Area High School Football Previews For Week 11
October 29, 2020 at 2:45 a.m.
By Anthony Anderson & Steve Krah-
Sectional Pairings
Fort Wayne Carroll (7-2)
at Warsaw (7-2)
Class 6A Sectional First Round
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Fisher Field, Warsaw.
Series (last 35 years): Carroll, 4-2.
John Harrell’s prediction: Carroll, 45-24.
Last meeting: Oct. 28, 2016, Warsaw 23-13 (sectional).
Last time Warsaw won: Oct. 20, 2006, 28-21 (sectional).
About Carroll: Coach Doug Dinan’s Chargers beat Fort Wayne Wayne Oct. 16 and then had a bye week before the 6A sectional … Season leaders are Jeff Becker (96 carries for 497 yards and eight touchdowns) and Hunter Mertz (35 runs for 90 yards and five TD’s) rushing, Becker (142-of-236 for 2,331 yards and 31 TD’s) passing and Mason Englert (49 receptions for 1,101 yards and 15 TD’s), Jameson Coverstone (39 catches for 651 yards and eight TD’s) and Boden Hite (21 receptions for 233 yards and four TD’s) receiving … Pacing in total tackles are Mertz (71), Craig McGinnis Jr. (50), Jorge Valdes (43), Tucker Sheely (34), Ethan Beaupre (32) and Ayden Williams (32) … Carroll averages 47.3 points per game on offense and 23.7 on defense. The Chargers gain 67.0 yards rushing and 242.3 receiving per contest … Dating back to 1985, Carroll is 31-35 in the tournament — the last win coming in 2019.
About Warsaw: Coach Bart Curtis’ Tigers defeated Concord 35-17 Oct. 16 for at least a share of the Northern Lakes Conference championship at 6-1 (if Mishawaka beats Goshen Oct. 30, the Tigers and Cavemen will be co-NLC champions) with three interceptions (Luke Adamiec, Zach DeFord, Mason Martz) and then had a bye week … Warsaw averages 33.0 points per game on offense and 24.4 on defense. The Tigers gain 344.9 yards rushing and 41.4 passing per contest on offense and 143.3 rushing and 131.6 passing on defense … Season leaders are Aaron Greene (139 carries for 797 yards and 10 TD’s), Julius Jones (69 attempts for 768 yards and five TD’s), Juan Jaramillo (164 runs for 735 yards and 12 TD’s), Patrick Zollinger (24 tries for 269 yards and two TD’s) and Colton Wampler (56 totes for 204 yards and three TD’s), Greene (16-of-33 for 306 yards and four TD’s) passing and Adamiec (10 catches for 235 yards and four TD’s) receiving. Jones (768 rushing, 181 kick returns, 7 receiving) has 956 all-purpose yards … Leading in total tackles are Martz (43), DeFord (36), Theo Katris (27.5), Zackary Diecks (27) and Luke Anderson (26.5) … Caden Silvers (8) and Martz (7) lead in pass breakups … Anderson has four sacks and seven quarterback hurries … Silveus (3) and Katris (2) lead the way in interceptions … Martz, DeFord, Diecks and Russ Winchester have recovered one fumble apiece … Dating back to 1985, Warsaw is 15-35 in the tournament — the last win coming in 2019 when the Tigers topped Chesterton and Penn for the program’s first sectional title … Friday’s Carroll-Warsaw winner meets the Fort Wayne Snider-Homestead winner Nov. 6 for the sectional championship (Warsaw at Snider, Warsaw at Homstead, Carroll at Snider or Homestead at Carroll).
Per Warsaw coach Bart Curtis:
On Carroll: They’re a handful. They’re diversified on offense and an hurt you in a whole of ways … We cannot defend just one dimension of that they do… The speed of the game, you try to prepare for it. You never know if you have until the ball is snapped … (Carroll’s) two losses were to Homestead and Dwenger. They put it on Snider early (42-12 in the second game of the season).
