Indiana high school football playoffs: What to know about all 24 regional games
The Indiana high school football regional matchups are set for Friday night (and one for Saturday). Here is a statewide look at the teams still playing in the tournament:
CLASS 6A
Carroll (Fort Wayne) (11-0) at Lafayette Jeff (9-2)
Potentially alarming for fifth-ranked Carroll: allowing 361 rushing yards in a 34-17 sectional championship win over Warsaw. The Chargers reached the regional last year, losing 37-14 to Westfield. Lafayette Jeff, a 38-28 winner over No. 6 Crown Point in the sectional final, is a sectional champion for the first time in 20 years. Glenn Patterson ran for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in the Bronchos’ win.
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Westfield (8-3) at Hamilton Southeastern (11-0)
After a 3-3 start, ninth-ranked Westfield is two wins away from a third consecutive trip to the state finals. Sophomore Kendall Garnett ran for 109 yards and three TDs in Westfield’s 42-21 win over Noblesville in the sectional championship. No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern defeated Westfield 26-21 earlier this season, but last year’s 24-22 loss to the Shamrocks in the final seconds of the sectional championship still sticks with the Royals.
Cathedral (9-1) at Brownsburg (10-1)
This showdown between No. 2 Cathedral and No. 3 Brownsburg is a rematch of the Bulldogs’ 42-35 win in Week 2. In that game, Brownsburg 21-0 in the second quarter and 42-20 in the fourth quarter, but could not quite put the Irish away. Jaron Tibbs had six catches for 126 yards and a TD in Cathedral’s 33-13 sectional championship win over Lawrence Central. Garrett Sherrell ran for 229 yards and four TDs in Brownsburg’s 56-21 win over Avon last week. The Bulldogs have not won a regional title since 1985.
Warren Central (6-5) at Center Grove (9-2)
The back-to-back defending champs are still kicking. Fourth-ranked Center Grove got the running clock started early in the fourth quarter of a 49-14 sectional championship victory over Columbus North as Micah Coyle ran for 139 yards and a TD and Tyler Cherry had three TD passes. Warren Central, which lost 17-8 to Center Grove in Week 1, blew out Southport (58-0) and Perry Meridian (43-7) as expected to win the sectional. In those two games (his first of the season since gaining eligibility after his transfer from Beech Grove), Adonis Adams-Figueroa was 11-for-16 passing for 343 yards and four TDs.
CLASS 5A
Merrillville (9-2) at Valparaiso (8-3)
Sixth-ranked Merrillville pummeled No. 9 Valparaiso 37-10 in Week 7, but this will be the first time these teams have met in a tournament game since 2010. Merrillville senior and Colorado State recruit Justin Marshall had 217 all-purpose yards in the regular-season meeting. Valparaiso does not throw the ball often, but quarterback Justin Clark leads the Vikings in rushing with 885 yards and seven TDs.
Fort Wayne Snider (10-1) at Mishawaka (10-1)
Top-ranked Fort Wayne Snider might be the favorite in 5A after knocking off seventh-ranked Fort Wayne North Side 25-21 for the sectional title. Snider scored in the final three minutes to take the lead. Senior receiver Kamari Juarez is a playmaker for Snider. Mishawaka last won a regional in 2018, though that was in 4A. The Cavemen defeated South Bend Adams (35-6) and Concord (38-17) to win the sectional.
Plainfield (6-5) at Whiteland (10-1)
Second-ranked Whiteland dominated Franklin 24-0 to win the sectional championship, rushing for 242 yards and holding Franklin to 67 rushing yards. Whiteland averages 310 rushing yards per game, led by senior Peyton Emberton (1,168 rushing yards, 11 TDs). Plainfield probably was not expected to be here. The Quakers, a sectional champion for the first time since 2000, scored the game-winning touchdown in a 13-10 win over Decatur Central on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Newell to Noah Hessong with 1.3 seconds left. Quite a sendoff for coach Brian Woodard in his final season as coach. Whiteland defeated Plainfield 45-14 a month ago.
