ISL’s must-see players for the IHSAA state football playoffs
By the ISL staff
Indy Sports Legends writers have covered plenty of high school football games for this website or other publications this season. Here is our list of must-see athletes during the IHSAA playoffs, which start with the sectional round on Friday. These are the most exciting or game-changing players we saw in person this season. Tell us who you’re looking forward to seeing!
Our list:
Jake Purichia, QB, Cardinal Ritter and Alex Parrett, WR, Cardinal Ritter
Sectional matchup: Home vs. South Vermillion.
It’s hard to believe that one of the state’s most dynamic players is just a junior, but Purichia will be back next year. He does it all for the top-ranked team in Class 2A. He’s fast, quick and tough as a runner. He’s a good decision maker who throws the short and deep ball well. Most important, perhaps, he shows up in big games. He scored the game-winning touchdown against Heritage Christian and he completely dismantled Chatard’s defense, passing for 312 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 127 yards and four scores. Only a relative lack of height would keep him from a major Division I program. His numbers: 1,572 yards passing, 24 TDs; 421 yards rushing, 11 scores.
Parrett, Purichia’s top target, is a spectacular playmaker who gives Ritter a deep threat to match the team’s precise short passing game. He has 50 catches for 783 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
Anthony Warrum, WR, Heritage Christian and Matt Hunt, QB, Heritage Christian
Sectional matchup: at Alexandria
Warrum is an electrifying playmaker for the No. 9 team in Class 3A. He has outstanding hands, but his best quality is his ability to weave through traffic after the catch. He’s a game-changer, a threat to turn short passes into long gains, and as a downfield threat. His season numbers: 69 catches, 1,411 yards, 21 touchdowns.
Heritage Christian’s best offense is simple. Let Hunt roll out, give him a run-pass option, then let him run all over the field or scramble and find Warrum somewhere on the field. Hunt passed for 403 yards and ran for 99 against Lafayette Central Catholic. Without his unique ability to improvise, we might not know how dynamic Warrum is. Hunt’s numbers: 2,685 yards passing, 40 TDs; 755 yards rushing.
Pete Hartley, RB, Chatard
Sectional matchup: at Danville
Hartley defines workhorse. He has 224 carries for 1,309 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. His big games include 34 carries, 276 yards and five TDs vs. Guerin Catholic, 31 carries for 220 yards and three scores vs. Cardinal Ritter, 27 carries for 152 yards in a huge win against Indianapolis Cathedral and 35 carries for 178 yards and two scores against Roncalli. Hartley is more of a tough runner than anything who always seems to be on the right end of the pile.
Here is one of Hartley’s touchdowns:
Scott Amor, QB, Danville and Autry Pickens, RB, Danville
Sectional matchup: home vs. Chatard
Amor is the quintessential triple-option wizard. It’s sometimes tough to figure out who has the ball because he carries out each play so well. His totals so far: 938 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. He ran for 162 yards and three scores against Tri-West.
He has a true workhorse behind him in Pickens, who ran 43 times for 223 yards against Lebanon. He also ran for 230 yards against North Montgomery and 34 times for 170 yards against Tri-West.
Here are highlights of both from Hudl.com.
Kole Stogner, RB, Greenwood
Sectional matchup: at Owen Valley
Stogner is a quick, tough back with good speed. He gained 218 yards against Indian Creek, 204 yards against Plainfield and 213 yards against Guerin Catholic. He’s the main reason Greenwood is 8-1 and ranked No. 5 in Class 4A.
Here are some of Stogner’s highlights from Hudl.com:
Tim Kimbrough, LB, Warren Central
Sectional matchup: at Carmel
Perhaps the best compliment one could give Kimbrough is that he is more noticeable and exciting than the offensive players he faces. The Georgia recruit simply dominates game in and game out. He’s one of those guys who makes you say, “Wow, I can’t wait to see Warren Central punt so I can watch the defense.” He’s good enough that Warren Central beating Carmel wouldn’t be a stretch at all. He’s the man on a defense that allowed 80 points in nine games.
He can’t be blocked, ISL prep writer Craig Dragash, who attended the Carmel-Warren Central regular-season game, said. You try to block him with one guy, he’s going to beat you every time.
Antonio Allen, S, Ben Davis
Sectional matchup: at Pike
The Indiana recruit leads one of Class 5A’s top defenses. He had 12 tackles, with 10 solos, and an interception in Ben Davis’ 13-7 win over previous No. 1 Carmel last week. The previous week, he had 16 tackles, including 13 solos, against Center Grove. He anchors a defense that has surrendered just 74 points all year.
He’s a hitter, for one, Dragash said. He’ll come up and put a wallop on you. He’s an athlete.
Here’s an example of Allen’s hard-hitting approach, courtesy of Hudl.com
Allen crushes Warren Central back
John Kenny, LB, Carmel
Sectional matchup: home vs. Warren Central
Kenny, an Iowa recruit, is the centerpiece of a dominant defense that has allowed just 69 points this season.
He’s always around the ball, Dragash said. He’s an athlete, and he’s really good at pursuing the football.
Here’s an example of Kenny pursuing the football, courtesy of Hudl.com:
