IHSAA 2A Sectional Championship Previews
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One day away from sectional championships in Indiana! Teams are finishing their last practices of the week before going into battle on Friday. 2A football has some great matchups and even better athletes. Let’s check out some of these great…
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Continue ReadingOne day away from sectional championships in Indiana! Teams are finishing their last practices of the week before going into battle on Friday. 2A football has some great matchups and even better athletes. Let’s check out some of these great athletes across the state of Indiana.
Sectional 33: Bremen (6-5) @ LaVille (10-1)
LaVille will be the host of the Sectional 33 title game against Bremen. In Week 1, Bremen and LaVille started their season against each other; LaVille won 17-10. Bremen will look to claim their 16th sectional title, and LaVille will look to claim their 6th. Let’s dive into the matchup and highlight key players for both teams.
Bremen won a tight one in Round 2 against Wheeler 21-18. Bremen was led by Silas Laidig Silas Laidig 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Bremen | 2025 State IN (Jr.) QB in Round 2. The senior QB went 5/11 for 156 yards and 1 TD in the win against Wheeler. Laidig has been producing all year and will look to have a big game on Friday. Tyrus Graverson Tyrus Graverson 5'10" | 185 lbs | WR Bremen | 2025 State IN (Jr.) WR was making plays on both sides of the ball in Friday’s win. On offense, Tyrus had 4 receptions, 147 yards, and 1 TD. Defensively, he had 8 solos, 3 assists, 11 total, and 1 INT in Round 2. Graverson will have a significant impact in this matchup. Will Stiles (Jr.) DB was a factor in the Round 2 win. He had 7 solos, 5 assists, 12 total, and 1 INT. Bremen will enter this one as underdogs, but they are ready for the challenge!
LaVille shut out Whiting 50-0 in the second round. LaVille continued to show the state why they are one of the best in 2A. On offense, LaVille is led by Erik Bedock Erik Bedock 6'3" | 270 lbs | OL LaVille | 2024 State IN (Sr.) OL and Cody Allen (Jr.) RB. Bedock is 6’3″ 265 and is an absolute beast in the trenches! He shows on film to have incredible power and footwork. His pass protection is solid, and he looks good at redirecting and picking up stunts and blitzes. Cody Allen plays multiple positions on both sides. He lines up at wideout and beats his defenders one-on-one, then lines up in the backfield and finds the gaps to make a big play for the offense. Michael Good (Sr.) DL is going to be an impact player on defense for LaVille! His 6’3″ frame makes him a problem on the edge; he does a great job getting separation and sealing the edge. Michael had 4 solos, 1 assist, 2 TFLs, and 1 sack in Round 2. LaVille will be fired up and ready to win on Friday.
Sectional 34: Lafayette Central Catholic (8-3) @ Seeger (8-3)
Seeger will be home against Lafayette Central Catholic in the Sectional 34 title game. Central Catholic beat Seeger Week 1 this season 35-8. Lafayette Central Catholic will look to win their 16th sectional title, and Seeger will look to win their 7th. It is time to identify the key players in this matchup.
Lafayette Central Catholic beat Rochester 28-22 in Round 2 at home. Lafayette was led by the junior duo Bobby Metzger (QB) and Ray Clayton (WR) in the win last Friday. Bobby went 16/23 for 295 yards and 4 TDs. He continues to improve weekly and is one of the best QBs in 2A. Ray Clayton had 7 receptions, 181 yards, and 2 TDs in the win against Rochester. He finds his way behind the defense often and is a tough one to bring down. Look for these two to have a significant role in the gameplan this Friday. On defense, Jackson Cain (Jr.) LB will be my impact player for Lafayette. He showed out in the Round 2 win with 12 solos, 4 assists, and 16 total. He will be around the ball a lot on Friday and will help contain Seegar’s defense. Lafayette Central Catholic is ready to make a run in the tournament and take home a sectional title tomorrow.
In the second round, Seeger beat Lewis Cass 20-16. Seegar has been successful on offense due to great blocking from Ryley Nern (Sr.) OL and incredible plays from Hunter Thomas (Sr.) RB. Ryley has been clearing the path for the skill guys behind him all season. He shows to be a powerful man up front and is not afraid to bury his defenders into the turf. Hunter Thomas has made some great plays all season with his legs. He has excellent vision and a sense of where to make his cuts. These two will look to march the offense down the field and score points all night. Finn Mclain (Jr.) DB has been around the football a lot this season for the Seegar defense. He has great play recognition and makes excellent tackles in the open field. Seegar will be ready for the task ahead of them tomorrow.
