IHSAA 4A Sectional Championship Previews
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Friday is nearly upon us, meaning we get to crown sectional champions. There are some great matchups in 4A this year and some familiar foes for some. 4A is full of great athletes from all parts of the state this…
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Continue ReadingFriday is nearly upon us, meaning we get to crown sectional champions. There are some great matchups in 4A this year and some familiar foes for some. 4A is full of great athletes from all parts of the state this year. Let’s dive into some impact players and the matchups this Friday in 4A.
Sectional 17: New Prairie (9-2) @ Culver Academies (5-6)
New Prairie will be on the road at Culver Academies in the Sectional 17 championship game. These two have not played each other this season or in last season’s playoffs. New Prairie is looking to win their 3rd straight sectional title, 9th total, and Culver Academies is looking to win their 3rd. Let’s dive into the matchup and key players for each team.
New Prairie is coming off a road win against Kankakee Valley 28-21. New Prairie will go into this game with a strong running attack. They are led by (So.) RB Reed Robinson and (Sr.) QB Marshall Kmiecik Marshall Kmiecik 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB New Prairie | 2024 State IN . Robinson had 14 carries for 103 yards and 1 TD. Kmiecik also had 14 carries for 103 yards and 3 TDs. Defensively, the Cougars are led by their (Sr.) LB Matthew Sorce and (Jr.) LB Harrison Groves. Sorce had 15 tackles, and Groves had 12 tackles and 3 sacks. New Prairie has experienced players and will look to keep their sectional title streak alive.
Culver Academies is home after a home win in Round 2 against Highland 46-13. Culver’s offense is led by sophomore QB Michael McColgan. As a sophomore, he has shown to be effective in and out of the pocket and is capable of making plays with his legs. There are two large humans that protect McColgan on the offensive line (Sr.) Henry Martello Henry Martello 6'3" | 265 lbs | OL Culver Academy | 2024 State IN and (So.) Job Mavrick. Martello is 6’4″ 250 and is bigger than everyone he plays against. He overpowers them and puts them into the turf. Martello is also a menace as the nose guard on defense. Job Mavrick is 6’2″ 260 and will block his opponents to the whistle. He shows to be a nasty individual who will dominate in the trenches. Culver Academies will be looking to pull off the upset and last season’s 4A runner-ups.
Sectional 18: NorthWood (9-2) @ Northridge (9-2)
Northridge will host NorthWood in the Sectional 18 title game this Friday. These two met earlier in the season, and Northridge came away with a 25-21 victory. NorthWood is looking to win their 19th sectional title, and Northridge is looking to win their 4th. Northridge won the sectional title against NorthWood 34-17 last season. This is going to be a good one; let’s check out the key players on both sides.
NorthWood dominated in Round 2 against South Bend Washington 56-14. NorthWood is led by a talented senior class. Owen Roeder (Sr.) QB went 6/11 for 85 yards, 4 passing TDs, and 1 rushing TD. His favorite target this season and in Round 2 was (Sr.) WR Nitro Tuggle (Awesome Football Name). Nitro had 3 receptions for 61 yards and 2 TDs. The workhorse on the ground was Landon Perry (Jr.) RB. Landon had 10 carries for 104 yards and 1 TD. The offense was hot in Round 2 and will be looking to stay fresh and claim a sectional title on Friday.
Northridge was home in the second round and beat Wawasee 49-20. Northridge has a tremendous offensive senior class this season. Brayden Clark Brayden Clark 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Northridge | 2024 State IN (Sr.) QB went 7/10 for 147 yards, 2 TDs, and had 23 yards rushing. McClain Miller McClain Miller 6'2" | 220 lbs | RB Northridge | 2024 State IN (Sr.) RB got the job done on the ground with 17 carries, 124 yards, 3 TDs, and 41 receiving yards. Chase Clark (Sr.) WR was the leading receiver in the Round 2 victory with 3 receptions for 68 yards and 1 TD. Northridge will attempt to go back-to-back on Friday and complete the sweep against NorthWood.
Sectional 19: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (6-5) @ Leo (9-2)
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger will travel to Leo for the Sectional 19 championship game. These two have not played each other this season or in last season’s playoffs. Dwenger will look to win their 29th sectional title, and Leo will look to win their 4th. Let’s take a look at some impact players in this matchup below.
