PARK TUDOR (12-0) AT NORTH JUDSON (8-4)
North Judson beat Park Tudor in last years regional big time 49-13. NJ ran the ball down their throat with 490 yards. OUCH!!! The Blue Jays will heavily count on RB Brock Benson (1,119 rushing yards, 15 TDs). Meanwhile Park Tudor has one of the best all-around QB’s in the state in DJ Gordon. Gordon’s numbers are impressive (2,273 passing yards, 27 TDs; 1,526 rushing yards, 27 TDs).
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: North Judson, 1-0.
PARK TUDOR IS FAVORED BY 7
MOORESVILLE (7-5) AT NEW PALESTINE (10-2)
The Dragons started 0-2. Since then they have rolled off 10 straight wins. New Palm averages nearly 39 points per game. The defense has been even more impressive allowing only 27 points since September 29. RB Grayson Thomas has rushed for 2,006 yards to go along with 26 TD’S. Mooresville beat Brebeuf last week 40-39 to advance. The Pioneers will count on QB Hogan Denny (2,103 passing yards, 21 TDs; 1,160 rushing yards, 14 TDs).
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
NEW PAL IS FAVORED BY 14
PROVIDENCE (12-0) AT LUTHERAN (10-0)
Providence got drilled by Lutheran in the regional last season 49-7. The Pioneers will need everything from QB Carter Lannan (1,253 passing yards, 22 TDs) and especially from DE Griffin Tucker (11.5 sacks). What can you say about Lutheran? The have won 40 straight after pounding Covenant Christian last week 57-14 in a game not as close as the score may indicate. The Saints have size and quickness at every position. QB Jackson Willis gets better every week. RB Braydon Hall averaged 8.8 yards per carry and the receivers average over 18 yards per reception.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Lutheran, 1-0.
LUTHERAN IS FAVORED BY 14
GIBSON SOUTHERN (10-2) AT TRI-WEST (11-1)
Gibson Southern is back in familiar territory. Just two seasons ago they won the state title and they are hoping QB Tanner Boyd (1,948 passing yards, 20 TDs; 690 rushing yards, 10 TDs) will take them back to Lucas Oil again. The running game is led by Sean DeLong (1,077 rushing yards, 14 TDs). Outside Park Tudor QB DJ Gordon the most dangerous dual threat QB left in the tournament may be Tri-West’s Malachi Walden (1,422 rushing yards and 18 TDs to go with 1,413 passing yards and 16 TDs). This game will be played on Saturday.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Gibson Southern, 1-0.
GIBSON SOUTHERN IS FAVORED BY 4
EVANSVILLE NORTH (8-3) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (10-1)
Bloomington South can score and score a lot (46.4 points per game). South is rolling avenged their lone loss to #1 Bloomington North in the opening round of the sectional.
Watch for QB Jarrin Alley who has passed for over 2,000 yards and over 30 touchdown passes. RB Gavin Adams has over 1,000 rushing yards. North rushed for over 500 yards last week in beating Castle 60-50.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Bloomington South, 2-0.
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH IS FAVORED BY 14
WHITELAND (7-4) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (9-2)
This is another re-match from the regular season when Whiteland beat the Hawks 31-15. Whiteland rushed for 226 yards in that win. QB Bo Polston has passed for over 1,400 yards. The Hawks can also run the football at over 200 yards per game. The Warriors average almost 280 yards rushing per game led by Slate Valentine. Valentine had 247 rushing yards in last week’s win over TH South.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
DECATUR CENTRAL IS FAVORED BY 10
VALPARAISO (9-2) AT MERRILLVILLE (9-2)
The defending state champions have beaten the Pirates in the last two meetings, including last year’s regional 15-14. The Vikings love to run the football averaging over 230 yards per game. Justin Clark is a dual threat QB that can cause headaches for opposing defenses. QB Dontae Pope is another dual threat QB leading the Pirates with over 160 yards of total yards per game.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Valparaiso, 5-3.
VALPO IS FAVORED BY 4
NORTH POSEY (11-1) AT TRITON CENTRAL (11-1)
#1 Triton Central has to feel snake bit after losing in the regional round for the past four seasons. The Tigers are balanced in their offensive attack (215 passing yards and 119 rushing yards. Watch for QB Jake Stuckey (over 2,500 passing yards, over 700 rushing yards). North Posey beat the defending champs Evansville Mater Dei two weeks ago. The Vikings love the running game at 280 yards per game.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
TRITON CENTRAL IS FAVORED BY 3
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (9-2) AT WESTFIELD (10-1)
The Shamrocks beat HSE in week 5 30-28. The Royals ran for a stunning 434 yards last week against Fishers. The Royals are led by Chandler Weston who throws for over 120 yards per game and RB Jalen Alexander who averages 7.0 yards per carry. WR Donovan Hamilton has over 40 receptions and averaged 19 yards per catch. Westfield QB Jackson Gilbert has a 65% pass completion rate and averages over 177 yards per game.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Hamilton SE, 2-1.
