Two SIAC teams remain: Keys to victory for Castle, Mater Dei in IHSAA football semistates
EVANSVILLE — Will the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference be represented at the IHSAA football state finals?
The SIAC has two teams remaining in the state tournament. No. 13 Castle (8-4) hosts No. 2 Whiteland (11-1) tonight at 7 p.m. CT in the 5A semistate. No. 6 Mater Dei (10-3) hosts No. 1 Linton-Stockton (13-0) at 6:30 p.m. CT in the 2A semistate.
It will be the first meeting between Castle and Whiteland, but this is the fifth straight year Mater Dei and Linton have played in the postseason. A victory punches a ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next weekend.
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What do Castle and Mater Dei need to accomplish to win their respective matchups? Let's take a look at some keys to victory starting with the Knights.
Castle needs to generate more offense
Brayden Bishop has been more careful with the football, responsible for only one turnover since his two-interception game over a month ago against Memorial. He’s also become more effective as a runner with five rushing touchdowns over the last three games, including three in Castle’s playoff opener with New Albany.
When the Knights need a spark on offense, Bishop has been reliable to provide that. His 70-yard touchdown to Weston Aigner against Bloomington South kept his team’s season alive.
“Brayden is continuing to improve and he’s managing the game well,” Castle coach Doug Hurt said. “We’re real pleased with his progress. He’s getting a little bit better each week, as we all are.”
The next hurdle for Castle against Whiteland is getting more players involved in the passing game. Aigner was on the receiving end of all three of Bishop’s completions against Bloomington South. That's not going to be a good recipe against a talented Warrior defense. Antonio Harris and Izach Salpietra have shown big play ability for Castle throughout this season and will need to produce against Whiteland.
“I just gained a lot of trust in my receivers and my O-line,” Bishop said. “I know that they’ll do whatever they can do to protect me and make me look good.”
Whiteland runs a unique rushing attack. Castle can't let it dictate the game
The Warriors run a complex offense that’s filled with multiple formations. A variety of their players run in space all over the field and cause misdirection. Whiteland also has multiple stars in its offense as compared to one true bell cow.
Two of Whiteland’s seniors, Peyton Emberton and Johnathan Crowley, have double-digit scores on the ground. Emberton is a challenge to tackle and bring down, and Crowley can break off a big run when needed. He had 77 yards rushing last week against Plainfield but did so on just five carries.
“They’re just a good all-around football team,” Aigner said. “They’re in the semistate for a reason. And that’s why we’re here, too. So we just got to have our leaders step up and our guys make plays.”
Castle's defense has been sound in its tackling. John Purdy has been relentless for his team all season with 172 tackles. Zach Shultz and Aedon Smith, who have a combined 26 tackles for loss, are also forces to be reckoned with. It would be a big help for the Knights to make even more of those open-field tackles in the Warriors’ run game to limit Emberton and Crowley’s damage.
"Trying to limit them to 28 points would be nice," Hurt said. "We know that they're going to score. We just got to try and get in their way and slow them down."
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Mater Dei's biggest test? Finding Hunter Gennicks. Then stopping Hunter Gennicks
Linton has more than one offensive weapon. But it begins and ends with quarterback Hunter Gennicks. The numbers and tape don’t lie.
The senior runs the Miners’ offense to incredible success – Goebel noted he is the son of a coach, Linton's offensive coordinator – in his third year as the starter. Gennicks had 1,389 passing yards and 18 touchdowns plus 1,707 yards and 30 more scores on the ground going into the regional. Mater Dei must locate and contain its star quarterback.
“He’s a very good athlete,” said linebacker Mitch Adler. “Big, strong and super fast. They have a good program with good coaches. A really good line. We have to give them everything we have from the start.”
The Wildcats’ defense has been a strong point with the 28 points allowed against Triton Central their second most all season. Linton, who is second in the state at 47.5 points per game, has multiple options including running back Hunter Johns and receiver Braden Walters. Mater Dei knows where its focus begins.
“He’s definitely a coach on the field,” said Mater Dei coach Mike Goebel. “Every play starts with him and usually every play ends with him. The defense has to be ready. They have to contain (Gennicks) but nobody’s done it.”
A balanced offense was vital last week. The Wildcats need more of the same
Goebel has been clear all season. When Mason Wunderlich plays well, the rest of the team follows. Its potential also increases. But the Wildcats showed last week the offense can be more.
Wunderlich was an efficient 7 of 9 passing for 147 yards and two scores in the Triton Central win. The true success came on the ground. Joey Pierre had a season-high 124 yards, while Wunderlich added 56 yards and three touchdowns. Mater Dei had 182 rushing yards, matching the Bosse and North Posey wins for the most this season.
If Mater Dei can find balance with a sprinkle of those big plays – Ethan Stolz caught two long touchdowns in the regional – its chances against No. 1 Linton increase.
“I think we play our best when it matters most,” said Stolz. “Get more repetitions and just get better. Get our routes down and build a better connection with Mason. We have to keep doing what we’ve been doing and make them play our game.”
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The Wildcats have found a different level in the postseason with 38.5 points per game. Pierre, who has dealt with a knee injury all season, has 834 yards and 11 touchdowns. Blake Herdes and Stolz each have over 560 receiving yards. Mater Dei has won eight of its last nine games with the only loss coming by one possession to SIAC champion Reitz.
“We’re about as healthy as we can be,” said Goebel. “I think our kids have handled adversity really well. They’ve been in tight games against good competition and been able to pull them out.”
There will be no secrets between these programs. That is the result of a fifth straight postseason meeting. Yet, the Wildcats have been victorious each time. They seem to make a key play when it matters. Take last year for example. A touchdown with 10.9 seconds left in the first half plus two critical turnovers with the Miners driving in a 28-27 victory.
Mater Dei is banking on that experience. It must in order to advance back to the state championship.
“It’s a good opportunity but we have to seize it,” said Adler. “We can’t back off. It means nothing unless you win the game. Each week gets harder and we have to step up.”
Follow Courier & Press sports reporters Kyle Sokeland and Treasure Washington on Twitter @kylesokeland and @twashington490, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: Keys to victory for Castle, Mater Dei at semistate