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger was on the road in Round 2 against DeKalb and got the dub 42-28. Ethan Springer (Sr.) QB had a productive performance. Springer went 12/20 for 252 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. His top target on the night was (Sr.) WR Carter Minix Carter Minix 5'8" | 180 lbs | WR Bishop Dwenger | 2024 State IN . Carter took the game by storm and brought in 5 receptions for 145 yards and 2 TDs. The man on the ground was Tobias Tippmann (Sr.) RB. Tobias had 11 carries for 84 yards and 1 TD in Round 2. Defensively, Nick Pelkington (Jr.) DL and Houston Ellinger (So.) DB will be the two guys to look out for on defense. Pelkington had 9 tackles and 1 TFL and dominated the trenches all night. Ellinger was flying around the field, making 8 tackles and 2 TFLs. Dwenger has talent all around and will be looking to capture the sectional title on Friday.
Leo won a tight one against East Noble 45-42 in the second round. Leo won on a game-winning FG to send them to the sectional title game. Dearious Carter (Sr.) RB had an excellent game on the ground. Dearious had 21 carries for 188 yards for a couple of scores. Kylar Decker (Sr.) led the attack through the air, throwing for 242 yards on 14 completions, 18 attempts, and 4 passing TDs. His leading receiver on the night was Brock Schott Brock Schott 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE Leo | 2025 State IN (Jr.), with 4 receptions for 126 yards. Aiden Furnish was the roadblock in the middle of the field for Leo’s defense in Round 2. The senior linebacker ended up with 9 solos, 1 assist, and 10 total on the night. Keep an eye out for these impact players for Leo, as they will go into battle on Friday.
Sectional 20: Kokomo (9-2) @ Mississinewa (11-0)
Undefeated Mississinewa will host Kokomo in the Sectional 20 title game. These two played in last season’s sectional game, and Kokomo came away with the win 44-13. Kokomo will look to go back-to-back and get their 6th sectional title, and Mississinewa will look to get their 8th sectional title. Let’s take a look at this heavyweight matchup and the key players on both sides.
Kokomo is coming off a shutout win in Round 2 against Marion 35-0. Kokomo made it to semi-state last season and lost in a close one. Kokomo will look to (Sr.) QB Reis Beard Reis Beard 5'7" | 145 lbs | DB Kokomo | 2024 State IN and (Sr.) RB Darrian Story Darrian Story 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Kokomo | 2024 State IN to lead the charge on offense. Darrian Story Darrian Story 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Kokomo | 2024 State IN plays a vital role in the wishbone offense for Kokomo. He is a reliable runner with excellent ball security and is a tough one to take down. Reis Beard Reis Beard 5'7" | 145 lbs | DB Kokomo | 2024 State IN is the man who runs the ship for Kokomo. He is scary in this offense because he can hide behind the line and find the holes for significant gains down the field. Beard shows up on defense, flying around and making tackles all over the field. Another defensive player to watch in this one is (Jr.) LB Khairi Floyd. Kokomo’s MLB is a physical, violent tackler who does a great job recognizing plays and making big plays on defense. Kokomo is gearing up for a great game on Friday and looking to make another run in the playoffs.
Mississinewa has had an incredible season and picked up a victory in the second round, 31-15, against Columbia City on the road. Their offense is led by (Sr.) QB Nolan Quaderer and (So.) Ah’lijah Monday. Nolan went 9/16 for 172 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT in the second round. Ah’lijah had 22 carries, 101 yards, and 1 TD. These two have been solid all season long and will look to continue their performances all the way to Lucas Oil. Mississinewa’s defense is led by (Jr.) LB/DB Logan McVicker and (Sr.) DL Michael Mobley. McVicker led the team in tackles in Round 2 with 8 solos, 6 assists, 14 total, and 1 TFL. Mobley dominated in the trenches with 6 solos, 4 assists, and 10 total tackles. Mississinewa is focused on one game at a time and will look to continue their streak.
Sectional 21: Mooresville (6-5) @ Brebeuf Jesuit Prep (6-4)
Mooresville will travel to Brebeuf Jesuit Prep for the Sectional 21 championship game. These two played in last season’s playoffs, and Brebeuf came away victorious 35-14. Mooresville is seeking their 9th sectional title, and Brebeuf is seeking their 5th. Let’s look at impact players on both sides of this matchup.