Sectional 35: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (8-3) @ Manchester (5-6)
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers will travel to Manchester for the Sectional 35 championship game. These two did not play this season or in last season’s playoffs. Bishop Luers will seek to win their 27th sectional title, and Manchester will seek to win their 4th. Let’s look at impact players for this matchup.
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers won a tight one in Round 2 against Eastside 14-10. Luers is out for revenge this season and is on a mission to Lucas Oil Stadium. Kohen McKenzie (Sr.) QB led the offense in the second round. He went 9/16 for 144 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. He is ready to clean up a few mistakes and show off his best stuff on Friday. Giovanny Jimenez (Sr.) RB was dominant on the ground in the second round. He had 16 carries, 146 yards, and 1 TD. Giovanny is one of the best backs in 2A and will be a significant factor in this game. On defense, Damiun Jackson Damiun Jackson 6'5" | 230 lbs | DL Bishop Luers | 2024 State IN (Sr.) DL is looking to cause havoc in the backfield and the trenches tomorrow. In Round 2, he had 5 solos, 4 assists, 9 total, 3.5 TFLs, and 1 sack. He is a beast and will be tough to stop tomorrow and, hopefully, the rest of the tournament. Bishop Luers is out for blood, and they want the state title bad.
Manchester got a win in Round 2 against Central Noble 28-21. Their junior QB, Logan Eastgate, leads Manchester. He was productive on the ground and through the air in Round 2. The dual-threat QB went 11/18 for 176 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. He carried the ball 15 times for 93 yards and 1 TD in the win against Central Noble. Reiss Gaerte Reiss Gaerte 5'6" | 155 lbs | ATH Manchester | 2026 State IN (So.) RB had a load in Round 2 with 27 carries, 82 yards, and 1 TD. Reiss was a menace on defense on Friday and had 6 solos, 3 assists, and 10 total. Another player to keep an eye out for on Manchester’s defense is Trace Murphy (Sr.) DL. He had 4 solos, 2 assists, 6 total, and 3 sacks. Expect him to be in the backfield a lot tomorrow. Manchester is looking to win in an upset fashion on Friday and celebrate a sectional title at home.
Sectional 36: Eastern (Greentown) (9-2) @ Bluffton (9-2)
Bluffton will be home against Eastern in the Sectional 36 championship game. These two did not see each other this season or in last season’s playoffs. Eastern will look to win their 1st sectional title, and Bluffton will look to win their 3rd. Let’s dive into the matchup and the impact players on both sides.
Eastern won at home in the second round 42-0 against Tipton. Eastern won in Round 2 because of their great offense through the air and on the ground. The aerial attack was led by Eli Edwards Eli Edwards 6'4" | 215 lbs | ATH Eastern | 2024 State IN (Sr.) QB. Edwards went 15/20 for 230 yards and 3 TDs. He also was productive on defense, with 3 TFLs and 2 sacks on the night. His right-hand man on offense is Jayden Eagle Jayden Eagle 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Eastern | 2024 State IN (Sr.) RB. Jayden went off in Round 2 with 18 carries, 238 yards, and 3 TDs. This duo keeps improving every week and will impact the game significantly tomorrow. Defensively, watch for Noah Jourdan (Sr.) LB to have another productive game. In Round 2, he had 5 solos, 3 assists, and 8 total. Eastern is prepared to go on the road and bring home the sectional title back to Greentown, Indiana.
Bluffton was home against Eastbrook and won 35-21 in the second round. Bluffton’s defense will be primed and ready for tomorrow’s next matchup. Watch for Fletcher Wenger (Sr.) LB and Deontae Eskridge (Jr.) DL. Wenger is a great leader at the second level and will be able to help Bluffton plug up the gaps on Friday. Eskridge is athletic on the edge and does a great job using his hands to get off blocks and make plays in the backfield. Another player to watch on both sides for Bluffton is Ben Ramseyer. Ben shows up on defense, being a ball hawk and knocking down anything that comes his way. He is athletic and tough to bring down on offense. Bluffton has home-field advantage and will look to put on a show for the home crowd tomorrow.
