INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES OF THE WEEK
**ZIONSVILLE AT WESTFIELD (INDIANA SRN FOX 59 NOW GAME OF THE WEEK):**
This matchup features two undefeated teams. The Eagles defeated Pike in week one with a score of 24-6, followed by a week two victory against Lawrence Central, winning 24-12. The last time Zionsville won their first two games was in the 2023 season, where they ultimately finished with a record of 3-7. The last time the Eagles started 2-0 and ended with a winning record was in 2021, when they finished 9-6, losing in the state championship game to Cathedral, 34-14. In their game against Pike, the Eagles outscored the Red Devils 17-0 in the second half. Quarterback Finn Giles threw for 140 yards and a touchdown in that game. Against Lawrence Central, the Eagles established a strong running game, accumulating 180 yards and two touchdowns. Giles will need a similarly strong rushing attack this week against Westfield. All-Everything tight end Theo Schott has managed only three receptions in the first two wins. As a team, the Eagles average just 11.3 yards per reception.
The “Rocks” are also 2-0, bolstered by wins over Homestead and a home victory against Carmel. Westfield boasts a high-powered offense, averaging almost 44 points per game, led by quarterback Cooper Melvin, who is throwing for over 240 yards per game and has five touchdown passes. The Eagles will need to deliver a near-perfect performance to secure a win at Westfield, as the “Rocks” have all the tools to make another trip to the state title game.
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**OTHER GAMES ON INDIANA SRN: PURDUE POLY AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN**
The Techies enter this game with a record of 1-1, having lost their opening game to Osceola Grace, 24-0, and securing a week two win over Covington, 22-8. Meanwhile, Covenant Christian is off to a strong start at 2-0, with a road win against Park Tudor, 15-14, in week one and a 34-13 victory over Shortridge in week two. Purdue Poly will need to find a way to stop Covenant Christian’s running game, which averages 163 yards per game, led by Josiah Hawk with 119.5 yards per game.
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**PENDLETON HEIGHTS AT KOKOMO:**
The Arabians are 2-0 and are coming off a successful 10-2 campaign, having lost to Yorktown in the sectional championship game, 28-10. Pendleton Heights features a potent running game, averaging 276 yards per game, led by Joel Weaver, who averages 170.5 yards per game and has four touchdowns. Quarterback Brandt Gray is a dual threat, averaging 109 passing yards and 85.5 rushing yards. In contrast, the Wildkats are struggling, having lost their first two games to Mt. Vernon, 21-12, and Terre Haute South, 14-7. The biggest concern for Kokomo has been their offense, which is averaging less than 10 points per game. Though their passing statistics may seem misleading, they have often been playing from behind.
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**ELSEWHERE: CROWN POINT AT MERRILLVILLE:**
This game is another battle of unbeaten teams. The Bulldogs have displayed a dominant defense in their first two wins, defeating Lowell 42-7 and Pike 17-6. Crown Point fell short last season in the sectional semi-finals against Penn. Over the past four seasons, the Bulldogs have an impressive record of 45-4 but have only made one appearance in the state title game (2023, lost to Ben Davis, 38-10). Some believe this could be the year Crown Point returns to Lucas Oil Stadium. The Pirates have averaged 41.5 points per game, following a thrilling two-overtime victory over Lafayette Jeff, winning 56-54. Quarterback Michael Hill has started strong, completing over 65% of his passes with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Merrillville is averaging nearly 500 total offensive yards in their first two games. This promises to be an exciting week three matchup in the region.
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**BROWNSBURG AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL:**
The Bulldogs are aiming for a three-peat after securing wins against Lawrence North and Rabun Gap, GA. Brownsburg quarterback Oscar Frye has been solid, completing 53% of his passes with six touchdowns after two games. Running back Brady Lewis is averaging 156.0 yards per game, and wide receiver Branden Sharpe is averaging 99 yards per game. The Bulldogs are strong on defense and will continue to make big plays on offense. The Flashes started with a significant win at Plainfield in week one but fell to Roncalli last Friday, 21-7. To achieve an upset, Franklin Central will need an exceptional game on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Caiden Marsden has managed just one touchdown pass in 49 attempts, and they must get into the end zone this week. A strong running game is crucial to keep the Bulldogs’ offense in check, as Brownsburg has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 75-7.
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**CENTER GROVE AT CARMEL:**
The Trojans make the short trip north to face the Greyhounds, with both teams holding a record of 1-1 but could easily be 2-0. Center Grove lost their opener to Warren Central, 20-14, but bounced back with a 42-17 victory over FW Carroll last week. Quarterback Oscar Sloan is among the top signal-callers in the state, completing 64% of his passes this season. A balanced offensive attack will be essential against Carmel, as the Trojans average 180 passing yards and 163.5 rushing yards. Running back Ricky Lange averages 8.2 yards per carry. The Greyhounds began the season with a resounding 47-0 shutout against Pike before losing to Westfield in week two, 38-34. Many expect Carmel to make a deep playoff run this season, as quarterback Jackson Treadway is completing 75% of his passes, with five touchdowns and no interceptions.
**HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN AT AVON**
The Royals travel to Avon, aiming to hand the Orioles their first loss of the season. HSE lost to FW Carroll in game one, 54-12, but rebounded last week with a victory over North Central, winning 30-14. The Royals are led by a strong running game, with Carter Reed averaging 129.5 yards per game. Quarterback Deaken Johnson, a sophomore, is making a name for himself, completing 62% of his passes this season. Meanwhile, the Orioles are off to a fast start, having won against Decatur Central and Ben Davis. The Avon defense has been the biggest surprise; after allowing nearly 26 points per game last season, they are now only giving up 9.0 points per game. Avon will rely on its strong running game this Friday, led by Andre Warfield, who is averaging 166.0 yards per game, including 9.0 yards per carry and four touchdowns. The last time Avon defeated HSE was in the 2019 season, winning 35-27 at HSE.
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**LAWRENCE NORTH AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL**
The battle of Lawrence takes place Friday night with both teams at 1-1. The Wildcats lost in Week 1 to Brownsburg, 48-25, but bounced back last week by shutting out Fishers, 48-0. Lawrence North will rely on a strong ground attack led by Izayveon Moore, who averages 113.5 yards per game. The Wildcats average nearly 272 yards per game on the ground. However, LN needs to improve its passing game, particularly by giving 5-star receiver Monshun Sales more opportunities. Sales has only two receptions in the first two games. The Bears defeated a struggling Jeffersonville team in Game 1, 67-20, but lost to Zionsville last week, 24-12. Lawrence Central will also count on a strong ground game, led by Ellis McGraw, who averages 121.5 yards per game and has six touchdowns.
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**DECATUR CENTRAL AT WHITELAND**
Decatur Central won a state title in 2024, but last season they fell to Brownsburg in the regional final, 47-23. The question is whether they can return to the level of success they’re accustomed to. A Week 1 loss to Avon (31-6) indicated areas for improvement, despite their recent victory over Fort Wayne Wayne, winning 48-6. The Hawks prefer to throw the football, with quarterback Ezekiel Hester leading the way at 182.5 passing yards per game. Hester also leads the team in rushing with 116 yards on the ground. If the Hawks want to win Friday, they will need contributions from other players. Whiteland currently sits at 0-2 after struggling against Columbus North (14-7) and Floyd Central (37-0). The last time Whiteland beat Decatur Central was in 2023, winning 31-15.
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**NEW PALESTINE AT YORKTOWN**
New Palestine suffered a rare loss last week to East Central. Now, the Dragons look to start a new winning streak at Yorktown. It’s uncommon for the Dragons to struggle offensively, but last week they only managed to score six points. While they were able to run the football effectively, their passing attack was lackluster. The Tigers are off to a 2-0 start, with wins over a weak Anderson team (83-0) and Muncie Central (24-7). Quarterback Sam Tokar leads the Tigers with 139 passing yards per game. Yorktown averages just over 122 rushing yards per game. New Palestine may be eager to rebound from last week’s loss, and Yorktown could feel the brunt of the Dragons’ frustration. New Palestine has won 14 straight games against the Tigers, with the last victory coming in 2012 (27-20 at New Palestine).
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**MOORESVILLE AT PLAINFIELD**
Mooresville is 2-0 for the second consecutive year. Last season, they defeated Bloomington North (28-14) and Terre Haute North (48-8). The Pioneers finished 5-5 last year, showcasing a strong running game (188.5 yards per game), but they can also pass effectively, with junior Elijah Hill averaging nearly 185 yards per game and six touchdowns. The Quakers rebounded last week with a win over Harrison, 46-21, after falling to Franklin Central in Week 1, 31-7. Quarterback Bryce Sebanc has thrown just one touchdown this season; for Plainfield to win on Friday, he will need to step up significantly. Additionally, their running attack has not met expectations in the first two games.
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**BISHOP CHATARD AT RONCALLI**
This matchup promises to be exciting. Bishop Chatard is strong on both sides of the ball, having recently secured an impressive victory over Lafayette Jeff (35-7) and a convincing home win against Leo (42-7). Harrison Odom has already established himself as an effective quarterback, while running back Daniel Adams will be a significant challenge for Roncalli’s defense. Adams rushed for over 200 yards in the first half against Leo and scored a total of four touchdowns on the night (three rushing and one receiving). The Royals could also be 2-0 if not for a tough triple-overtime loss to Fort Wayne Dwenger in Week 1. They bounced back with a 21-7 win over Franklin Central in Week 2. The Royals primarily run the football, averaging 174 yards per game, while their passing game averages only 73 yards.
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**KEEP AN EYE ON:**
– **BEECH GROVE AT SHELBYVILLE:** Both teams are 2-0.
– **CLINTON CENTRAL AT CLINTON PRAIRIE:** These two teams are also 2-0.
– **EAST NOBLE AT HUNTINGTON NORTH:** Another matchup of 2-0 teams.
– **GREENWOOD AT INDIAN CREEK:** This could be a high-scoring contest; Greenwood has won 14 of the last 18 meetings.
– **EVANSVILLE MATER DEI VS. LAVILLE:** This game will take place at Southport. Mater Dei is 2-0, boasting a strong defense and a powerful offense (38.0 points per game).
– **EASTBROOK AT ALEXANDRIA:** Eastbrook has dominated this series, winning 29 of the last 32 meetings.
– **BLUFFTON AT SOUTH ADAMS.**Bluffton is 2-0. South Adams is coming off a semi-state appearance in 2025. Bluffton won their previous meeting in 2025, 44-41.
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