Bye week: It gave coaches and kids a little bit of a mental break and do something other than football (Curtis and his wife went hiking in Brown County; the Tigers practiced after school Oct. 19-20, in the morning Oct. 21, took off Oct. 22-23 and resumed practice Oct. 24 and got back on a regular routine this week) … One thing you’ve got to guard against when you have a bye week is that it allows you too much time to think and you can confuse the kids
Concord game: We won a conference championship (the first at Warsaw since 2001). We wanted to make sure we took a moment to enjoy something that doesn’t happen around here too often … It was nice to end the regular season on a positive note … The score was not indicative of how close it was (the Tigers were up 24-17 before getting some separation).
Mishawaka Marian (8-0)
at Tippecanoe Valley (7-3)
Class 3A Sectional Semifinal
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Smith-Bibler Memorial Field.
Series: Marian leads 3-2 (all in sectionals).
Last meeting: Marian won 39-25, Oct. 24, 2008, sectional first round.
Last Valley win: 28-6, Oct. 24, 2003, sectional first round.
John Harrell’s prediction: Marian, 38-21.
About Marian: The No. 2-ranked Knights are averaging 38.3 points while allowing 16.3. Their two close victories are 44-43 at Mishawaka (5A) and 20-16 at Penn (6A). Their other six wins have each come by at least 21 points. … Dual-threat quarterback Maddix Bogunia-Bright has completed 70-of-110 passes for 1,142 yards and 16 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He’s added 374 yards and nine TDs on 56 keepers (6.7 average). … Tailback Malcom Anderson has rushed for 488 yards and 11 TDs on 77 carries (6.3). … Punt return ace Greg Atkinson has returned 17 boots for an average of 17.6 yards to go with two scores. He’s also one of four Marian targets with at least three TD receptions each. … The Knight defense has racked up 58 tackles for loss, but generated just five takeaways. Defensive end Mitchell Menting has 14 TFLs (seven sacks) and linebacker Stefano Sete 10. … Marian’s captured five straight sectional titles and added regional crowns in three of those years.
About Valley: The Vikings have won six of their last seven games, the loss being 32-8 to 1A No. 3 Southwood (10-0). Valley’s averaging 33.2 points while allowing 16.0 … The Vikings are in a sectional semifinal for the third straight year and for the 11th time in the last 26 years, yet have not advanced to a sectional final since 1993. … Wingback/tailback Jamasyn Virgil has rushed for 794 yards and eight TDs on 99 carries (8.0 average). Joel Cisneros, recently switched from fullback to tailback, has surged over the last two weeks with 191 yards on 38 attempts and three TDs, pushing his season totals to 338, 64 and six. … Quarterback Branson McBrier is just 12-of-36 throwing over the last four games for 155 yards with three picks, but still has season numbers of 59-for-112 with 1,099 yards and 14 TDs against five interceptions. … Linebacker Johnny Gonsalez has racked up a team-leading 87 solo tackles to go with a team-pacing four fumble recoveries. … The Valley defense has generated 33 takeaways, although top interceptors Hunter Eherenman (four) and Wade Jones (three) remain out due to injuries. … If they win, the Vikings, like Marian, would be on the road for the sectional final regardless of opponent. Jimtown (6-3) hosts West Noble (2-8) in the other semifinal.
Valley coach Steve Moriarty:
On last week — “I thought we made some good adjustments at halftime to stop their running game (winning 49-22 over South Bend Washington after trailing 14-13 at the break), and we moved the ball well. I was very proud of the kid for hanging in there and gutting some things out early. The offensive line played great. The defense stepped up. I think moving Cisneros from fullback to tailback, starting Dalton Alber at fullback and getting Jamasyn back to wing has helped us.”
On Marian — “Their quarterback is someone we’ll have to be aware of at all times. They have speed on the outside and they try to make sure to target their athletes in space. The tailback, Anderson, is rough to bring down as well. Their offensive line is good, so they’re really good in all aspects on offense, and very fast on defense as well. … It’s safe to say they’ll be the best team we’ve played.”
On the opportunity — “I think our guys are excited. They know (Marian’s) ranked second. They also know we were ranked 25th (in the 3A Sagarin ratings), so they like that. They also especially like that we get to be home again (the Vikings are hosting postseason games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2002).”
Triton (4-5)
at Adams Central (7-2)
Class 2A Sectional Semifinal
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Minnich Field, Monroe.
