LAFAYETTE — A big week of high school football is coming up, with Harrison taking on Westfield, McCutcheon taking on Kokomo and Lafayette Jeff taking on South Bend Adams. Class 5A and 6A programs head into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Central Catholic’s undefeated record will be put to the test in the 2A semifinals against Western Boone, under the guidance of coach Justin Perry, who led the Stars to three straight championships from 2018 to 2020.
We will update the power rankings and predictions for this Friday’s match.
More information: IHSAA Soccer Round 1 Playoffs Top 10
The Lafayette Jeff Bronchos stand on the field during an IHSAA football game against the Richmond Red Devils at Lafayette Jeff High School on Friday, September 27, 2024 in Lafayette, Indiana. The Lafayette Jeff Bronchos won 70-0.
1. Lafayette Jeff (9-0)
No. 3 ranked Lafayette Jeff heads north to take on South Bend Adams in the IHSAA Class 5A semifinals, armed with an offense averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Junior running backs Marquis Adkins and Antwine Richmond combined for 1,324 yards in a passing game led by senior quarterback Keene Crowder (2,191 yards, 71% completion rate, 29 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) times). Crowder will be joined by speedy senior Andre Fancher (67 receptions, 861 yards, 10 TDs) and 6-foot-3 junior outside receiver Omar Williams Jr. (39 receptions, 492 yards, 9 TDs). ), there are three receivers with breakout catches of nine or more touchdowns. Sophomore Bryce Vanostrand (50 catches, 643 yards, nine touchdowns). The Bronchos have a deep defense, forcing 16 interceptions and seven fumbles. Sophomore safety Kavion Campbell led the way with 131 tackles, and defensive lineman Aiden Aich (6-foot-5) had five sacks.
Next game: South Bend Adams (2-7), Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Lafayette Jeff will put pressure on sophomore Andre Gubi, paving the way for an IHSAA C;ass 5A sectional title against either Kokomo or McCutcheon. Lafayette Jeff won 52-14.
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Jack Gonzalez, 23, of the Harrison Raiders runs with the ball during an IHSAA football game against the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Lafayette Jeff High School in Lafayette, Indiana. age). Lafayette Jeff won 45-21.
2. Harrison (6-3)
Harrison ended the regular season with a 29-28 win over Kokomo and will prepare for the IHSAA Class 6A semifinals against Westfield. Junior Jack Gonzalez became one of the best two-way players in the area with 119 yards rushing, one touchdown and six tackles. Gonzalez has three rushes of over 100 yards. Senior linebacker Jackson Mills recorded 23 tackles as the team prepares for the game against the Shamrocks.
Next game: Westfield (8-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Westfield will be led by a 6-foot-4 quarterback who has passed for 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as rushing for four touchdowns. It’s a rude reception for Harrison, who is in one of the toughest sections in the state. Westfield won 35-14.
More: Harrison quarterback Rannon Nikolov and wide receiver Jack Gonzalez get their timing right
Central Catholic quarterback Bobby Metzger (10) throws the ball during an IHSAA football game against Twin Lakes on Friday, September 13, 2024 at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, Indiana. Central Catholic won 56-21.
3. Central Catholic (9-0)
Central Catholic easily defeated Delphi, 63-21, in the Class 2A first round, led by quarterback Bobby Metzger, who completed 18 of 27 passes for 378 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Jackson Cain led the program with 96 tackles, and Central Catholic recorded 68 tackles during the unblemished season. The No. 1-ranked Knights have their sights set on previously ranked Western Boone, which won three consecutive 2A state titles from 2018-2020.
Next game: vs. Western Boone (8-2), Friday at 7 p.m.
Prediction: Western Boone runs both wing-T and single-wing formations, allowing the program to rush for over 2,025 yards and 59 touchdowns as a unit. Senior Mason Amich leads the Stars with 1,139 yards and 11 touchdowns in an offense that can also throw the football. Senior Brandon Potter threw for 934 yards and 12 touchdowns. Central Catholic’s pass rush, led by Ryan Delgatto (65 tackles, 18 tackles for loss), should pose challenges at the line of scrimmage. Look to senior linebacker Charlie Seeberg (65 tackles, 7 for a loss). Central Catholic won 28-21.
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West Lafayette Red Devils quarterback Benny Speaker (3) during an IHSAA football game against the Logansport Belize on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Gordon Straley Field in West Lafayette. West Lafayette Red Devils center Andrew Springer, 60, celebrates after a touchdown. Logansport Berry’s of Indiana won 28-14.
