Team Preview: Castle High School

Markus Barnett

August 20, 2021 @ 08:05 AM

Overview Coming off their 14th Sectional Championship & Sixth Regional title, Castle had a highly successful season, only falling short to the winner of the State Championship, Indianapolis Cathedral. With a strong 2022 Senior Class under Coach Doug Hurt’s helm, they look to continue the success and finish what they started the previous season. Key Games August 20 v. Evansville North The Knights are intent on kicking off this season with a different result as opposed to last year, after losing its season opener 14-7 also against North. The two teams have a budding rivalry after a tough fought game in 2020, which then led to a 5 game hot streak, but also losing a heartbreaker to Evansville North in 2019 in overtime 36-35. With this being the opening game, and fans back in the stands, the home opener will likely cause quite the ruckus with the Castle Crazies in the student section. October 8 @ Evansville Central Central currently has a 5 game win streak against the Castle Knights and will look to continue its dominance on home turf, and though a different class, they are no slouch. They have averaged nearly 11 wins since 2016 and have tucked away a few Sectional titles under their belt during that run. However, Central lost numerous key playmakers in the ’21 Class. Time will tell if they are able to maintain the success of recent years or if the Bears lose their edge. October 15 v. Evansville Memorial Another heavy hitter for the Knights to go up against for the season finale as they face the Memorial Tigers who also carry a 5 game win streak in their pocket. Memorial is considered to be a high favorite for the coveted SIAC title this season and packs a punch, even after losing their All-State QB from last year. This game will have trash talk from the stands and the field, it will get heated, and there will be a team heading home with their head down. Players to Watch

Peyton Guerzini Peyton Guerzini 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Castle | 2023 State IN | RB - Returning Junior in the backfield Guerzini had a monster season with 1500+ yards and 15 touchdowns. He will be a force to be reckoned with as he makes for a very difficult back to get down and with the standard Doug Hurt offensive line, he will have gaps aplenty.

| FS - Be prepared to hear Reff’s name a lot this season as he will be one of the stars of this defense in his final year at Castle. With a big senior year, he will be adding some college offers to his plate while putting the defense on his back. Whether he’s lined up in the box or rallying the troops during the long drives, he will be a leader. Reff is akin to a heat-seeking missile once he is locked on, he has a big year ahead. | OL - As the lone returning senior to this OL, Myers has the opportunity to stake his claim among some of the top linemen in the area. At 6’5 295lbs, he is a goliath on nearly any field, and his punch off the line reminds you of that, look for him to play a variety of roles on the line this year. With some D2 & NAIA offers, along with a D1 offer from Valpo currently, Myers is going to be fighting for those coveted late-season offers from some bigger schools, he has the size, let us see if he has the heart. Road to Lucas Oil Castle’s journey to a 3rd State Championship will rest on their ability to adapt to the likely consistent maneuvering of the roster due to Covid protocols and building momentum. Castle has a long history of being a momentum-style team, they have a juggernaut mentality once they get rolling. If they can kick off the season early with a big win at Evansville North and finish strong we may be looking at major state contenders. Be sure to follow Markus Barnett @LockedOnRecruit regarding news & information for Indiana High School Football, along with @PrepRedzoneIN & @PrepRedzone