Series (last 35 years): Adams Central, 3-0.
John Harrell’s prediction: Adams Central, 35-17.
Last meeting: Oct. 19, 2012, Central 38-14 (sectional).
About Adams Central: Coach Michael Mosser’s Jets beat Fremont 39-6 Oct. 23 to open 1A sectional play. Offensive leaders for the Jets were Alex Currie (eight carries for 53 yards) and Blake Heyerly (nine runs for 38 yards and one TD — 6 yards) and Ryan Black (seven totes for 35 yards and one TD — 1 yard) in rushing, Black (3-of-3 for 61 yards and two TD’s) and Braysen Yergler (one catch for 30 yards and one TD — 30 yards) and Nick Neuenschwander (one reception for 15 yards and one TD — 15 yards) in receiving … Pacing in total tackles were Heyerly (7), Keegan Bluhm (5.5), James Myers (4.5) and Chase Green (3.5). Interceptions were gathered by Green, Neuemschwander and Joshua Mosser … Mosser is pursuing his 100th victory in his 12th season at Adams Central … The Associated Press No. 7/Indiana Football Coaches Association No. 6 Jets averages 36.2 points per game on offense and 13.7 on defense … Dating back to 1981, Adams Central is 89-36 in the tournament with a 1A state title in 2000. AC was a sectional and regional champion in 2019.
About Triton: Coach Rodney Younis’ Trojans downed Churubusco 24-14 Oct. 23 in postseason action. Triton got off to a 24-0 lead. Leading the Trojan attack were Hunter McIntyre (23 carries for 95 yards and three TD’s — 12, 2 and 3 yards), Trace Schuh (11 runs for 32 yards) and Anthony Schuh (10 attempts for 27 yards) in rushing, Cole Shively (2-of-4 for 22 yards) in passing and Nate Amsden (two catches for 22 yards) in receiving. Guiding in tackles were Jeremiah Farrell (5.5), Lucas Cabrera (3.5) and McIntyre (3.5). Shively intercepted a pass and booted three extra points and a 22-yard field goal … Season leaders are McIntyre (125 carries for 610 yards and seven TD’s), Trace Schuh (87 attempts for 434 carries and five TD’s), Anthony Scuh (68 runs for 393 yards and five TD’s) and Cabrera (20 totes for 119 yards) in rushing, Shively (24-of-62 for 411 yards and three TD’s) in passing and Cabrera (12 catches for 281 yards and three TD’s) and Amsden (seven receptions for 90 yards) … Topping the team in total tackles are Farrell (81), Cabrera (51), Amsden (48), Caleb Lemler (44), Mcintyre (38) and Cameron Shivley (35) … Josh Lemler has recovered three fumbles … Triton averages 17.1 points per game on offense and 22.8 on defense. The Trojans gain 170.1 yards rushing and 45.6 passing per contest … Dating back to 1985, Triton is 23-35 in the tournament … Friday’s Triton-Adams Central winner meets the Caston-Southwood winner Nov. 6 for the sectional championship (Triton at Caston, Southwood at Triton, Adams Central at Caston or Southwood at South Adams).
Per Triton coach Rodney Younis:
On Adams Central: It’s another one of those quality programs. They’ve had a lot of success in the tournament over the years. This is going to be another one of those games where we have to play to near perfection to have an opportunity to win. Our focus is taking care of the football and trying to create turnovers on them. We want to have some nice long possessions and shorten the game … (Adams Central) runs a wing-T offense. They will do some other things with it. They will spread it out when they need to. We’ve seen our fair share of wing-T this year. That’s for sure.
Defense: We’ll have to make sure we’re reading our keys. Linebackers need to read the guards to the ball. Our defensive backs need to read their keys off the line whether it’s a run or a pass … When we are gang-tackling we always teach that the first person is wrapping up and the next person coming through is looking to strip the ball. When the opportunity arises and the ball is loose, we want to be aggressive and be the first man to get to the ball.
Churubusco game: Things went according to plan. It’s what we hoped for. We were able to take care of the football. We didn’t have penalties at inopportune times. We created turnovers and capitalized on them (scoring two times in the second half when ‘Busco fumbled the ball away on back-to-back series). In my mind that was the difference in the ballgame. Otherwise, it was an evenly-matched game.
