IHSAA football isn't that far away. A look ahead to top Week 1 matchups of 2025 season

Indianapolis Star

27-06-2025

Check your calendar. It is almost July. We are just eight weeks from the first Friday night of the high school football season. Crazy, right?
If you have football on the brain — or will get there soon — you might want to check this out. A little dip of the toe into the water as we count down the top 10 Central Indiana games for Week 1 of the 2025 high school football season:
This is a new series on the schedule. Lafayette Jeff, a Class 5A program, was 11-0 last year going into the regional against Warsaw. The Bronchos lost that game, 44-27. But coach Pat Shanley has built a strong program that should continue to thrive. Jeff's top rushers last year were juniors Marquis Adkins (809 yards, 13 TDs) and Antwoine Richmond (699 yards, six TDs) and senior OJ Williams (64 catches, 931 yards, 16 TDs) who recently committed to Northern Illinois. Chatard is coming off a 9-3 season with an overtime loss to New Palestine in the Class 4A regional. The Dragons went on to win state and are now in 5A. Can Chatard make a run this year in 4A? The Trojans bring back Ball State commit Zion Haney on the offensive line. He will be blocking for returning starter Jack Harrington at quarterback.
A new era begins for Noblesville as former Carmel coach John Hebert makes his debut. The Millers were 2-8 last year but six of those losses came by a touchdown or less against the difficult Hoosier Crossroads Conference slate. Noblesville lost to Mt. Vernon in the 2020 season opener but have won each of the past four meetings against the Marauders, including a 43-24 victory last season. Noblesville lost a lot of contributors in the senior class but brings back one of the top players in the junior class in linebacker Praise Oladipupo (107 tackles, three caused fumbles). Mt. Vernon slipped to 4-6 last season, including a pair of one-point losses. The Marauders have junior quarterback Mason Meyer (1,150 passing yards, nine TDs; 423 rushing yards, nine TDs) coming back and a lot of inexperienced elsewhere. Meyer is also a standout baseball player.
This is a new game on the schedule. Whiteland slipped a bit last year, finishing 4-5 with a first-round sectional loss to eventual state champion Decatur Central. The Warriors, a Class 5A program, will bring back senior Jordan Palmer (92 tackles; 359 rushing yards, two TDs) and senior Clayton Ratliff (98 tackles) on defense. Whiteland has another new game on the schedule in Week 2 with Floyd Central visiting before getting into Mid-State Conference play in Week 3 against defending 5A state champion Decatur Central. Columbus North, which opened last season with a 26-point win over Decatur Central and finished 8-2, will have one of the best quarterbacks in the state returning in senior Asher Ratliff (1,942 passing yards, 22 TDs; 425 rushing yards, five TDs) and Indiana commit Parker Elmore at tight end. The Bull Dogs lost to Franklin Central 21-17 in the first round of the sectional last season.
It felt like Pike took a big step forward last year, starting with a 31-20 win over Zionsville in Week 1. The Red Devils finished 5-5 with a competitive 34-24 loss to Ben Davis in the first round of the sectional. Coach Mike Brevard goes into his fourth season with seniors Dammy Adeoba (102 tackles, 11 tackles for loss) and Manu Newman-Nwodika (Western Michigan commit) and junior Willie Chapman returning on defense, among others. Quarterback Mychael Lewis gained some experience as a freshman last season. There is some talent around him at the skill positions. Zionsville, a 4-7 team last year, brings back top tackler Hank Phenicie (106 tackles) on defense. Senior Sam Manna rushed for 764 yards and nine TDs last season. The offense has some good pieces, including sophomore tight end Theo Schott, who just received an offer from Purdue last month. These programs have met every year in the season opener since 2016. Zionsville is 6-3 in those nine meetings.
This game is not staying on the schedule as the season opener. This is the second year of a two-year blip due to some scheduling quirks. It will go back to a Week 3 game next year. Lawrence North's dream season last year ended with a gut punch of a 22-21 loss at Brownsburg in the Class 6A regional. But it was still something of a miracle to see how far the Wildcats had come to be ranked No. 1 in the state and carrying an 11-0 record into that game considering where the program was a few years ago. Coach Pat Mallory's team loses a lot of speed and talent from that group, but sophomore quarterback Darian Prather is a talented player who will have one of the best receiving targets in the Midwest in 6-5 junior Monshun Sales (34 catches, 568 yards, seven TDs) and a great junior running back in Izayveon Moore (1,369 yards, 22 TDs). Western Michigan commit Breck Mallory (128 tackles, 25 tackles for loss) leads a defense that graduated a lot. Lawrence Central lost quarterback Terry Walker III, who transferred to Hamilton Southeastern. But the Bears bring back Purdue commit James 'Bam' Williams on the offensive line, along with running backs Caron Parks (710 rushing yards) and Albert Gooden III (445 yards, two TDs) and linebacker Sean Fox (80 tackles) and defensive back R.J. Eldridge (43 tackles) are among the returners on defense. The Bears, coming off a 4-6 season, have been between four and five wins the past four seasons. Lawrence North has won four in a row in this series.