Sectional 37: Southmont (6-5) @ Linton-Stockton (10-1)
Linton-Stockton will host Southmont in the Sectional 37 title game on Friday. These two met in last season’s playoffs, in which Linton-Stockton won 35-29 in a close one. Southmont is looking to win their 1st sectional title, and Linton-Stockton is looking to win their 16th. Let’s take a look at some of the key players in the matchup below.
In Round 2, Southmont squeezed out a win against Cascade 22-21. Southmont will look to lean on Nolan Boyer (Sr.) QB and Avery Stadler (So.) RB on offense. Nolan did not have the game he usually has in Round 2. He went 9/15 for 103 yards, 2 TDs, and 25 yards rushing. He will be locked in and ready to let it fly on Friday. Avery Stadler had 14 carries, 37 yards, and 1 TD in last Friday’s win. He will be prepared to be an explosive piece for his offense like he has been. On defense, Wyatt Woodall Wyatt Woodall 6'0" | 220 lbs | ATH Southmont | 2024 State IN (Sr.) LB is the man to watch on Southmont’s defense. Woodall had 5 solos, 14 assists, and 19 total in Round 2. He will be around the ball often and looking to make a big play for his team. Southmont will be up for the challenge and look to pull off the upset tomorrow night.
Linton-Stockton won at home in Round 2 against Greencastle 26-23. Linton may be the favorite, but that does not mean a thing to them. They are prepared to make this a long run in the tournament and focus on the task at hand. Linton’s offense will be led by Paul Oliver Paul Oliver 6'3" | 200 lbs | ATH Linton-Stockton | 2026 State IN , who had another great game in Round 2. Paul had 33 carries for 196 yards and 3 TDs! Jesse Voigtschild contributed to the rushing attack with 17 carries, 78 yards, and 1 TD. These two are tough to stop and look to stack another outstanding performance on top. Christian Shonk (Sr.) LB is my key player on Linton’s defense to watch tomorrow. He had 3 solos, 2 assists, 5 total, and 1.5 TFLs. I like how he plays and looks like a leader out there for their defense. Linton-Stockton is focused on one game at a time and ready to win another sectional title.
Sectional 38: Winchester Community (8-2) @ Eastern Hancock (7-4)
Winchester Community will travel to Eastern Hancock in the Sectional 38 championship game. These two did not see each other this season or in last season’s playoffs. Winchester Community will attempt to win their 2nd sectional title, and Eastern Hancock will try to win their 11th. Let’s get into the matchup and the impact players for both sides.
Winchester is coming off a win in the second round against Heritage Christian 21-14. Aidan Weatherhead Aidan Weatherhead RB Winchester Community | 2026 State IN (So.) RB had a tremendous game in the win over Heritage Christian. He had 34 carries, 181 yards, and 2 TDs. This young man has had an impressive sophomore campaign and will look to continue that on Friday. Winchester’s defense has been solid all season, with the help of Adam Moore (Sr.) SAF and Brock Goforth (Sr.) DL. Adam had 8 solos, 4 assists, and 12 total in Round 2. Brock ended up with 2 solos, 8 assists, 10 total, and 1 sack. These two will be around the football all night and make plays to put Winchester in the position to win. Winchester is ready to keep this season rolling with a sectional title win tomorrow.
In the second round, Eastern Hancock took down Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 44-21 on Friday. Hancock’s offense was on fire in the second round and was led by Elijah Edon Elijah Edon 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Eastern Hancock | 2026 State IN (So.) QB. Elijah lit up the scoreboard, going 17/20 for 246 yards, 5 passing TDs, and 1 rushing TD. This young man is going to dominate games in the state of Indiana for a long time. His sophomore RB, Mark Kube Mark Kube 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Eastern Hancock | 2026 State IN , has been fantastic this season, too. Mark had 13 carries, 98 yards rushing, 2 receptions, and 81 yards receiving in Round 2. Eastern Hancock is set up for the future with these two and possibly the rest of this tournament. On defense, Ethan Sipes (Jr.) DB is my impact player for Eastern Hancock’s defense. He had 6 solos, 2 assists, 8 total, 1 TFL, and 1 sack. Eastern Hancock will look to celebrate a sectional title win in front of their home crown tomorrow.