Sectional Pairings
Fort Wayne Carroll (7-2)
at Warsaw (7-2)
Class 6A Sectional First Round
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Fisher Field, Warsaw.
Series (last 35 years): Carroll, 4-2.
John Harrell’s prediction: Carroll, 45-24.
Last meeting: Oct. 28, 2016, Warsaw 23-13 (sectional).
Last time Warsaw won: Oct. 20, 2006, 28-21 (sectional).
About Carroll: Coach Doug Dinan’s Chargers beat Fort Wayne Wayne Oct. 16 and then had a bye week before the 6A sectional … Season leaders are Jeff Becker (96 carries for 497 yards and eight touchdowns) and Hunter Mertz (35 runs for 90 yards and five TD’s) rushing, Becker (142-of-236 for 2,331 yards and 31 TD’s) passing and Mason Englert (49 receptions for 1,101 yards and 15 TD’s), Jameson Coverstone (39 catches for 651 yards and eight TD’s) and Boden Hite (21 receptions for 233 yards and four TD’s) receiving … Pacing in total tackles are Mertz (71), Craig McGinnis Jr. (50), Jorge Valdes (43), Tucker Sheely (34), Ethan Beaupre (32) and Ayden Williams (32) … Carroll averages 47.3 points per game on offense and 23.7 on defense. The Chargers gain 67.0 yards rushing and 242.3 receiving per contest … Dating back to 1985, Carroll is 31-35 in the tournament — the last win coming in 2019.
About Warsaw: Coach Bart Curtis’ Tigers defeated Concord 35-17 Oct. 16 for at least a share of the Northern Lakes Conference championship at 6-1 (if Mishawaka beats Goshen Oct. 30, the Tigers and Cavemen will be co-NLC champions) with three interceptions (Luke Adamiec, Zach DeFord, Mason Martz) and then had a bye week … Warsaw averages 33.0 points per game on offense and 24.4 on defense. The Tigers gain 344.9 yards rushing and 41.4 passing per contest on offense and 143.3 rushing and 131.6 passing on defense … Season leaders are Aaron Greene (139 carries for 797 yards and 10 TD’s), Julius Jones (69 attempts for 768 yards and five TD’s), Juan Jaramillo (164 runs for 735 yards and 12 TD’s), Patrick Zollinger (24 tries for 269 yards and two TD’s) and Colton Wampler (56 totes for 204 yards and three TD’s), Greene (16-of-33 for 306 yards and four TD’s) passing and Adamiec (10 catches for 235 yards and four TD’s) receiving. Jones (768 rushing, 181 kick returns, 7 receiving) has 956 all-purpose yards … Leading in total tackles are Martz (43), DeFord (36), Theo Katris (27.5), Zackary Diecks (27) and Luke Anderson (26.5) … Caden Silvers (8) and Martz (7) lead in pass breakups … Anderson has four sacks and seven quarterback hurries … Silveus (3) and Katris (2) lead the way in interceptions … Martz, DeFord, Diecks and Russ Winchester have recovered one fumble apiece … Dating back to 1985, Warsaw is 15-35 in the tournament — the last win coming in 2019 when the Tigers topped Chesterton and Penn for the program’s first sectional title … Friday’s Carroll-Warsaw winner meets the Fort Wayne Snider-Homestead winner Nov. 6 for the sectional championship (Warsaw at Snider, Warsaw at Homstead, Carroll at Snider or Homestead at Carroll).
Per Warsaw coach Bart Curtis:
On Carroll: They’re a handful. They’re diversified on offense and an hurt you in a whole of ways … We cannot defend just one dimension of that they do… The speed of the game, you try to prepare for it. You never know if you have until the ball is snapped … (Carroll’s) two losses were to Homestead and Dwenger. They put it on Snider early (42-12 in the second game of the season).
