Northern Indiana Roundup: Who Has Our Attention Through Week Two?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're through two weeks of high school football in Indiana and there have been plenty of incredible performances. It is so hard to select only a handful of guys who have stood out to mention, as multiple handfuls of athletes deserve recognition. Regardless, check out these five stars who have stood out to me through the early portions of the 2023 season. They have exceeded expectations and are on pace to certainly have a special season. What they have done so far is noteworthy and how they perform going forward will have my eye!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["541921"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Eastern High School Comets are sitting at an even .500 heading into week three but running back [player_tooltip player_id='541921' first='Jayden' last='Eagle'] has soared to begin the year. He is currently pacing at #2 in the state in rushing yards and he's bound to continue the success. Eagle ran for 184 yards on 14 carries in week one against Oak Hill and tallied one touchdown. In a dominating win against Northwestern in week 2, Eagle simply could not be stopped. Carrying the ball 22 times for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns, Eagle was on another level. On film, he simply looked quicker than everyone else on the field, weaving through defenders with ease. Eastern has a bout with Delphi Community this Friday and this is another prime time to view the skillset [player_tooltip player_id='541921' first='Jayden' last='Eagle'] brings to the Comets.rnrnTwitter: @JaydenEagle8","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Nolan Carpenter","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Delta","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The future is bright for Nolan Carpenter and the Delta Eagles. Embarking on his junior campaign, Carpenter is off to about as hot of start as anyone would like to see. Through two games, he is averaging 8 yards per carry and is leading the team (and a lot of the state) with 7 total touchdowns. Last week against Norwell, he totaled 196 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns. Delta struggled in conference play a year ago but they took care of Shelbyville with relative ease. The 2023 edition of Delta vs. Shelbyville kicks off this Friday. In what should be a more competitive game this time around, Carpenter has every opportunity to continue his early season success. Watch out for Nolan Carpenter.rnrnTwitter:@Nolan_Carp","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Owen Roeder","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"NorthWood","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The NorthWood Panthers are legit and it begins with the offense (although their defense is electric, as well). Quarterback Owen Roeder has led the team to a 2-0 start while putting up 91 total points. They score early and often. Roeder has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, such as Nitro Tuggle, [player_tooltip player_id='189104' first='Jo'Ziah' last='Edmond'], Landon Perry, and Trey Woods, and he knows exactly how to use them. Roeder has completed 38 passes on 48 attempts (79.2%) and has tossed 9 touchdowns without throwing an interception. He commands the pocket and can deliver a strike anywhere on the field. He doesn't try to do too much and simply takes what the defense gives him. This is a quarterback that many coaches would love having in the huddle any given night.rnrnTwitter: @OwenRoeder3","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Mason Smythe","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2441","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Warsaw","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Don't forget about the specialist on your local team! No one in Warsaw, Indiana is going to forget about Mason Smythe anytime soon. His right leg was the difference maker last Friday night, as the Tigers snuck out a victory over Chesterton by a score of 8-6. Smythe was the definition of clutch. With 25 seconds left on the clock, he knocked home a 38-yard field goal against a raucous Chesterton crowd to seal the deal and walk out of there remaining undefeated heading into conference play. Smythe has the leg to nail kicks from as deep as 50 yards so he will be an interesting guy to keep an eye on throughout the year. The school has seen success in recent years from their kicking game, where they have seen brothers Harrison (University of Missouri) and Andrew (Iowa State/NFL) Mevis walk the halls of Warsaw Community High School. Is Mason Smythe next in line?rnrnTwitter: @Masonsmythe2","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='994210' first='Nick' last='Johnsen']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Highland","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The Region has some great football year in and year out. This year, the Highland Trojans have begun the season off to a hot start, taking a 2-0 record into a good matchup with Hanover Central. A playmaker on defense, senior [player_tooltip player_id='994210' first='Nick' last='Johnsen'] has been all over the field from the OLB position. Through two games, he has recorded 27 total tackles, 16 solo and 11 assists. Standing at 6'4u0022, he plays the position well, keeping his eyes in the backfield and can make a play anywhere on the field. Watch your six because Johnsen has shown the ability to chase down ball carriers, as well. Hands aren't an issue either, as he has two interceptions on the year so far, but also plays tight end on the offensive side of the ball. Johnsen has many qualities that are indicative of a difference maker who can lead a defense to success.rnrnTwitter: @NickJohnsen40","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64ee94e028d43"} /-->