Football sectional pairings unveiled
The Indiana High School Athletic Association conducted its random drawing Sunday night to determine sectional pairings for the 43rd annual football state tournament.
The state tournament begins Friday, Oct. 23, for all six of the state’s football classes and culminates after Thanksgiving at the state finals on Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28, at Lucas Oil Stadium.
A total of 321 teams will compete in the state tournament, including top-ranked Class 5A New Palestine and No. 2 Class 2A Eastern Hancock, which both enter the final week of the regular season unbeaten.
For New Palestine, its quest for a second consecutive state title won’t officially start until Friday, Oct. 30.
The Dragons drew a first-round bye in Sectional 14 and will host Martinsville (0-8) in the semifinals.
No. 3 Columbus East (8-0) will play Franklin Community 1-7) in the first round Friday, Oct. 23, with the winner to face No. 6 Whiteland (6-2) in the semifinals the next week. The sectional championship game is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6.
Class 5A Sectional 14 (5 teams)
Oct. 23, First round
Game 1: Columbus East at Franklin Community
Oct. 30, Semifinals
Game 2: Whiteland at Game 1 winner
Game 3: Martinsville at New Palestine
Nov. 6, Championship
Game 4: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
Eastern Hancock (8-0) hosts Northeastern (6-2) in the first round of Sectional 38 on Friday, Oct. 23. If the Royals win, they will play either Milan (3-5) or Indianapolis Howe (5-3) in the semifinals Friday, Oct. 23.
The Royals defeated Northeastern 33-7 in the regular season and nearly doubled up Mid-Indiana Conference foe Milan 26-14 last month.
Class 2A Sectional 38 (8 teams)
Oct. 23, First round
Game 1: Union County at Triton Central
Game 2: Centerville at Switzerland County
Game 3: Northeastern at Eastern Hancock
Game 4: Milan at Indianapolis Howe
Oct. 30, Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Nov. 6, Championship
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
In Sectional 22, Class 4A Mt. Vernon (4-4) opens at home against Jay County (4-4) in the first round. Greenfield-Central (3-5) hosts Delta (6-2) in the quarterfinals. The two won’t meet unless they advance into the finals.
Class 4A Sectional 22 (8 teams)
Oct. 23, First round
Game 1: Jay County at Mt. Vernon
Game 2: Pendleton Heights at Connersville
Game 3: Delta at Greenfield-Central
Game 4: Richmond at New Castle
Oct. 30, Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Nov. 6, Championship
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Determining home team
First round: The second‐named team in the blind draw is host school unless the two teams agree to switch the site.
Semifinals: The team without a home game will host. Exception: The bye team will always be the visitor. If both teams were home or both were visitors, the second‐named team in the quarter bracket will host. In 5A, in the four team sectionals, the second‐named team will host.
Championships: Host team will be the team that has played the most away games. If both teams have played the same number of away games, the bottom bracket team shall host.
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Prep Calendar
Today
Volleyball
Greenfield-Central at Yorktown, 6 p.m.
Indiana Deaf at Eastern Hancock, 6 p.m.
Wednesday
Volleyball
Mt. Vernon at Beech Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Girls soccer
Shelbyville Regional (semifinal): Mt. Vernon vs. Roncalli, 5 p.m.
Thursday
Volleyball
Franklin at New Palestine, 5:30 p.m.
Warren Central at Greenfield-Central, 6 p.m.
Boys soccer
Mt. Vernon Regional (semifinal): Perry Meridian vs. Mt. Vernon, 7 p.m.
Friday
Football
Greenfield-Central at New Castle, 7:30 p.m.
New Palestine at Delta, 7:30 p.m.
Yorktown at Mt. Vernon, 7:30 p.m.
Lapel at Eastern Hancock, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Volleyball
Eastern Hancock at Union County Invite, 9 a.m.
Boys soccer
Mt. Vernon Regional (championship), 7 p.m.
Girls soccer
Shelbyville Regional (championship), 5 p.m.
