By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
According
to the Sagarin power ratings, there were 29 big games on tap in Week 2 of the
2006 Indiana
high school football season. Following is a quick review of 10 of the really big showdowns:
to the Sagarin power ratings, there were 29 big games on tap in Week 2 of the
2006 Indiana
high school football season. Following is a quick review of 10 of the really big showdowns:
Northern Indiana
The four
big battles that take place up north all feature teams playing a same-class
opponent, meaning they may see each other down the line in the playoffs.
(PLAYOFFS?!?! Did you say PLAYOFFS?!!!!?)
big battles that take place up north all feature teams playing a same-class
opponent, meaning they may see each other down the line in the playoffs.
(PLAYOFFS?!?! Did you say PLAYOFFS?!!!!?)
In 5A, 13th-ranked
Homestead
travels to No. 20 Warsaw in a tilt featuring a pair of 1-0 schools as well as
two third-year coaches. The series has been extremely even, too, with the host
Tigers having won four of the last seven, including a 17-14 squeaker a year
ago.
Homestead
travels to No. 20 Warsaw in a tilt featuring a pair of 1-0 schools as well as
two third-year coaches. The series has been extremely even, too, with the host
Tigers having won four of the last seven, including a 17-14 squeaker a year
ago.
FINAL: Homestead
28, Warsaw 6
28, Warsaw 6
COMMENT: Unlike last week, some of
the visitors actually did some damage away from the crib tonight! Homestead posts one of
the more satisfying road revenge victories here.
the visitors actually did some damage away from the crib tonight! Homestead posts one of
the more satisfying road revenge victories here.
Defending 3A
state champion NorthWood ââ?¬â?? fresh off a heartbreaking defeat at defending 2A
state champ Jimtown ââ?¬â?? hits the road once again, this time landing at No. 16
Culver Academies (1-0). The Panthers have won the last three in the series,
including a 24-17 nail biter in last year�s sectional.
state champion NorthWood ââ?¬â?? fresh off a heartbreaking defeat at defending 2A
state champ Jimtown ââ?¬â?? hits the road once again, this time landing at No. 16
Culver Academies (1-0). The Panthers have won the last three in the series,
including a 24-17 nail biter in last year�s sectional.
FINAL: Culver Academies
27, NorthWood 20
27, NorthWood 20
COMMENT: Holy d�©j� vu, Batman! Hard-luck
NorthWood falls by a single score on the road again against another ranked
team, dropping the Panthers to 0-2 � But they don�t care after going yard last
year following a 2-26 start LOL.
NorthWood falls by a single score on the road again against another ranked
team, dropping the Panthers to 0-2 � But they don�t care after going yard last
year following a 2-26 start LOL.
The 2A
biggie pits 1-0 Knox at 10th-ranked North Judson (1-0), where a win
would be HYOOGE for the visiting Redskins, who earned one lone point in this
week�s coaches poll to sit at No. 17. North Judson has owned this series by
winning 11 of the last 13, including a 59-12 mauling in last year�s sectional.
biggie pits 1-0 Knox at 10th-ranked North Judson (1-0), where a win
would be HYOOGE for the visiting Redskins, who earned one lone point in this
week�s coaches poll to sit at No. 17. North Judson has owned this series by
winning 11 of the last 13, including a 59-12 mauling in last year�s sectional.
FINAL: North Judson 7, Knox 6
COMMENT: Holy close game, Batman!
Give the Redskins all the credit for coming as close as humanly possible in
reversing that 47-point nightmaremobile from last season.
Give the Redskins all the credit for coming as close as humanly possible in
reversing that 47-point nightmaremobile from last season.
Finally,
the Class A showdown finds No. 11 South Newton visiting No. 14 Frontier in
another duel of 1-0 teams. A year ago it was South Newton
coming out on top 35-20, and the Rebels have a slight 6-5 lead in this series
over the last 10 years.
the Class A showdown finds No. 11 South Newton visiting No. 14 Frontier in
another duel of 1-0 teams. A year ago it was South Newton
coming out on top 35-20, and the Rebels have a slight 6-5 lead in this series
over the last 10 years.