In Round 2, Mooresville beat Roncalli 17-9 in front of the home crowd. The player of the game was (Sr.) QB Hogan Denny Hogan Denny 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Mooresville | 2024 State IN . The senior QB went 14/24 for 232 yards and 1 TD. Hogan impressed the home crowd with his ground attack with 14 carries, 143 yards, and 1 TD. His aerial attack was led by (Jr.) WR Kaden Bruhn Kaden Bruhn 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Mooresville | 2025 State IN in Round 2. Bruhn brought in 4 passes for 104 yards. This duo will be fun to watch on Friday night. The defense is led by seniors Gavin Gott and Hunter Bennett Hunter Bennett 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL Mooresville | 2024 State IN . DB Gavin Gott was everywhere in Round 2 with 8 solos, 7 assists, and 15 total tackles. DL Hunter Bennett Hunter Bennett 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL Mooresville | 2024 State IN was a menace in the trenches with 4 TFLs and 2 sacks in Round 2. Mooresville will look to bring the sectional title home and continue their journey in the playoffs.
Brebeuf’s offense came up big in the second round, beating Lebanon 70-49 at home. Brebeuf got it done on the ground and through the air with (Jr.) QB Maverick Geske Maverick Geske 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Brebeuf Jesuit | 2025 State IN and (Jr.) RB CJ Harris. Maverick went 17/21 for 274 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs. CJ Harris had a monster game with 21 carries, 325 yards, and 6 TDs! Look for these two to have a massive game in the sectional title game. (Jr.) WR Taylor Clark Taylor Clark 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Brebeuf Jesuit | 2025 State IN was the go-to guy in the throw game with 8 receptions, 142 yards, and 2 TDs. The defense was led by (So.) LB Parker Maiers. The sophomore LB was all over the field with 12 solos, 8 assists, 20 total, and 1 TFL. Brebeuf has the talent to make a deep run in this year’s playoffs.
Sectional 22: New Palestine (9-2) @ Mt. Vernon (7-4)
New Palestine will be on the road against Mt. Vernon in the Sectional 22 championship game. In September, these two teams played, and New Palestine beat Mt. Vernon 63-39. New Palestine is looking to win their 14th sectional title, and Mt. Vernon is looking to win their 8th. Let’s take a look at the impact players in this matchup below.
New Palestine is coming off a Round 2 win against Greenfield-Central 35-0. New Palestine is ready to return to a state championship, and they have the offense to take them there. They had a great RB duo in Round 2 with (Sr.) Grayson Thomas Grayson Thomas 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB New Palestine | 2024 State IN and (Sr.) Kyler Kropp Kyler Kropp 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH New Palestine | 2024 State IN . Thomas had 21 carries, 145 yards, and 2 TDs and continues to have a tremendous senior season. Kyler Kropp Kyler Kropp 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH New Palestine | 2024 State IN got the ball 13 times for 124 yards and 3 rushing TDs. This duo will look to replicate their performance in the sectional title game. Micah Clark (Sr.) DB and Garrett Ranes Garrett Ranes 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB New Palestine | 2026 State IN (So.) LB led the defense in the second round with great performances. Micah had 10 solos, 1 assist, and 11 total on the night. Ranes had 5 solos, 4 assists, 9 total, and 1.5 TFLs. Keep an eye out for these guys on defense to show up again Friday. New Palestine is ready to rock and roll in the sectional championship game and make a run in the playoffs.
Mt. Vernon got a home Round 2 win against Beech Grove 42-12. Mt. Vernon’s offense was solid all night last Friday with the help of some great offensive talent. Tyler Etherington (Sr.) QB went 8/15 for 221 yards and 4 TDs. The rushing attack was in full force with (Jr.) RB Joliba Brogan. He had 19 carries, 133 yards, and 1 TD. Get the ball to (Sr.) WR Tre Jones! The senior WR had 6 receptions for 141 yards and 2 TDs. This offense has the firepower to take Mt. Vernon far in this tournament. The guy on defense to watch in the trenches is (Sr.) DT Roland Tremble Roland Tremble 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL Mt. Vernon | 2024 State IN . The senior DT is 6’3″ 300 pounds and an absolute monster up front. Look for him to plug up some of the gaps and cause havoc in the backfield Friday. Mt. Vernon will look to fire on all cylinders and claim a sectional title this Friday.
Sectional 23: Greenwood (6-5) @ East Central (11-0)
The reigning 4A state champs, East Central, will host Greenwood in the Sectional 23 title game. These two teams have yet to play each other this season or in last season’s playoffs. Greenwood is seeking their 6th sectional title, and East Central is seeking their 22nd. Let’s take a look at the matchup and some key players in this one.