Sectional 39: Triton Central (10-1) @ Eastern (Pekin) (5-6)
On Friday, Triton Central will head out to play Eastern in the Sectional 39 title game. These two did not play each other in the season or last season’s playoffs. Triton Central is looking to win their 9th sectional title, and Eastern is looking to win their 1st sectional. Let’s highlight some key players in this matchup below.
Triton Central beat Brownstown Central in the second round 28-17 last Friday. Triton Central is led by Eastern Michigan’s QB commit, Jace Stuckey Jace Stuckey 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Triton Central | 2024 State IN . Jace has been solid all year and continues to be impressive. He went 18/23 for 202 yards and 2 TDs. His favorite target in Round 2 was Brayden Wilkins Brayden Wilkins 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Triton Central | 2024 State IN (Sr.) RB. He had 8 receptions for 56 yards. These two will have a tremendous impact on the outcome of this game tomorrow. Ray Crawford Ray Crawford 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Triton Central | 2024 State IN (Sr.) RB was the workhorse on the ground in the second-round win against Brownstown Central. He had 11 carries for 36 yards. Look for Ray to have a coming out party in the sectional title game and help his team advance to regionals. Triton Central will look to light up the scoreboard early and often on Friday.
Eastern got a shutout win at home against Switzerland County 44-0 in Round 2. Eastern will be underdogs in this one, but they have the talent to make this a ball game. Brayden Jones Brayden Jones 6'1" | 225 lbs | RB Eastern | 2025 State IN (Jr.) RB is going to be a problem in this one. In Round 2, he had 14 carries, 176 yards, and 2 TDs. Brayden has excellent vision and will be a tough one to bring down on Friday. Eastern’s offense has another RB who will relieve Brayden. Nathan McBride (Sr.) RB is that guy and had 10 carries, 75 yards, and 2 TDs in Round 2. These two must fire on all cylinders tomorrow night and help Eastern light up the scoreboard. One of the best DLs in Indiana will be lining up to help his defense make big plays all night. Caleb King Caleb King 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Eastern | 2024 State IN (Sr.) DL had 9 solos, 3 assists, 12 total, 4 TFLs, and 3 sacks. Caleb will be looking to come up big for his team on Friday. Eastern has talent on both sides to pull off the upset tomorrow night.
Sectional 40: Paoli (10-1) @ North Posey (10-1)
North Posey will host Paoli in the Sectional 40 championship game. These two met in last season’s playoffs, and North Posey won 55-31. Paoli will seek to win their 5th sectional title, and North Posey will seek to win their 5th. It is time to identify our impact players in the matchup below.
Paoli won big in Round 2 against Forest Park 50-14. Paoli is ready to show who is the better 10-win team in this matchup. Trey Rominger Trey Rominger 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Paoli | 2024 State IN will look to continue his tear on the ground in this one. In Round 2, Trey carried the ball 16 times, 188 yards, and 4 TDs. He will also show up on defense numerous times, like last Friday when he had 9 tackles. Look out for the sophomore RB Dane Padgett to make a few plays. He had 3 carries for 78 yards and 1 TD in Round 2. The offensive firepower will be locked and loaded for this one. An impact player to watch on Paoli’s defense is Isaiah Apple. The junior defenseman had 3 solos, 5 assists, and 8 total on the night. Paoli will be on a mission tomorrow night and look to bring back a sectional title.
North Posey won in overtime against Evansville Mater Dei 35-34. North Posey has been attacked all week long about the win last Friday. They do not care; they are focused on winning tomorrow’s sectional title. They will do so with the help of Liam Stone (Sr.) QB and Jed Galvin Jed Galvin 5'10" | RB North Posey | 2025 State IN (Jr.) RB. Liam has been getting it done with his arm and legs all season. The senior QB went 6/9 and 107 yards passing, 25 rushes, 158 yards, and 2 TDs in the OT win. Jed carried the ball 22 times, 110 yards, and 3 TDs, with one being the game-winning TD. These two are on fire and will be tough to stop in this one. Jace Gauer (Sr.) LB is my impact player on North Posey’s defense. He is a great leader at the second level and is an absolute roadblock in the middle. Gauer ended up with 8 solos, 4 assists, 12 total, 1 TFL, and 1 sack. North Posey is done with the chatter; they mean business and want the title.