4. West Lafayette (7-3)
West Lafayette won the first round, defeating Frankton 49-7. Senior QB Benny Speaker completed 6 of 9 passes for 132 yards, rushed for 50 yards and scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). The Red Devils head to Kokomo to take on Northwestern.
Next game: Northwestern (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Northwestern quarterback Brock Shank leads the offense, averaging 19.2 yards per catch. Shank threw for 2,869 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The Tigers are not playing a competitive schedule that includes matches against 6A Harrison, 5A McCutcheon and Central Catholic, the No. 1 2A program, which West Lafayette faced. Senior linebacker David Karl III is playing at a high level and the Red Devils have figured out their offensive identity. West Lafayette won 42-28.
More: ‘He just wants to win’: West Lafayette football two-way player Ian Szulkowski makes an impact
McCutcheon Mavericks defensive back celebrates with his third interception of the night during an IHSAA football game against the Hamilton Heights Huskies on Friday, September 6, 2024 at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Indiana. , Broderick Arnold, 7 years old. McCutcheon won 31-2. .
T5. McCutcheon (4-5)
McCutcheon faces Kokomo in a rematch two weeks after holding undefeated Lafayette Jeff to his second-lowest point total of the season. McCutcheon has had some success incorporating senior Broderick Arnold into the run scheme. Arnold and junior Keegan Rice each found the end zone for the Mavericks, running for 224 yards.
This will be a rematch with Kokomo, where he rushed for 233 total yards against the Mavericks on October 11th.
Next game: Kokomo (4-4), Friday at 7 p.m.
Prediction: The old adage is that it’s never easy to beat a team the second time around. After two games, McCutcheon enters Kokomo with a point to prove, even though he lost. Senior defensive lineman Malachi Kenner had a run-stopping performance that quieted the Wildcat crowd and set up a rematch with Lafayette Jeff. Kicker Hayden Wagner played a role in the battle for field position, which the Mavericks ultimately won. McCutcheon won 20-17.
Carroll Cougars’ Kingston Ayers, 79, looks for a blocker during an IHSAA regional football game against the Frontier Falcons on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at Frontier High School in Chalmers, Indiana. Carroll won 49-21.
T5. Carroll (10-0)
The Cougars earn a spot in the top five list because of their success and maintaining a statewide Class A ranking throughout the year. Carroll uses a double wing like Western Boone, but he is versatile and throws the ball effectively. Junior Emery Deaton and senior Aidan Wiles provide a one-two punch at running back on an offensive line led by Levi Watkins. Wiles made an impact on the defense at linebacker, along with senior cornerback Kason Fellows, who intercepted two passes against Frontier.
Next game: vs. Pioneer (7-3), Friday at 7 p.m.
Prediction: The Pioneers will run three different formations including Wing-T, double slot, and single wing. He uses a lot of misdirection to ground and pound Carroll to get him out of trouble. While junior quarterback Micah Lands is the front man that dictates the Pioneers’ looks and performance, the Panthers have used 11 different ball carriers, seven of them running back Lands (1,037 yards, 20 touchdowns) and Noah VanMeter. (846 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns) led the way in reaching the end zone. . Carroll is tested, but the Cougar is big and fast in the trenches. Carroll won 28-14.
More: Carroll football finds new offensive layer in first-round sectional win over Frontier
Lafayette District Section Semifinal Schedule:
Class 3A sectional semifinals: Twin Lakes (5-5) at Maconaquah (10-0) 7 p.m.
Class 2A sectional semifinal: Rensselaer (3-6) vs. Bremen (6-4) 7 p.m.
Class 2A sectional semifinal: Lewis Cass (5-5) vs. North Montgomery (4-6) 7 p.m.
Class A section semifinals: Tri-County (7-3) vs. Taylor (5-5) 7 p.m.
Class A section semifinals: North Newton (3-7) vs. Laville (5-5) 8 p.m.
Class A section semifinals: South Putnam (8-2) vs. Covington (6-4) 7 p.m.
Class A section semifinals: Sheridan (5-5) at Clinton Prairie (5-5) 7 p.m.
Ethan Hanson is a sports reporter for the Journal and Courier in Lafayette. Contact him at ehanson@jconline.com and on Twitter: Ethan Hanson My Instagram is ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared in the Lafayette Journal & Courier: IHSAA Football: Lafayette Area Section Semifinal Predictions
