Indiana Sectional Championships (4A-6A): Key Players & Outlook

By Harvey Scruggs   Indiana high school football fans are in for a treat when sectional championships kick off on Friday for the state’s three largest classes. When these teams take the field, all eyes will be on a number of standout football players as well. Let’s look at some key matchups and players to watch in the Class 4A - 6A games. CLASS 4A Mooresville Pioneers are the favorite to win Sectional 23, with the help of Purdue recruits in [player_tooltip player_id="38912" first="Zach" last="Richards"] and [player_tooltip player_id="38910" first="Jaelin" last="Alstott-VanDeVanter"]. On the edge for the Pioneers is senior Tommy O’Connor who has recorded 12 sacks. The 6’4 220-pound sackmaster is headed to Cincinnati to play baseball at the next level. In Sectional 21, lookout for 6’6 215-pound Ball State pledge Tanner Koziol and Indiana State recruit [player_tooltip player_id="38982" first="Rylan" last="Cole"] to lead Class 4A top ranked Mount Vernon Marauders in their quest for a championship. Marauder quarterback Gehrig Slunaker is garnering attention from college coaches. The remaining Class 4A field in the sectional championships bolster talented players in Hobart linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="38916" first="Bobby" last="Babcock"] an Illinois State commit and one of the Midwest’s top 2022 prospects in Leo lineman [player_tooltip player_id="39050" first="Landen" last="Livingston"]. Livingston holds offers from the likes of Indiana, Purdue, West Virginia, and Michigan State. Another notable prospect playing for a championship on Friday is Evansville Central linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="39039" first="Jacob" last="Boberg"], CLASS 5A We can expect a battle in Sectional 15 when the Castle Knights make a visit to Bloomington to take on the North Cougars. Last year’s game went into overtime, with Castle edging the Cougars, 28-21. Look for junior standout quarterback Reese Lozano to hook up with targets [player_tooltip player_id="38985" first="Bailen" last="Murphy"] and tight end [player_tooltip player_id="38909" first="Aaron" last="Steinfeldt"]. Lozano, just a junior, is a dual threat for the Cougs, and he holds an early FCS offer while senior wideout Murphy is committed to Indiana State. The Indian Hoosiers were able to lock up Steinfeldt, to add to their already talented 2021 recruiting class. There will be plenty of talent on the field when (8-2) Decatur Central Hawks and the (9-1) Cathedral Irish meet in the Sectional 13 title game. The Hawks have a playmaker in [player_tooltip player_id="39053" first="Javon" last="Tracy"], an electric player that will line up everywhere on the Hawks’ offense. Iowa looks to be the favorite in landing Tracy’s services. For Cathedral, senior wideout [player_tooltip player_id="38926" first="Camden" last="Jordan"] has piqued the interest of Power Five college coaches with his ball catching ability. Jordan has several offers from MAC programs but is slated to play baseball for Louisville. Look for Indiana’s player of the year frontrunner, quarterback Nate McCahill to lead the potent Irish offense. Tight end [player_tooltip player_id="39075" first="Brennan" last="Wooten"] is a prospect in the 2023 class and so is junior linebacker Jeff Utzinger. Keep an eye out for 6’5 195-pound junior receiver Rocco Ciocco, Hoosier recruit offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="38914" first="Vinny" last="Fiacable"], and the Bishop Dwenger Saints to make a deep run in the 5A tournament. The state’s top passer, Fort Wayne North Side’s [player_tooltip player_id="38932" first="Duce" last="Taylor"] will do all he can to end the Saints season on Friday. Taylor has a few scholarship opportunities. Before Valporaiso lineman [player_tooltip player_id="38900" first="Cooper" last="Jones"] heads to Bloomington to suit up for the Hoosiers, he is eying a trip to Indianapolis for the 5A championship game. CLASS 6A The largest class of football in the state obviously owns the Hoosier state’s top prospects and teams. Nationally ranked Center Grove is the 6A favorite and their roster has close to a dozen next level players. Led by junior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="39040" first="Caden" last="Curry"], junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="39049" first="Tayven" last="Jackson"], and Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id="38894" first="Austin" last="Booker"]. Lawrence North is looking to secure its first sectional championship since 1990. The Wildcats have the playmakers to pull off the feat against one of the state’s storied programs in Warre Central. Look for Indiana recruit [player_tooltip player_id="38897" first="Donaven" last="McCulley"] and uber-talented junior [player_tooltip player_id="39048" first="Omar" last="Cooper"] Jr. to hook up many times on Friday. In Sectional 5, you have a red hot team in the Carmel Greyhounds and the Brownsburg Bulldogs facing off in the state’s game of the week. Duke Blue Devil recruit [player_tooltip player_id="38913" first="Justin" last="Pickett"] solidifies the offensive line for the Greyhounds. Many picked the Bulldogs as a 6A favorite, and rightfully so. The roster has a plethora of division one recruits. Starting with Kansas commit, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="38919" first="Ben" last="Easters"], Purdue recruit, wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="38907" first="Preston" last="Terrell"] and Indiana recruit [player_tooltip player_id="38904" first="Joshua" last="Sales"] on the offense. Westfield Rocks and junior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="39044" first="Popeye" last="Williams"] are on a roll and look to capture the Sectional 4 championship. Newly formed Elkhart has the benefit of creating a roster that is as talented as any in the state. Look for Penn State recruit [player_tooltip player_id="38901" first="Rodney" last="McGraw"] and company to make waves in the Class 6A tournament. Other notable prospects playing for a sectional title on Friday include Merrillville’s [player_tooltip player_id="38908" first="JoJo" last="Johnson"], Missouri target [player_tooltip player_id="38896" first="Daylan" last="Carnell"], Lafayette Jefferson defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="38917" first="Jalen" last="Monrrow"].