Football Week 1 Capsules
New Palestine at Kokomo
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Kyle Ralph, 74-4 in 7th year at New Palestine. Richard Benberry, 5-6 in 2nd year at Kokomo.
Recent history: New Palestine won the only meeting between the two teams, a 77-0 win to open the 2018 season.
Sagarin ratings (2018 final): New Palestine, 105.08, 3rd overall, 1st in 5A. Kokomo, 60.5, 88th overall, 18th in 5A.
Players to watch: New Palestine — QB Lincoln Roth, RB Charlie Spegal, DL Kyle King, LB Aven Jones, DB Maxen Hook, DB Brody Luker; Kokomo — RB Jeremy Baker, WR/CB Noah Wainscott, DE/DT Jeremiah Neal, MLB Myles Lenoir, WR/OLB Kohl Beard
What to look for: New Palestine will be looking to set the tone early, much like they did a year ago in pouring on 70 points in the first half against the Wildkats. Kokomo came into last year’s game with a new coach and almost entirely new roster from 2017 and it showed, as they started the season 0-5 before putting together a win streak. The Dragons should roll easily, although Kokomo will likely put up a bit more resistance at home. Look for Charlie Spegal to have a huge game to start his senior year off on the right foot and get within range to possibly break the state record for rushing yards in Week 2.
Mt. Vernon vs. Hamilton Heights
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Jon Kirschner, 2-8 in 2nd year at Hamilton Heights. Mike Kirschner, 7-4 in 2nd year at Mount Vernon, 116-66 in 17th year overall.
Recent history: Mt. Vernon won last year’s season opener on the road, topping the hosts 43-14.
Sagarin ratings (2018 final): Mt. Vernon 61.62, 85th overall, 23rd in 4A. Hamilton Heights, 23.6, 242nd overall, 49th in 3A.
Players to watch: Mt. Vernon — QB Shaun Shipley, QB Gehrig Slunaker, RB/FS Rylan Cole, OL/LB Charlie Moore, RB Keagan Labelle; Hamilton Heights — QB Isaac Wilson, RB/LB Deshawn King, WR/DB Camron Knott, WR/DB Brent Pennington
What to look for: Last year’s game was a special one, with father Mike Kirschner coaching his first game at Mt. Vernon against his son, Jon, who was coaching his first game ever at Hamilton Heights. The Marauders jumped ahead early and mostly cruised to a win behind a strong passing game and effective running, but this year’s teams are drastically different from Week 1 of 2018. Mt. Vernon should be favored. Expect to see a lot of running in this one — Mt. Vernon’s Rylan Cole and Keagan Labelle should see plenty of carries, as will Hamilton Heights’ Deshawn King, who rushed for 139 yards in last year’s game.
Eastern Hancock at Northwestern
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Doug Armstrong, 3-7 in 2nd year at Eastern Hancock, 100-86 in 18th year overall. Austen Robison, 1-8 in 2nd year at Northwestern, 14-26 in 5th year overall.
Recent history: Eastern Hancock won last year’s opener between the teams, 28-14.
Sagarin ratings (2018 final): Eastern Hancock, 22.91, 246th overall, 46th in 2A. Northwestern, 4.94, 297th overall, 59th in 3A.
Players to watch: Eastern Hancock — QB Houston Swan, RB/DB Victor Olivo, WR/FS Cole Rainbolt, RB/LB Garrett Friesen, DL Tyler Vandervliet, WR/DB Zach Arnold; Northwestern — WR/DB Garrett Wecht, FB/DL Jaelen Fowler, LB Bodey Henry, OL/DL Kyle Cardwell
What to look for: Expectations are fairly high for this year’s Royals, who return most of the starters from last year’s squad, which picked up a 14-point win against Northwestern to open that season. The Royals ran for 271 yards in that game, allowing then-freshman QB Houston Swan to settle into his first varsity start. All four rushers from that game return, but expect to see more out of Swan and a talented receiving corps in this year’s contest. Eastern Hancock should open the season off with a fairly comfortable win.
Greenfield-Central vs. Plainfield
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Coaches: Brian Woodard, 78-63 in 14th year at Plainfield. Travis Nolting, 0-0 in 1st year at Greenfield, 60-28 in 9th year overall.
Recent history: The teams have never met previously.
Sagarin ratings (2018 finals): Plainfield, 66.9, 73rd overall, 13th in 5A. Greenfield, 30.22, 226th overall, 37th in 5A.
Players to watch: Greenfield-Central — QB/DB/P Lance McKee, FB/LB Bradon Nelson, TE/LB Tyler Antic, OL/DL Scott Stanley, DB Chris O’Connor, FB/LB Spencer Johnson; Plainfield — QB/FS Aiden Moyers, OLB/WR Jack Beebe, MLB Mason Scott, MLB Jacob Platt
What to look for: This is by far the most intriguing Week 1 matchup, as Greenfield-Central — now a 4A school — hosts Plainfield, a team they’ve never faced before. The Cougars have a new Class, new coach and entirely new offense, one drastically different from what they ran a year ago. It would be considered a fairly large upset if the hosts come away with the win, but this game will be more about learning who these Cougars are and what they will bring to the table this season. Expect to see multiple players receive significant numbers of carries in the new wishbone offense.
