Dragash previews Indianapolis-area IHSAA sectionals
By CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Correspondent
There is currently a lot of debate among high school football fans about the current format for the IHSAA football sectionals; stay with the “all-in” format? Go with a system that has a requirement for making the post season? Seed the teams? Matchups featuring contending teams in the first round of sectionals certainly have people talking. However, it is what it is, and it starts this Friday.
I looked at the area sectionals, and I am giving you my contenders for each sectional, as well as a team or two that could emerge as a darkhorse. Best of luck to all teams on the road to Lucas Oil Stadium in November!
Class A
Sectional 37
Contenders: Hagerstown and Knightstown
Darkhorse: Scecina
Hagerstown appears to be the front-runner here, but Knightstown lost by only 10 points to them in week two. Scecina hasn’t played either team, but they have performed well against better competition in the Indianapolis area.
Winner: Hagerstown
Class 2A
Sectional 29
Contenders: Heritage Christian and Shenandoah
Darkhorse: Guerin Catholic
Heritage and Shenandoah are on opposite sides of the bracket, and it will be a surprise if they don’t meet in the sectional final. Heritage beat Shenandoah 51-20 in week five, and their only losses are to powers Lafayette Central Cathlolic and Ritter, who have one loss between them on the season. Guerin is 2-7, but they have battled injuries and have been competitive for the most part this season.
Winner: Heritage Christian
Sectional 30
Contenders: Ritter and South Putnam
Darkhorse: Speedway
Ritter has been consistently impressive all season; South Putnam has had many impressive wins on the season, but they fell to two of the three teams on their schedule with winning records. Speedway has a similar performance this season. Ritter hasn’t shown me any signs of vulnerability yet.
Winner: Ritter
Class 3A
Sectional 20
Contenders: Hamilton Heights and Western Boone
Darkhorses: West Lafayette and North Montgomery
Webo had the best draw here by far getting the first round bye, and having Heights on the other side of the bracket. The Huskies have a tough road to the final with West Lafayette in the first round, and likely North Montgomery in the second round. The bottom half will be interesting with three quality teams, but the road looks to go through Thorntown.
Winner: Western Boone
Sectional 21
Contenders: Greencastle, Chatard, Danville, Tri-West
Darkhorse: Brebeuf
This sectional is loaded with quality teams. Greencastle has given up a total of 14 points this season…let me repeat that…a total of 14 points this season. However, Chatard, Danville, and Tri-West are all teams that could challenge them, and Brebeuf has put together a solid season. While I think there are certainly teams that could challenge the Tiger Cubs, I have to go with the front-runner here.
Winner: Greencastle
Class 4A
Sectional 13
Contender: Mt. Vernon
Darkhorse: Pendleton Heights
After a week one loss to Kokomo, Mt. Vernon has rolled up eight straight wins averaging 45 points per contest heading into sectional play. Pendleton really poses the only threat to the Marauders in this sectional, but Mt. Vernon won the head-to-head matchup by 32.
Winner: Mt. Vernon
Sectional 14
Contenders: Greenwood, Roncalli, Cathedral
Darkhorses: Lebanon, Plainfield
Greenwood has had the type of season that suggests they are the frontrunners for the sectional championship, but anytime you have Roncalli and Cathedral in your sectional that statement is not as easily made. Roncalli has had a solid season at 7-2, while Cathedral finished with a 4-5 record. But remember that Cathedral plays a gauntlet of a schedule with the primary purpose of preparing them for the tournament. Lebanon and Plainfield could certainly make their presence known in this sectional as well. Cathedral got the best draw here; they wouldn’t face Roncalli or Greenwood until the championship game.
Winner: Greenwood
Class 5A
Sectional 4
Contenders: Hamilton SE, Fishers
Darkhorse: Noblesville
It’s been a long time since Noblesville has been mentioned as a possible noisemaker in a sectional, but Lance Scheib has the Millers playing well going into sectional play. HSE beat Fishers by a touchdown in week two, but the Royals weren’t at full strength then. They would meet in the second round. Since the Fishers game, HSE was beaten by Brownsburg the following week, then they rattled off six straight wins to finish the season. They have the momentum going into this sectional.
Winner: Hamilton SE
Sectional 5
Contenders: Carmel, Warren Central, Lawrence Central
Darkhorse: None
All three contenders are in the top half of the bracket, which means that whoever wins the second round matchup will likely win the sectional. Carmel and Warren will beat up on each other in the first round, which gives LC an advantage when they meet the winner. Warren may have the best defense ever on a 4-5 team. Kevin Wright should be able to make adjustments from Carmel’s first meeting with Warren to take care of the Warriors, but Lawrence Central looks like a state championship contender. No one on the bottom half of the bracket figures to challenge any of these teams.
Winner: Lawrence Central
Sectional 6
Contenders: Ben Davis, Brownsburg
Darkhorses: Zionsville, Pike
The four teams mentioned above are all in the top half of the bracket for this sectional. So like sectional five, the second round winner should win this sectional. Those teams figure to be Ben Davis and Brownsburg, although Zionsville and Pike will certainly give each team all they can handle. Ben Davis and Brownsburg would be a great matchup because the HCC is challenging the MIC for the premier conference in the state, and these would be the top teams facing each other. The MIC holds on for one more year.
Winner: Ben Davis