Bloomington South (9-1) at Castle (7-4)
Third-ranked Bloomington South is riding an eight-game winning streak after taking out Columbus East (35-7) and Bloomington North (28-7) in the sectional. Quarterback Zach David and running back Gavin Adams lead the Panthers’ offense and linebacker Ralph Rogers on defense. Coach Gabe Johnson is a former assistant at Carmel and head coach at Triton Central. Castle, which is led by senior quarterback Brayden Bishop, won a regional two years ago before losing to Cathedral in the semistate.
CLASS 4A
Northridge (8-4) at New Prairie (11-1)
These teams met last year in the semistate with Northridge edging New Prairie 20-14 to reach the state championship. Northridge, which started the season 1-3, is a passing team led by quarterback Qade Carrington (2,714 passing yards, 28 TDs). Sixth-ranked New Prairie has two 1,000-yard rushers in senior Noah Mungia (1,702 yards, 19 TDs) and junior Marshall Kmiecik (1,078 rushing yards, 12 TDs).
Kokomo (11-1) at Columbia City (11-1)
Ninth-ranked Columbia City, a 5-6 team a year ago, had not won a sectional championship since 1993. The Eagles, led by ninth-year coach Brett Fox, beat Leo 27-21 in overtime on Ethan Sievers’ 2-yard touchdown run. No. 7 Kokomo runs the ball and does it really well with coach Austin Colby. The Wildkats, a sectional champion for the first time in five years, have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Evan Barker (1,168 yards, 24 TDs) and Darrian Story (1,085 yards, 16 TDs).
New Palestine (12-0) at Roncalli (11-1)
No. 1 vs. No. 2. Fun stuff. Top-ranked New Palestine is without running back Grayson Thomas, who injured his knee two weeks ago, but has plenty of other weapons on offense, including his replacement, Kyler Kropp (261 rushing yards, three TDs the past two weeks). No. 2 Roncalli had to rally for a 21-14 win last week over No. 10 Brebeuf Jesuit. The Royals will run Luke Hansen (2,681 yards, 31 TDs) but also proved they can make plays through the air with Arik Moyers, who threw for 139 yards and two TDs vs. Brebeuf. Roncalli last played in a 1 vs. 2 matchup in the 2019 5A regional, a 35-10 win over Cathedral.
East Central (10-2) at Evansville Memorial (9-3)
Fourth-ranked East Central travels 216 miles for the second consecutive year to play Evansville Memorial in the regional (Memorial won 17-14 last year). But the Trojans, coming off a dominant 47-0 win over Martinsville, are loaded with talented offensive players like quarterback Cole Burton, running back Josh Ringer (1,683 yards, 26 TDs) and receiver Ryan Brotherton. Evansville Memorial, a four-time regional champion since 2017, has four receivers with at least 30 receptions.
CLASS 3A
West Lafayette (12-0) at Knox (9-3)
Top-ranked West Lafayette had no trouble winning its sectional for the first time since 2018, which was also the most-recent of its three state championship seasons. Max Mullis is one of the state’s top quarterbacks with 2,259 passing yards and 28 TDs and 932 rushing yards and 17 TDs. Knox, coached by Russ Radtke (388 career wins), has won six consecutive games and will be attempting to win its first regional championship.
Yorktown (9-3) at Bishop Chatard (8-4)
No. 6 Bishop Chatard blasted Guerin Catholic 49-13 as Drew VanVleet passed for 350 yards and five TDs. Yorktown rallied from a 21-point deficit to knock off fourth-ranked Norwell 42-41 for the sectional championship as Kolton Nanko caught three TD passes. He has 66 catches for 940 yards and 12 TDs. Chatard has a state-leading 15 state championships.
Monrovia (5-7) at Owen Valley (12-0)
Who expected Monrovia to be here? The Bulldogs entered the sectional with seven consecutive losses, then ripped off wins over Purdue Poly (54-14), Speedway (21-20) and Danville (19-14) for their first sectional title since 2016. Monrovia is led by Brayton Belcher (970 rushing yards, 11 TDs). No. 8 Owen Valley, which beat second-ranked Gibson Southern in the sectional semifinal, has a standout at quarterback in senior Brody Lester (1,907 passing yards, 24 TDs; 591 rushing yards, six TDs). Owen Valley has never won a regional title.
