Mt. Vernon (3-0) at New Palestine (3-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Coaches: Mike Kirschner, 10-4 in 2nd year at Mt. Vernon, 119-66 in 17th year overall. Kyle Ralph, 77-4 in 7th year at New Palestine.
Recent history: New Palestine won last year’s meeting 64-0. The Dragons have a 32-22-1 lead in the all-time series and have won seven straight against the Marauders.
Sagarin ratings: New Palestine, 103.27, 2nd overall, 1st in 5A. Mt. Vernon, 51.52, 130th overall, 33rd in 4A.
Players to watch: New Palestine — QB Lincoln Roth, RB Charlie Spegal, DL Kyle King, LB Aven Jones, LB Richard Clevenger, DB Maxen Hook, DB Brody Luker; Mt. Vernon — QB Gehrig Slunaker, RB/FS Rylan Cole, OL/LB Charlie Moore, DL Matt Foor, WR Dawan Langston, TE/LB Luke Rappe
What to look for: This will be a good measuring stick for how far the Marauders have come in Mike Kirschner’s second year. Both teams struggled a bit in wins last Friday, with the Dragons offense misfiring early and the Marauders having penalty problems. Mt. Vernon’s run defense got a big test last week against the wishbone offense, but it gets even more difficult tonight against Indiana’s all-time leading rusher, Charlie Spegal. While another 64-0 result would be a shock, the Dragons should roll to another multiple-score margin of victory against their county rivals.
Greenfield-Central (0-3) at Pendleton Heights (2-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Coaches: Travis Nolting, 0-3 in 1st year at Greenfield, 60-31 in 9th year overall. Jed Richman, 19-16 in 4th year at Pendleton Heights, 54-46 in 10th year overall.
Recent history: Pendleton Heights won last year’s game, 50-0. The Arabians hold a 23-11 edge in the series in the last 35 years.
Sagarin ratings: Pendleton Heights, 74.54, 44th overall, 9th in 4A. Greenfield, 24.62, 234th overall, 51st in 4A.
Players to watch: Greenfield-Central — QB/DB/P Lance McKee, FB/LB Bradon Nelson, TE/LB Tyler Antic, DB Chris O’Connor, RB/LB Brayden Herrell; Pendleton Heights — QB Kirby Hess, RB Kamden Earley, WR/DB Tyler McKinley, LB Caden McClain, LB Luke Bays
What to look for: These two teams are both wildly different from last year, when the Arabians rolled to a 50-point win against the Cougars. Greenfield-Central is showing plenty of progress through the first third of the season and could snap their losing streak this season, but this isn’t likely to be the week they do it. Pendleton Heights’ run defense has been very strong the past two weeks, allowing a total of 110 yards on 53 attempts by Anderson and New Castle, but struggled in an opening loss to Mississinewa. The Cougars could get to double-digit points for the first time this season, but the Arabians should win by several scores.
Heritage Christian (2-1) at Eastern Hancock (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Kyle Ray, 18-15 in 4th year at Heritage Christian. Doug Armstrong, 6-7 in 2nd year at Eastern Hancock, 103-86 in 18th year overall.
Recent history: The teams have only played twice before, and both games were 2018 wins by the Eagles. Heritage Christian topped the Royals 33-6 in the regular season, then eliminated Eastern Hancock with a 21-0 sectional win.
Sagarin ratings: Heritage Christian, 61.09, 90th overall, 7th in 2A. Eastern Hancock, 44.6, 158th overall, 17th in 2A.
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, WR/DB Cayden Sotelo, WR/LB Connor Shultz; Heritage Christian — QB Maxwell Milton, RB Colton Brown, WR Harrison Eckel, OLB Ethan Lowry, MLB Peyton Brown
What to look for: How good are the Eastern Hancock Royals? Tonight’s game should be telling. The Royals lost twice to the Eagles last year, but this is a very different feeling Eastern Hancock team. The Royals passed just 28 times while rushing 92 times last year against Heritage Christian, and QB Houston Swan, as a freshman, was intercepted six times. This year’s Royals have turned into a pass-first offense, with Swan rolling at 13 TDs to just 2 INTs so far this season. It’s been three straight blowouts, three straight 40-plus point games for the hosts. They may be underdogs in the computer rankings, but expect Eastern Hancock to move to 4-0 on the season with a revenge win. The offense is clicking too well — as long as it doesn’t totally stall with turnovers, the Royals should pull the “upset.”