Class 6A defending champion Brownsburg opens its refurbished football stadium against one of the top teams in the country. Spalding was 12-0 last season and ranked No. 18 in the country by High School Football America. Defensive back Sean Johnson is committed to Florida State and lineman Kyle Lucas is committed to Navy. Junior receiver Myles McAfee (54 catches, 651 yards, 10 TDs) is a four-star prospect with offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Auburn, Indiana and many others. Sophomore receiver Keith Miller has offers from Florida State, Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Syracuse and others. Brownsburg will miss its senior class, especially on the defensive side, but there is a lot of talent returning, including junior quarterback Oscar Frye (2,445 passing yards, 23 TDs) and receivers Branden Sharpe (66 catches, 1,165 yards, seven TDs) and Avin Robinson (41 catches, 933 yards, 12 TDs). Top rushers Shakovon Sumpterbey (801 yards, seven TDs) and Brady Lewis (714 yards, six TDs) also return. Brownsburg will host Cathedral in Week 2.
Decatur Central, coming off a Class 5A state championship, makes the jump to 6A this season and into a sectional with Lawrence Central, Lawrence North and North Central. This will be a good first test for the Hawks, who bring back a lot of talent, including Toledo commit Bo Polston at quarterback (2,069 passing yards, 21 TDs), Indiana commit Kasmir Hicks at receiver (54 catches, 877 yards, 13 TDs; 479 rushing yards, five TDs) and Eastern Michigan commit Fa'rel Carter (750 rushing yards, nine TDs; 36 catches, 465 yards). Five of the top six tacklers return on defense, including Mykul Campbell (27 tackles for loss, 14 sacks). Decatur Central hosts defending Class 4A state champion New Palestine in Week 2. Avon was 3-7 last season but were a better team than that record shows. Senior quarterback Jace Cameron (584 passing yards, three TDs) was limited to four games due to an injury. Cameron returns with leading rusher Ashton Carter (769 rushing yards, four TDs) and leading receiver Shawn Curry (25 catches, 371 yards, three TDs). The defense also has plenty returning, including leading tackler Makyi Hines (94 tackles, 12 tackles for loss). The Orioles could post their first winning season since 2019 if it all comes together.
The second Kevin Wright era officially begins at Carmel as these programs meet in the regular season for the first time and first time overall since Carmel's win in the 2016 sectional championship. Hard to believe the Greyhounds have not won a sectional title in five seasons. Carmel was a better team that last year's 3-7 record shows with five losses coming by a combined 11 points. Senior quarterback Anthony Coellner (1,896 passing yards, 17 TDs) returns with top receiver Jake Bellin (47 catches, 596 yards, five TDs) and several key players return on defense, including Charlotte commit Kaiden Bower and Isaac Nelson (53 tackles). Carmel hosts Westfield in Week 2. Fishers, a 7-5 team last year with a sectional title, has two new nonconference games on the schedule with this one and then at Lawrence North in Week 2. The Tigers have a standout at quarterback in senior Gage Sturgill (1,156 passing yards, 13 TDs in five games before knee injury). Senior running back Ryan Thembulembu (727 rushing yards, nine TDs; 21 catches, 223 yards, six TDs) also returns. The defense brings back senior Carsen Eloms, a Wisconsin commit, in the secondary, along with seniors Emmanuel Cowherd (86 tackles) and Tyler Maynard (69 tackles, seven tackles for loss). The Tigers won a sectional title last year for the first time since 2017.
I had this game in the No. 1 spot last year, but the game did not live up to the billing. Cathedral rolled to a 24-6 win at Ben Davis, creating some immediate question marks about the Class 6A defending champions. Ben Davis rebounded at the end of the season and led Brownsburg by four touchdowns in the sectional championship before letting it get away in the section half of a 38-35 loss to the 6A state champs. The Giants finished 5-6. Last year's starting quarterback, Joe Goss, has transferred to Warren Central. Sophomore Kenneth Doss and freshman Gabe Kennett are the possibilities there. Running back Jazz Coleman transferred over from Speedway. The defense lost a lot, but senior linebacker Caleb Scott (Army) and senior defensive back Robert Reddick (Kansas) are talented players. Cathedral went 6-4 last season with a 24-7 loss to Lawrence North in the sectional championship. The Irish moved back down to 5A this year and into a sectional with New Palestine and Plainfield. Cathedral brings back senior quarterback Cameron Koers (1,528 passing yards, 11 TDs) and junior running back Xavier Dangerfield (1,087 yards, 16 TDs) with senior Kyle Harden (65 tackles) and Ball State commit Gannon Knowles (57 tackles, 14 ½ tackles for loss) leaders on defense.