Lawrenceburg (11-1) at Southridge (11-1)
This matchup of top-10 teams will be played Saturday. No. 9 Lawrenceburg likes to run the ball with junior Teagan Bennett (1,111 yards, 14 TDs) and senior Alex Witte (829 yards, 14 TDs), but junior Logan Ahaus (1,005 passing yards, 10 TDs) can also throw. No. 10 Southridge averages 304 rushing yards, but junior Hudson Allen (1,482 passing yards, 15 TDs) is a capable passer, too. Southridge beat 49-28 Lawrenceburg for a regional title two years ago, then lost to Danville in the semistate.
CLASS 2A
Lafayette Central Catholic (9-3) at Andrean (8-3)
Defending state champion and fifth-ranked Andrean is into the regional round for the fourth consecutive year, led by Notre Dame recruit Drayk Bowen at linebacker and running back. Bowen rushed for 130 yards and two TDs in last week’s 56-13 win over Bremen. Ninth-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic senior Baylor Smith has 1,439 rushing yards and 17 TDs. The Knights knocked off No. 7 Rochester 24-8 for the sectional title.
Bluffton (8-4) at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (7-5)
Bluffton won its first sectional title since 1988 with a 42-35 win over Eastbrook as Anthony Cruz rushed for 226 yards and two TDs. Bishop Luers, an 11-time state champion, played in the state finals two years ago, losing 36-35 to Western Boone. Charlie Stanski leads the Luers offense with 2,214 passing yards and 19 passing TDs.
Lapel (7-5) at Linton-Stockton (12-0)
Tyler Dollar ran for 251 yards and three touchdowns as Lapel knocked off Heritage Christian 21-20 for the sectional championship. Dollar has 2,108 rushing yards and 26 TDs this season for the Bulldogs, who have never won a regional. No. 1 Linton-Stockton is led by senior quarterback Hunter Gennicks (1,273 passing yards, 17 TDs; 1,544 rushing yards, 26 TDs). The Miners survived close games against Southmont (35-29) and Sullivan (33-24) to win the sectional.
Evansville Mater Dei (9-3) at Triton Central (10-2)
This might be the game of the week. Fourth-ranked Triton Central edged nemesis and No. 3 Scecina 10-7 last week for the sectional championship. The Tigers have only won one regional title, in 2019. Evansville Mater Dei played in the state finals last year and has lost only to larger schools this season. Senior quarterback Mason Wunderlich has 2,214 passing yards and 23 passing TDs.
CLASS A
North Judson (11-1) at Park Tudor (9-3)
Fourth-ranked North Judson won a regional title last year for the first time in 19 years. The Bluejays have two 1,000-yard rushers in senior Cheyenne Allen (1,081 yards, 26 TDs) and sophomore Brock Benson (1,079 yards, 12 TDs). Park Tudor, a sectional champion for the first time since 2005, is led by junior quarterback DJ Gordon (1,598 passing yards, 27 TDs; 545 rushing yards, nine TDs).
Carroll (Flora) (11-1) at Adams Central (12-0)
Second-ranked Adams Central played in the state finals last year, losing to Lutheran 34-28. The Flying Jets defeated Northfield last week 41-13 in a running clock second half. No. 8 Carroll defeated West Central 47-6 last week to win back-to-back sectional titles for first time since 1995 and ’96. The Cougars have not won a regional title since 1996.
North Decatur (12-0) at Sheridan (11-1)
Sixth-ranked Sheridan won a wild 75-36 sectional championship over Hagerstown. The Blackhawks ran for 480 yards (!) in the win, including 228 yards and four TDs from Peyton Cross. No. 3 North Decatur is one of the top defensive teams in the state, allowing just 6.2 points per game, led by senior James Evans (77 tackles, four interceptions).
Providence (9-2) at Lutheran (12-0)
Top-ranked and defending champion Lutheran outscored its three sectional opponents 161-0. Amazing. Providence, coming off a 21-7 win over Tecumseh for its first sectional title in five years, has not won a regional championship since 1993.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football state tournament: Indiana regional round 2022 preview
