gentry 3-18, Bridenthal 2-14, Hegler 1-1, Avery Williams 1-1.

Passing — Roncalli: Leffler 14-27-0 94; Mt. Vernon: Slunaker 9-12-2 149.

Receiving — Roncalli: Core 5-40, Dylan Koglin 4-43, Michael Gallagher 3-18, Hansen 2-(minus-7); Mt. Vernon: Burhenn 3-22, Bridenthal 2-87, Gentry 2-25, Tre Jones 2-15.

3A: Tri-West 28, Owen Valley 7

Tri-West 0 14 7 7 — 28

Owen Valley 0 0 0 7 — 7

Scoring plays

TW — Alex Covey 26 pass from Ty Owens (Cortland Williams kick)

TW — Jeff Marsh 35 pass from Owens (Williams kick)

TW — Davon Brown 11 run (Williams kick)

TW — Ethan Depinet 3 fumble return (Williams kick)

OV — Brody Lester 1 run (Kyler Walker kick)

► FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Tri-West football is back where it thinks it belongs: competing for state titles

3A: Brebeuf Jesuit 38, Norwell 9

Brebeuf Jesuit 16 22 0 0 — 38

Norwell 3 0 0 6 — 9

Scoring plays

B — Max Walters 8 pass from Nolan Buckman (Ryan Kersteff kick)

N — Austin DeLeon 40 FG

B — Safety, quarterback sacked in end zone

B — Jack Maiers 5 run (Kersteff kick)

B — Maiers 1 run (Rob Tuttle pass from Buckman)

B — Anthony Annee 67 pass from Buckman (Kersteff kick)

B — Jeremiah Jackson 1 run (Kersteff kick)

N — Luke Graft 8 run (kick failed)

Rushing — Brebeuf: Clark Sweet 6-35, Maiers 12-34, Buckman 4-28, Jackson 3-15, Alex Haney 3-7, C.J. Harris 1-(minus-3), Maverick Geske 1-(minus-7). Norwell: L. Graft 19-69, Drew Graft 2-13, Lleyton Bailey 7-(minus-8).

Passing — Brebeuf: Buckman 13-19-0, 232; Geske 0-2-0, 0. Norwell: Lleyton Bailey 4-11-0, 10; Drew Graft 0-3-0, 0.

Receiving — Brebeuf: Maiers 3-90, Annee 2-80, Walters 3-24, Clark Sweet 3-19, Tuttle 1-15, Merrick Macalusco 1-4. Norwell: Trey Bodenheimer 2-6, L. Graft 1-10, Bo Morgan 1-6.

2A: Scecina 34, Lafayette Central Catholic 13

Scecina 13 0 21 0

CC 0 7 0 6

S — Dequan Stennis 64 run (kick failed)

S — Stennis 80 run (Alex Mendoza kick)

LCC — Clark Barrett 1 run (Clark Obermiller kick)

S — Luke Soultz 4 interception return (kick failed)

S — Safety, runner tackled in end zone by Adam Young

S — Keaton Thibo 25 pass from Aidan Ray (Nolan Carter kick)

S — Stennis 45 run (kick failed)

LCC — Alex Hardebeck 40 pass from Barrett (pass failed)

Rushing — Scecina: Stennis 18-274, DJ Mendez 4-37, Brandon Fitts-Ramsey 10-26, Christian Meriweather 4-11, Aidan Ray 2-2, Soultz 1-(minus-2), Calvin Connor 1-(minus-2): LCC: Baylor Smith 15-56, Ty Buche 1-(minus-17), Clark Barrett 10-(minus-20)

Passing — Scecina: Ray 2-7-0, 30. LCC: Barrett 21-38-2, 253.

Receiving — Scecina: Thibo 1-25, Soultz 1-5. LCC: Buche 7-82, Hardebeck 2-46, Owen Munn 4-46, Evan Dienhart 6-45, Brian Robbins 1-18, Baylor Smith 1-16.

2A: Evansville Mater Dei 35, Triton Central 7

Joey Pierre rushed for nearly 200 yards in the first half as the visiting No. 7 Wildcats (11-2) dominated their 2A Regional showdown against the Tigers (8-5), who managed just one first down in the opening two periods. The win marked Mater Dei’s 14th regional title, and avenged a 13-7 regional loss to Triton Central in 2019 on the same field.

Mater Dei 21 14 0 0 — 35

Triton Central 0 0 0 7 — 7

Scoring plays

MD — Mason Wunderlich 1 run (Tyler Sitzman kick)

MD — Eli McDurmon 14 pass from Wunderlich (Sitzman kick)

MD — Wunderlich 3 run (Sitzman kick)

MD — Bryce Humphries 3 run (Sitzman kick)

MD — Joey Pierre 55 run (Sitzman kick)

TC — Anthony Dunville 11 pass from Jace Stuckey (Levi Dewey kick)

Class A: Lutheran 42, Parke Heritage 6

Lutheran 7 7 14 14 — 42

Park Heritage 0 6 0 0 — 6

Montasi Clay rushed for four touchdowns and threw for a fifth to lead the No. 1 Saints (13-0) to their sixth Class A regional championship with a dominating win over the No. 5 Wolves (10-3). Clay ran for 252 yards and Joe Davis added 157 more plus a TD to help Lutheran make its bid for an elusive state crown.

L — Montasi Clay 5 run (Kyle Stewart kick)

PH — Anthony Wood 24 pass from Christian Johnson (pass failed)

L — Clay 1 run (Stewart kick)

L — Clay 16 run (Stewart kick)

L — Clay 46 run (Stewart kick)

L — Joe Davis 25 run (Stewart kick)

L — Javen Holsey 10 pass from Clay (Stewart kick)

Rushing — Lutheran: Clay 23-252, Davis 21-157, Holsey 2-10, Jake Pasch 1-1. Parke Heritage: Dakota Vance 9-50, C. Johnson 7-8, Noble Johnson 1-2.

Passing — Lutheran: Clay 6-7-0, 48. Parke Heritage: C. Johnson 12-24-1, 125.

Receiving — Lutheran: Micah Mackay 3-26, Pasch 2-12, Holsey 1-10. Parke Heritage: N. Johnson 5-48, Wood 3-42, Caleb Basler 1-33, Nas McNeal 2-2, Vance 1-0.

CLASS 6A

Merrillville 39, Penn7

Westfield 37, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 14

Ben Davis 32, Brownsburg 14

Center Grove 29, Lawrence North 19

CLASS 5A

Michigan City 31,, Valparaiso28, 2OT

Zionsville 35, FW Bishop Dwenger 14

Cathedral 23, New Palestine 7

New Albany 33, Bloomington South 14

CLASS 4A

New Prairie 28, Lowell 14

Northriidge 25, Mississinewa 7

Mt. Vernon 27, Roncalli 21

East Central at Evansville Memorial, 3 p.m., Saturday

CLASS 3A

Mishawaka Marian 33, Hanover Central 6

Brebeuf Jesuit 38, Norwell 9

Tri-West 28, Owen Valley 7

Lawrenceburg at Gibson Southern, 6 p.m., Saturday

CLASS 2A

Andrean 35, LaVille 8

Eastside 21, Eastbrook 14

Scecina 34, Lafayette Central Catholic 13

Evansville Mater Dei 35, Triton Central 7

CLASS A

North Judson 35, Carroll (Flora) 6

Adams Central 41, South Adams 0

Lutheran 42, Parke Heritage 6

Tri 18, North Central (Farmersburg), 14

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football playoffs: Scores, highlights, stats from regionals