**INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK ONE TOP GAMES**

As we gear up for the high school football season, which kicks off on August 21, we want to highlight some of the top matchups to watch in the first week. While opinions may vary on which games are the best, we believe these matchups deserve attention:

 **ADAMS CENTRAL AT FW LUERS:** FW Luers is known for its challenging schedule, and starting the season against Adams Central is no exception. Adams Central finished last season with an impressive record of 13-1, only losing to Andrean in the semi-state. We have Adams Central ranked #1 in the Indiana SRN Pre-Season Football Polls. FW Luers, coming off a loss to Cascade in the state finals, will be eager to make another trip to Lucas Oil Stadium.

 **ANDREAN AT MERRILLVILLE:** Last season, Andrean clinched the state title and faces a tough opener against Merrillville on August 21. Merrillville had a strong season in 2025, reaching the state title game before falling to New Palestine 38-17. Under Coach Brad Seiss, the Pirates have become a powerhouse in football. Interestingly, Andrean lost to Merrillville in their season opener last year but went on to win the next 13 games.

 **AVON AT DECATUR CENTRAL:** The Avon Orioles finished with a 6-5 record in 2025, losing to Brownsburg in the second round of the sectional tournament. Coach Rob Gibson is looking forward to a special season at Avon. However, starting against Decatur Central will be a challenge, as DC ended the previous season at 9-3 after a loss to Brownsburg in the regional. Notably, the Hawks lost to Avon in overtime at the start of the 2025 season.

 **BATESVILLE AT TRITON CENTRAL:** Batesville may surprise some, but many believe Coach Evan Ulery can lead the Bulldogs back to their winning ways after a tough 2025 season (3-7). Last year, Batesville lost a close match to Triton Central, falling 11-10 in their season opener. Triton Central had a successful season, finishing 10-2 and losing to a strong Lapel team in the sectional final. Tim Kegley is now at the helm of the Tigers program.

**BLOOMINGTON SOUTH AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH:** The Battle of Bloomington kicks off the 2025 season in Week 1. Last year, South defeated North twice: 36-7 in the regular season and 31-28 in the sectional rematch. Under Coach Gabe Johnson, South is poised to be a powerhouse again in 5A. North has a new coach, Andy Harding, who takes over for Brett Cooper, who served just one season. North hasn’t had a losing season since 2018, and they hope this is the year they can finally best South.

**BROWNSBURG AT LAWRENCE NORTH:** What a matchup in Week 1! The Bulldogs are the two-time defending state champions and are loaded with talent once again. Brownsburg has lost only two games over the last two seasons and edged out Lawrence North in the 2025 regional, winning 22-21. Wildcats Coach Patrick Mallory saw his team lose three games last year by a total of just eight points. With a wealth of returning talent, they are ready to make a strong run in 2026.

**CATHEDRAL AT BEN DAVIS:** The Fighting Irish are looking to bounce back from a 7-4 season, which is considered lackluster compared to their usual standards. Their last state title was in 2021, and in 2024 and 2025, they faced early exits in the tournament. Such performances are unacceptable for Cathedral football. Coach Bill Peebles aims to return the team to its winning ways in 2026. Ben Davis also has a new coach, Brett Cooper, who previously coached at Bloomington North. Just three seasons ago, the Giants won a state title, but since then, they have only secured eight victories. With plenty of talent, Cooper has the potential to make Ben Davis a contender, but will it be enough?

**BISHOP CHATARD AT LAFAYETTE JEFF:** The Trojans won nine games last season, a figure many programs would celebrate. However, Bishop Chatard typically wins nine games and then makes a deep tournament run due to a challenging schedule. Coach Rob Doyle expects to lead BC back to the state title game with a strong running attack and a solid defense. Lafayette Jeff won 10 games in 2025, but they lost a tough regional game to Concord, 47-45. The Bronchos boast a potent offense and will benefit from playing at home, although BC won their matchup last season 35-28.

**LAWRENCEBURG AT EAST CENTRAL:** Tigers Coach Ryan Knigga has achieved 140 wins at Lawrenceburg, a testament to the winning culture he fostered as a player in high school and college. The Tigers narrowly missed a title run in 2025, losing to Cascade 37-33 in the regional. There’s every reason to believe that Lawrenceburg will make another strong run in 2026. East Central is always a high school football powerhouse and is eager to capture their first title since the 2023 season after being eliminated in the regional rounds in 2024 and 2025. EC is currently ranked #1 in the preseason Indiana SRN football polls in 4A.

**WARREN CENTRAL AT CENTER GROVE:** The Warriors possess as much talent as any team in the state. However, the question remains: can they put it all together in 2026? They lost to Center Grove to start the 2025 season, and a rollercoaster season followed, culminating in a shutout loss to Brownsburg in the semi-state, 31-0. Warren hasn’t won a title since 2018, while the Trojans last claimed the state title in 2022. Coach Eric Moore continues to build a powerhouse program, and there’s no indication that this will change this season. This match is one to watch on August 21.

**RONCALLI AT FW DWENGER:** This matchup is a rematch of the 4A state title game, which Dwenger won 36-29. Last season, these two teams faced off in the regular season opener, where Roncalli prevailed with a score of 3-0 at home. The Royals will need to replace quarterback Collin Ash, who threw for nearly 2,000 yards and rushed for another 1,070, totaling 43 touchdowns. Similarly, the Saints are looking for a new quarterback following the graduation of Henry Jordan. Additionally, Dwenger has lost their leading rusher, AJ Shefferly. 

WEEK ONE GAMES ON INDIANA SRN

**SPEEDWAY AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN**: The Sparkplugs had a challenging season in 2025, winning only one game. They struggled with scoring, averaging just 11 points per game. Quarterback Logan Moore returns after throwing for 759 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, the Sparkplugs need to find replacements for running back Mamadou Diallo, who rushed for 654 yards, and leading receiver Lucas Devault, who had 18 receptions. On the other hand, Heritage Christian finished their season with a record of 7-5 under first-year coach Caleb Brink. A narrow four-point loss to Indianapolis Lutheran in the sectional championship game gives them hope as they enter the new season.

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**COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT PARK TUDOR**: Luke Scifres managed only two wins in his first season as head coach for the Warriors, but signs are indicating a brighter future for the westside team. The Panthers of Park Tudor have continued to develop under coach Spencer Summerville, finishing with a .500 record in 2025. They started strong, winning the first four games of the season but then dropped four of their last five. Quarterback Christopher Harris returns after a promising sophomore season, during which he passed for 1,819 yards and 26 touchdowns. Harris also led the Panthers in rushing, gaining 843 yards.

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**MT. VERNON AT KOKOMO**: Mike Kirschner is back at Mt. Vernon, aiming to restore the Marauders to their former football glory. Vince Liddy initially had a successful start, winning a state title in his first season, but the team’s performance has declined since then, culminating in an 0-10 record in 2025. Kokomo is now under the leadership of first-year coach Grant Foes, who takes over from Caleb Small, who had a single season with a record of 4-7 in 2025.

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