No. 1 New Palestine (3-0) at Mt. Vernon (2-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Recent history: New Palestine leads the all-time series 33-22-1, 16-10 at Mt. Vernon. The Dragons have won six straight in the series, all blowout wins, outscoring the Marauders 232-13 since 2013. New Palestine won 47-3 last year.
Last week: Both teams had blowout wins. The Dragons rolled over Yorktown, 81-13, while Mt. Vernon topped county rival Greenfield-Central 56-21.
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Sagarin ratings: New Palestine 103.55 (second), Mt. Vernon 60.87 (96th)
Players to watch: New Palestine — QB Zach Neligh, RB Charlie Spegal, WR Colby Jenkins, WR Matt Brown, OL/DL Austin Keele, OL/DL Kyle King, LB Luke Ely, DB Luke Canfield, WR/DB Maxen Hook; Mt. Vernon — QB Tyson Harley, RB/OLB Dylan Cole, WR Braxton Trittipo, WR DaRell Jackson, TE/DE Max Burhenn, DE P.J. Sterrett
What to look for: This game should prove a true measuring stick of where the Marauders are under first-year coach Mike Kirschner. New Palestine is the heavy favorite, but it should be closer than the last several year’s games. Mt. Vernon hit on the big play repeatedly last week against Greenfield-Central, and will need more big connections from quarterback Tyson Harley to receivers Braxton Trittipo and DaRell Jackson to try to keep pace with New Palestine. The Cougars had success running up the middle against the Marauders last week – expect a hefty dose of Charlie Spegal from New Palestine.
Greenfield-Central (0-3) vs. Pendleton Heights (3-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Recent history: Pendleton Heights leads the all-time series 25-18 and won 34-28 last season. The Cougars won in 2016, the Arabians won in 2015, and the teams split wins in 2014.
Last week: Greenfield-Central lost 56-21 against county rival Mt. Vernon. Pendleton Heights improved to 3-0 with a 49-14 win against New Castle and is receiving votes in the state coaches poll.
Sagarin ratings: Greenfield-Central 39.23 (211th), Pendleton Heights 72.85 (51st)
Players to watch:
Greenfield-Central — QB Gehrig Slunaker, OL/DL Tate Helm, RB/LB Turk Faitele, CB/WR/RB Jaden Brown, RB/FS Emmet Houser; Pendleton Heights — QB Christian Conkling, RB Kamden Early, WR/DB Eli Pancol, WR/DB Anakin Allison, OL/DL Tremor Bynum, RB/LB Jarod Miller
What to look for: A week after giving up big play after big play to Mt. Vernon, Greenfield-Central welcomes in the scariest passing attack in the Hoosier Heritage Conference with the Arabians. Eli Pancol is arguably the conference’s premier wide receiver, ranked in the Top 10 in Indiana’s 2019 graduates by ESPN, and the Arabians have a good senior quarterback and strong run game to complement the offense. Greenfield-Central will need to rely on the run game it found against Mt. Vernon to try to control the clock and keep the Arabians off the field, but the big question for the Cougars as they search for their first win is simple: can they stop Pancol?
Eastern Hancock (2-1) vs. at Heritage Christian (1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Recent history: This is the first ever game between the teams.
Last week: Eastern Hancock lost for the first time this year to a tough Fountain Central team, 32-21, at home. Heritage Christian lost 48-7 on the road at Guerin Catholic.
Sagarin ratings: Eastern Hancock 32.57 (239th), Heritage Christian 40.81 (204th)
Players to watch: Eastern Hancock — QB Houston Swan, RB/DB Victor Olivo, RB/LB Garrett Friesen, RB/LB Jacob Johnson, OL/DL Alexander Burton, OL/DL Brady Stephens, OL/DL Tyler Vandervliet, WR/DB Cole Rainbolt; Heritage Christian — QB Sam Azbell, RB/DE Aidan Craig, WR/DB Harrison Eckel, OLB Ethan Lowry
What to look for: Both teams will be looking to bounce back from tough losses, with the Royals taking to the road for the first time this season. Heritage Christian hasn’t had a ton of success running the football, while the run game for Eastern Hancock is a strength, with three running backs all over 150 yards this season. Royals QB Houston Swan only threw the ball 17 times in the team’s first two games, but had 32 attempts against Fountain Central, with 3 TDs and 3 INTs. With a strong running game around him, Swan’s continued development should play a big role in this one.