Bye week: It gave coaches and kids a little bit of a mental break and do something other than football (Curtis and his wife went hiking in Brown County; the Tigers practiced after school Oct. 19-20, in the morning Oct. 21, took off Oct. 22-23 and resumed practice Oct. 24 and got back on a regular routine this week) … One thing you’ve got to guard against when you have a bye week is that it allows you too much time to think and you can confuse the kids
Concord game: We won a conference championship (the first at Warsaw since 2001). We wanted to make sure we took a moment to enjoy something that doesn’t happen around here too often … It was nice to end the regular season on a positive note … The score was not indicative of how close it was (the Tigers were up 24-17 before getting some separation).
Mishawaka Marian (8-0)
at Tippecanoe Valley (7-3)
Class 3A Sectional Semifinal
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Smith-Bibler Memorial Field.
Series: Marian leads 3-2 (all in sectionals).
Last meeting: Marian won 39-25, Oct. 24, 2008, sectional first round.
Last Valley win: 28-6, Oct. 24, 2003, sectional first round.
John Harrell’s prediction: Marian, 38-21.
About Marian: The No. 2-ranked Knights are averaging 38.3 points while allowing 16.3. Their two close victories are 44-43 at Mishawaka (5A) and 20-16 at Penn (6A). Their other six wins have each come by at least 21 points. … Dual-threat quarterback Maddix Bogunia-Bright has completed 70-of-110 passes for 1,142 yards and 16 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He’s added 374 yards and nine TDs on 56 keepers (6.7 average). … Tailback Malcom Anderson has rushed for 488 yards and 11 TDs on 77 carries (6.3). … Punt return ace Greg Atkinson has returned 17 boots for an average of 17.6 yards to go with two scores. He’s also one of four Marian targets with at least three TD receptions each. … The Knight defense has racked up 58 tackles for loss, but generated just five takeaways. Defensive end Mitchell Menting has 14 TFLs (seven sacks) and linebacker Stefano Sete 10. … Marian’s captured five straight sectional titles and added regional crowns in three of those years.
About Valley: The Vikings have won six of their last seven games, the loss being 32-8 to 1A No. 3 Southwood (10-0). Valley’s averaging 33.2 points while allowing 16.0 … The Vikings are in a sectional semifinal for the third straight year and for the 11th time in the last 26 years, yet have not advanced to a sectional final since 1993. … Wingback/tailback Jamasyn Virgil has rushed for 794 yards and eight TDs on 99 carries (8.0 average). Joel Cisneros, recently switched from fullback to tailback, has surged over the last two weeks with 191 yards on 38 attempts and three TDs, pushing his season totals to 338, 64 and six. … Quarterback Branson McBrier is just 12-of-36 throwing over the last four games for 155 yards with three picks, but still has season numbers of 59-for-112 with 1,099 yards and 14 TDs against five interceptions. … Linebacker Johnny Gonsalez has racked up a team-leading 87 solo tackles to go with a team-pacing four fumble recoveries. … The Valley defense has generated 33 takeaways, although top interceptors Hunter Eherenman (four) and Wade Jones (three) remain out due to injuries. … If they win, the Vikings, like Marian, would be on the road for the sectional final regardless of opponent. Jimtown (6-3) hosts West Noble (2-8) in the other semifinal.
Valley coach Steve Moriarty:
On last week — “I thought we made some good adjustments at halftime to stop their running game (winning 49-22 over South Bend Washington after trailing 14-13 at the break), and we moved the ball well. I was very proud of the kid for hanging in there and gutting some things out early. The offensive line played great. The defense stepped up. I think moving Cisneros from fullback to tailback, starting Dalton Alber at fullback and getting Jamasyn back to wing has helped us.”
On Marian — “Their quarterback is someone we’ll have to be aware of at all times. They have speed on the outside and they try to make sure to target their athletes in space. The tailback, Anderson, is rough to bring down as well. Their offensive line is good, so they’re really good in all aspects on offense, and very fast on defense as well. … It’s safe to say they’ll be the best team we’ve played.”
On the opportunity — “I think our guys are excited. They know (Marian’s) ranked second. They also know we were ranked 25th (in the 3A Sagarin ratings), so they like that. They also especially like that we get to be home again (the Vikings are hosting postseason games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2002).”
Triton (4-5)
at Adams Central (7-2)
Class 2A Sectional Semifinal
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Minnich Field, Monroe.
Series (last 35 years): Adams Central, 3-0.
John Harrell’s prediction: Adams Central, 35-17.