I love that this game is back on the schedule in the season opening spot like it was from 2013 to 2022 (it is the start of a four-year deal through 2028). I see these helmets on the field together, it feels like a huge game. Though Center Grove and Warren Central did not meet in the regular season in 2023 and '24, the programs still met in the Class 6A south regional both years — the Trojans winning both times.
Center Grove is coming off an 8-5 season but was right there in the final minute of a 31-27 home loss to Brownsburg in the semistate, throwing the ball into the end zone with a chance to win. Heralded sophomore Oscar Sloan is poised to make his starting debut at quarterback in this one. The 6-4, 190-pound Sloan already has several offers, including from Cincinnati, Maryland and Purdue. He has a talented group around him that includes Wake Forest commit Dominick Barry at tight end (31 catches, 237 yards, five TDs), Indiana commit C.J. Scifres on the offensive line and junior Drake McClurg, an Indiana baseball commit, at receiver (67 catches, 1,004 yards, six TDs). Five of the team's top 10 tacklers are back on defense, in addition to the return of senior defensive end Kobe Cherry, a Purdue recruit who missed last year with a knee injury.
Warren Central blanked its first four opponents last year — and six overall — on the way to a 10-2 season that ended with a 23-15 home loss to Center Grove in the regional. Quite a bit has changed from that season, including the coach. Mike Kirschner stepped down from his roles as coach and athletic director and J.T. Whitaker stepped in after coordinating the Brownsburg offense. There is talent here, starting with senior Alabama recruit Jerimy Finch Jr. at defensive end and junior Kaleb Elkins in the secondary. There is inexperience in several areas, including receiver. Junior Anthony Dennison and sophomore Jack Quillen will battle it out at quarterback. Junior running back Keyon Thomas has a slew of offers already, including Arizona State, Indiana, Kentucky, Purdue and Vanderbilt.
These teams will probably meet again in the regional. Center Grove has won eight in a row in this series.
∎ Fort Wayne Carroll at Hamilton Southeastern: After Carroll beat HSE in the 2022 semistate, the Royals have rebounded to beat the Chargers in each of the past two season openers. Last year, HSE rolled to a 45-21 victory. The Royals will be interesting with Duke commit Terry Walker III coming over from Lawrence Central to lead an offense that includes junior running back Carter Reed (724 yards, 12 TDs) and receiver Kendrick Pennybaker (19 catches, 381 yards, six TDs). HSE was 7-4 last year with a 44-41 loss to Fishers in the sectional championship. Carroll was 9-3 with a 38-21 loss to Crown Point in the regional.
∎ Monrovia at Cascade: Cascade is coming off a 10-1 season with a heartbreaking 37-35 loss to Tri-West in a Class 3A sectional semifinal game. Monrovia was 9-3 last season with a loss to Lutheran in the sectional title game. Cascade brings back a lot of talent at the skill positions. This game might be over in an hour considering how much both teams like to run the ball.
∎ Danville at Gibson Southern: This was a good game last year as Gibson Southern walked away with a 21-14 comeback win. Danville junior Carter Ward passed for 1,063 yards and 16 TDs last year, though the Warriors' top two receiving targets graduated. Danville was an 8-2 team last year with that crazy 50-49 overtime loss to Brebeuf Jesuit ending the season. Gibson Southern went 7-3 with a loss to 3A champion Heritage Hills in the sectional.
∎ Tri-West at Western Boone: This game moves to Week 1 as these teams are no longer in the same conference. Western Boone is playing its first season in the Monon Conference and Tri-West is now part of the Hoosier Legends. Still, this should be a good one. The Stars won last year's game 21-17. It will be interesting to see what Tri-West quarterback Jackson Sorgi (1,729 passing yards, 19 TDs) does as a junior.
∎ Homestead at Westfield: Westfield has this home opener followed by a visit to Carmel in Week 2. Can the Shamrocks keep it going after last year's 12-2 season and Class 6A runner-up finish? Deacon King (1,440 rushing yards, 18 TDs) is one of the top players in the area. Homestead was 5-5 last year and played HSE to a 20-14 loss in the sectional.