WESTFIELD IS FAVORED BY 3
BEN DAVIS (10-1) VS. CATHEDRAL (8-3)
Another classic match-up is expected between the Giants and Fighting Irish. Ben Davis had to rally to beat Brownsburg two weeks ago 28-25 and plowed through Pike last week 53-0. Thomas Gotkowski has thrown for over 2,000 yards and has 25 passing TDs. Cathedral’s defense basically shot down LN last week holding the Wildcats to only 120 yards of total offense. Colorado recruit Danny O’Neil has almost 2,00 passing yards and 30 TD throws.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Ben Davis, 1-0.
BEN DAVIS IS FAVORED BY 7
ADAMS CENTRAL (12-0) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (12-0)
The battle of #2 Adams Central and #3 Carroll
*Adams Central rolled to a 35-0 win over Carroll in last year’s regional
*Adams Central, the state runner-up the past two seasons
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Adams Central, 2-0.
ADAMS CENTRAL IS FAVORED BY 7
NORTH DECATUR (9-3) AT SHERIDAN (9-3)
North Decatur is ranked 15, Sheridan is #10
*North Decatur won last year’s matchup 29-14
*Sheridan’s last regional championship for coach Bud Wright was in 2012.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Tied, 1-1.
NORTH DECATUR IS FAVORED BY 7
LAVILLE (11-1) AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (9-3)
Laville is ranked #4, LCC is #7
*LaVille won its only regional title in Class A in 1982.
*Lafayette Central Catholic is an eight-time state champion
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL IS FAVORED BY 7
BLUFFTON (10-2) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (9-3)
Bluffton is ranked #7 in 2A, Luers is at #5
*Bluffton won a sectional last season for the first time since 1988.
*The Tigers won their only regional title in 1988 in Class A.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Bishop Luers, 2-0.
BLUFFTON IS FAVORED BY 7
EASTERN HANCOCK (8-4) AT SOUTHMONT (7-5)
Neither team is ranked
*Eastern Hancock is in the regional for the first time since 2014
*Southmont is here for the first time in their history
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
SOUTHMONT IS FAVORED BY 11
KNOX (12-0) AT WEST LAFAYETTE (9-3)
Knox is ranked #11 in 3A, West Lafayette is #12
*Knox was crushed by West Lafayette 55-14 in last year’s regional
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: West Lafayette, 1-0.
KNOX IS FAVORED BY 3
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (12-0) AT DELTA (8-4)
Chatard is the defending champs and ranked #1. Delta unranked
*Delta hasn’t won a regional title since 2001
*The Eagles won its first sectional championship in seven years by beating Garrett 21-15
*The Trojans have beaten 3 top 5 teams in the tourney
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
CHATARD IS FAVORED BY 17
HERITAGE HILLS (11-1) AT BATESVILLE (11-1)
Heritage Hills is #5 in 3A, Batesville is #10
*The Patriots have not made it this far since reaching the state finals in 2019
*Batesville won its only regional title in 1986
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Heritage Hills, 5-0.
HERITAGE HILLS IS FAVORED BY 3
NEW PRAIRIE (10-2) AT NORTHWOOD (10-2)
New Prairie is #10 in 4A, Northwood is #16
*New Prairie reached the state finals last year
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: NorthWood, 4-1.
NORTHWOOD IS FAVORED BY 7
LEO (10-2) AT MISSISSINEWA (12-0)
Leo is #9 in 4A, Mississinewa is #5
*Mississinewa has fourth sectional titles since 2017
*The Indians have a six-game regional losing streak going back to their only regional win in 1985.
*The Lions are in the regional for the first time since 2011.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: No meetings.
LEO IS FAVORED BY 7
EAST CENTRAL (12-0) AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (9-3)
The Trojans are #1 in 4A, Memorial is #16
*The Trojans knocked off Evansville Memorial 35-21 in last year’s regional
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Tied, 1-1.
EAST CENTRAL IS FAVORED BY 18
FORT WAYNE SNIDER (10-1) AT MISHAWAKA (9-2)
Snider is #2 in 5A, Mishawaka is #8
*This is a regional rematch from 2022, Fort Wayne Snider won 41-27
*Cavemen are 3-11 all-time in regional games.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Snider, 3-0.
MISHAWAKA IS FAVORED BY 3
CROWN POINT (11-0) AT PENN (10-1)
Crown Point is #5 in 6A, Penn is #8
*Crown Point is coming off its first sectional championship in 5 years
*Crown Point’s only regional championship was back in 1988.
*Penn has won four state championships and appeared in seven other state finals.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Penn, 3-0.
PENN IS FAVORED BY 3
WARREN CENTRAL (5-6) AT CENTER GROVE (10-1)
The Warriors are unranked in 6A, Center Grove is #1
*Center Grove knocked off Warren Central 42-32 in last year’s regional.
*Center Grove QB Tyler Cherry has 2,376 passing yards, 27 TDs and is completing 73.3% of his passes this season.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: Center Grove, 5-4.
CENTER GROVE IS FAVORED BY 14