Last meeting: Oct. 19, 2012, Central 38-14 (sectional).
About Adams Central: Coach Michael Mosser’s Jets beat Fremont 39-6 Oct. 23 to open 1A sectional play. Offensive leaders for the Jets were Alex Currie (eight carries for 53 yards) and Blake Heyerly (nine runs for 38 yards and one TD — 6 yards) and Ryan Black (seven totes for 35 yards and one TD — 1 yard) in rushing, Black (3-of-3 for 61 yards and two TD’s) and Braysen Yergler (one catch for 30 yards and one TD — 30 yards) and Nick Neuenschwander (one reception for 15 yards and one TD — 15 yards) in receiving … Pacing in total tackles were Heyerly (7), Keegan Bluhm (5.5), James Myers (4.5) and Chase Green (3.5). Interceptions were gathered by Green, Neuemschwander and Joshua Mosser … Mosser is pursuing his 100th victory in his 12th season at Adams Central … The Associated Press No. 7/Indiana Football Coaches Association No. 6 Jets averages 36.2 points per game on offense and 13.7 on defense … Dating back to 1981, Adams Central is 89-36 in the tournament with a 1A state title in 2000. AC was a sectional and regional champion in 2019.
About Triton: Coach Rodney Younis’ Trojans downed Churubusco 24-14 Oct. 23 in postseason action. Triton got off to a 24-0 lead. Leading the Trojan attack were Hunter McIntyre (23 carries for 95 yards and three TD’s — 12, 2 and 3 yards), Trace Schuh (11 runs for 32 yards) and Anthony Schuh (10 attempts for 27 yards) in rushing, Cole Shively (2-of-4 for 22 yards) in passing and Nate Amsden (two catches for 22 yards) in receiving. Guiding in tackles were Jeremiah Farrell (5.5), Lucas Cabrera (3.5) and McIntyre (3.5). Shively intercepted a pass and booted three extra points and a 22-yard field goal … Season leaders are McIntyre (125 carries for 610 yards and seven TD’s), Trace Schuh (87 attempts for 434 carries and five TD’s), Anthony Scuh (68 runs for 393 yards and five TD’s) and Cabrera (20 totes for 119 yards) in rushing, Shively (24-of-62 for 411 yards and three TD’s) in passing and Cabrera (12 catches for 281 yards and three TD’s) and Amsden (seven receptions for 90 yards) … Topping the team in total tackles are Farrell (81), Cabrera (51), Amsden (48), Caleb Lemler (44), Mcintyre (38) and Cameron Shivley (35) … Josh Lemler has recovered three fumbles … Triton averages 17.1 points per game on offense and 22.8 on defense. The Trojans gain 170.1 yards rushing and 45.6 passing per contest … Dating back to 1985, Triton is 23-35 in the tournament … Friday’s Triton-Adams Central winner meets the Caston-Southwood winner Nov. 6 for the sectional championship (Triton at Caston, Southwood at Triton, Adams Central at Caston or Southwood at South Adams).
Per Triton coach Rodney Younis:
On Adams Central: It’s another one of those quality programs. They’ve had a lot of success in the tournament over the years. This is going to be another one of those games where we have to play to near perfection to have an opportunity to win. Our focus is taking care of the football and trying to create turnovers on them. We want to have some nice long possessions and shorten the game … (Adams Central) runs a wing-T offense. They will do some other things with it. They will spread it out when they need to. We’ve seen our fair share of wing-T this year. That’s for sure.
Defense: We’ll have to make sure we’re reading our keys. Linebackers need to read the guards to the ball. Our defensive backs need to read their keys off the line whether it’s a run or a pass … When we are gang-tackling we always teach that the first person is wrapping up and the next person coming through is looking to strip the ball. When the opportunity arises and the ball is loose, we want to be aggressive and be the first man to get to the ball.
Churubusco game: Things went according to plan. It’s what we hoped for. We were able to take care of the football. We didn’t have penalties at inopportune times. We created turnovers and capitalized on them (scoring two times in the second half when ‘Busco fumbled the ball away on back-to-back series). In my mind that was the difference in the ballgame. Otherwise, it was an evenly-matched game.
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