FINAL: South
Newton 28, Frontier 7
Newton 28, Frontier 7
COMMENT: A convincing road romp for
a western border team on the rise in the small-school division.
a western border team on the rise in the small-school division.
Central Indiana
The middle of the
state brings us two same-class showdowns and two inter-class battles. First,
the similar games �
state brings us two same-class showdowns and two inter-class battles. First,
the similar games �
The state�s
marquee clash comes on the far-westside of Indianapolis, where second-ranked Ben Davis (1-0)
welcomes No. 3 Penn (1-0). The host Giants own a 2-1 lead in the series where
Class 5A state championships are concerned, and Ben Davis has won nine of the
last 11 overall, including a surprisingly easy 20-0 blanking in Mishawaka a year ago.
marquee clash comes on the far-westside of Indianapolis, where second-ranked Ben Davis (1-0)
welcomes No. 3 Penn (1-0). The host Giants own a 2-1 lead in the series where
Class 5A state championships are concerned, and Ben Davis has won nine of the
last 11 overall, including a surprisingly easy 20-0 blanking in Mishawaka a year ago.
FINAL: Ben Davis 35, Penn 32 (OT)
COMMENT: Host Giants in control at
29-6, then find themselves in overtime at 29-all. Penn goes for the field goal,
leaving the door open for a game-winning TD in this thrilluh. (See Brandon
Jones� game story.)
29-6, then find themselves in overtime at 29-all. Penn goes for the field goal,
leaving the door open for a game-winning TD in this thrilluh. (See Brandon
Jones� game story.)
The state�s
biggest 4A battle, meanwhile, goes down in Lebanon, where the resurgent Tigers
host perennial power Mooresville in another joust between 1-0 squads. The
Pioneers have won six of the last 10 in the series, but it was Lebanon that prevailed
in 24-23 overtime thriller a year ago.
biggest 4A battle, meanwhile, goes down in Lebanon, where the resurgent Tigers
host perennial power Mooresville in another joust between 1-0 squads. The
Pioneers have won six of the last 10 in the series, but it was Lebanon that prevailed
in 24-23 overtime thriller a year ago.
FINAL: Mooresville 30, Lebanon 20
COMMENT: Visiting Pioneers dominate
time of possession by 2:1 ratio and sic junior QB Trent Mossbrucker ââ?¬â?? 211 yards
passing, nearly 100 rushing, 3 passing TDs, one rushing score, a gorgeous
36-yard pass on a 4th-and-21 fake punt, AND a career-best 49-yard
field goal ââ?¬â?? on the overmatched Tigers. (See E. Shawn Aylsworthââ?¬â?¢s game story.)
time of possession by 2:1 ratio and sic junior QB Trent Mossbrucker ââ?¬â?? 211 yards
passing, nearly 100 rushing, 3 passing TDs, one rushing score, a gorgeous
36-yard pass on a 4th-and-21 fake punt, AND a career-best 49-yard
field goal ââ?¬â?? on the overmatched Tigers. (See E. Shawn Aylsworthââ?¬â?¢s game story.)
In what promises
to be the latest installment of The Bartholomew County War, 4A No. 2 Columbus East
(1-0) rolls across town to visit 5A No. 15 Columbus North (1-0). The last two
seasons this game has come down to a final shot at the end zone by North with
the clock melting away, and both times the Bull Dogs have come up empty-handed,
including last year�s 28-24 doozie.
to be the latest installment of The Bartholomew County War, 4A No. 2 Columbus East
(1-0) rolls across town to visit 5A No. 15 Columbus North (1-0). The last two
seasons this game has come down to a final shot at the end zone by North with
the clock melting away, and both times the Bull Dogs have come up empty-handed,
including last year�s 28-24 doozie.