Greenwood is coming off a massive win against Jennings County 43-12 in Round 2. They are led by Indiana State QB commit Brock Riddle Brock Riddle 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Greenwood | 2024 State IN . Brock has been top of his class in Indiana and went 10/19 for 209 yards and 2 TDs. Senior RB Jackson Haessig stepped up in a big way in Round 2. He had 5 carries for 113 yards and 2 TDs in Friday’s win. Greenwood’s defense has been solid in the playoffs so far. Cole Basey (Sr.) LB showed up in the win with 3 solos, 5 assists, 8 total, and 2 TFLs. Tanner Crouch (Sr.) DB is another impact player for Greenwood. Crouch had 5 solos, 3 assists, 8 total, and 2 TFLs in Round 2. Greenwood does face a formidable opponent, but they will give them all they have and will make it a challenging game.
East Central continues their dominance with a win against Martinsville 56-20 in the second round. East Central has one of the best offensive players in the state, Josh Ringer Josh Ringer 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB East Central | 2024 State IN , and has used him accordingly. Ringer had 24 carries, 325 yards, and 7 rushing TDs in their win last Friday! Cole Burton Cole Burton 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB East Central | 2024 State IN (Sr.) QB continues to have productive games and leads this East Central offense. Cole went 4/6 for 106 yards. East Central’s defense continues its dominant performance. Brayden Rouse (Sr.) LB was all over the place in Round 2 with 8 solos, 5 assists, and 13 total. Dylan Maxwell (Sr.) LB continues to impress with 7 solos, 1 assist, 8 total, and 1 TFL. East Central basically has the same team from last season, and this senior class is ready to go back-to-back.
Sectional 24: FJ Reitz (11-0) @ Evansville Memorial (8-3)
We have a SIAC showdown in the Sectional 24 championship game, where Evansville Memorial will host FJ Reitz. These two met in September, and Reitz shut out Memorial 34-0 at home. Reitz will look to claim their 17th sectional title game, and Memorial is looking to claim their 17th as well. Let’s look at this SIAC showdown and the impact players on both sides.
Reitz dominated in Round 2 and beat Bedford North Lawrence 42-6 at home. Reitz is on a mission to take this team to the state finals this year, but they are focused on one game at a time. The Panthers’ offense has been hot recently, and they have athletes everywhere. Ben Davies (Jr.) QB is at the helm, and he went 13/17 for 303 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. Roland Vera Jr Roland Vera Jr 5'9" | 175 lbs | ATH FJ Reitz | 2024 State IN (Sr.) ATH has been the best player in the SIAC this season, and he showed up in Round 2 with 7 receptions, 185 yards, and 2 TDs. Another WR for Reitz that has shown up in the later part of the season is (Sr.) Hayden Summers Hayden Summers 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR F.J. Reitz | 2024 State IN . He caught 4 passes for 106 yards and 1 TD last Friday. Ayden Wells Ayden Wells 5'10" | 215 lbs | LB Evansville Reitz | 2024 State IN (Sr.) LB is fun to watch on defense. I expect him to have a big game and stack another excellent performance on top of this season he is having. Reitz has the weapons to go far in this tournament; their focus is one play at a time.
Evansville Memorial returns home after a road win in the second round against Jasper 17-14. Memorial is looking to ruin the perfect season of their opponents and make another run in the playoffs. The two impact players on offense to watch in this matchup is Luke Ellspermann (Jr.) ATH and Porter Rode Porter Rode 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Evansville Reitz Memorial | 2024 State IN (Sr.) RB. Ellspermann has played several positions in the latter part of the year. He is a great athlete and can be an elusive one to catch. Porter Rode Porter Rode 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Evansville Reitz Memorial | 2024 State IN is committed to Kentucky Wesleyan and probably has yet to have the season he thought he would have compared to last season. I believe Porter will show up big in this game and help the offense move the ball down the field and score some points for his team. Memorial’s defense is led by (Jr.) LB Alex Broshears Alex Broshears 5'10" | 200 lbs | LB Evansville Memorial | 2025 State IN . This young man is always a double-digit tackler in every game he plays; expect to hear his name a lot. Donavan Baker Donavan Baker 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Reitz Memorial | 2024 State IN (Sr.) LB/DB is another player on defense who flies around and is around the ball a lot. Memorial is looking to redeem themselves from earlier in the year and return to the regionals for the third straight year.