FINAL: Columbus
East 15, Columbus
North 13
East 15, Columbus
North 13
COMMENT: Olympians do it again, and
in lower-scoring fashion than many anticipated. (See Bubba Harnist�s game
story.)
in lower-scoring fashion than many anticipated. (See Bubba Harnist�s game
story.)
Finally, chauffeur
Josh Ember wheels the Hoosier Authority Fan Wagon onto Carmel�s campus, where the 5A 10th-ranked
Greyhounds (0-1) host 3A No. 5 Hamilton Heights. The 1st Annual
All-Sports Trophy gets presented to Carmel at halftime amid shooting T-shirts
and assorted hoopla, so the Greyhounds ââ?¬â?? a 31-21 winner a year ago in the
seriesââ?¬â?¢ first-ever game ââ?¬â?? better stay focused against Heightsââ?¬â?¢ high-powered
offense.
Josh Ember wheels the Hoosier Authority Fan Wagon onto Carmel�s campus, where the 5A 10th-ranked
Greyhounds (0-1) host 3A No. 5 Hamilton Heights. The 1st Annual
All-Sports Trophy gets presented to Carmel at halftime amid shooting T-shirts
and assorted hoopla, so the Greyhounds ââ?¬â?? a 31-21 winner a year ago in the
seriesââ?¬â?¢ first-ever game ââ?¬â?? better stay focused against Heightsââ?¬â?¢ high-powered
offense.
FINAL: Carmel
24, Hamilton Heights 8
24, Hamilton Heights 8
COMMENT: Host ââ?¬Ë?Hounds feed off
momentum of beautiful All-Sports Trophy to build 24-0 halftime advantage, then
coast to victory. (See Mike McGraw�s
story on this huge night for both Carmel
and Hoosier Authority.)
momentum of beautiful All-Sports Trophy to build 24-0 halftime advantage, then
coast to victory. (See Mike McGraw�s
story on this huge night for both Carmel
and Hoosier Authority.)
Southern Indiana
Both the southern
showdowns feature games between classes and are highlighted by a pair of highly
regarded 4A teams.
showdowns feature games between classes and are highlighted by a pair of highly
regarded 4A teams.
In the Pocket City,
4A No. 11 Evansville Central plays host to 3A seventh-ranked Evansville Mater
Dei in a Vanderburgh
County battle of 1-0
schools. The offensive-minded Bears have got to be drooling at the prospects of
reversing a series trend that�s seen Mater Dei win nine of the last 10, including
a 20-6 victory a year ago.
4A No. 11 Evansville Central plays host to 3A seventh-ranked Evansville Mater
Dei in a Vanderburgh
County battle of 1-0
schools. The offensive-minded Bears have got to be drooling at the prospects of
reversing a series trend that�s seen Mater Dei win nine of the last 10, including
a 20-6 victory a year ago.
FINAL: Central 22, Mater Dei 15
COMMENT: With last week�s opponent
proving to be of considerable mettle (see below), Central establishes itself as
a player with another touchdown victory over a worthy opponent.
proving to be of considerable mettle (see below), Central establishes itself as
a player with another touchdown victory over a worthy opponent.
And finally (no,
really, we mean it), 4A traditional powerhouse Jasper (1-0 and ranked fourth in
this week�s coaches poll) cruises just south on U.S. 231 to Huntingburg for its
annual rivalry game with 2A Southridge (0-1), which held Evansville Central to
just 28 points last week. The vaunted Wildcats have won eight of the last 10 in
the series, including last season�s 27-7 victory.
really, we mean it), 4A traditional powerhouse Jasper (1-0 and ranked fourth in
this week�s coaches poll) cruises just south on U.S. 231 to Huntingburg for its
annual rivalry game with 2A Southridge (0-1), which held Evansville Central to
just 28 points last week. The vaunted Wildcats have won eight of the last 10 in
the series, including last season�s 27-7 victory.
FINAL: Southridge 20, Jasper 14 (OT)
COMMENT: HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
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