Gridiron Digest Indiana Football Report - Week 7

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Cavemen new No. 1 in 5A
Andrew Smith
GridironDigest.com

There’s a new No. 1 in Class 5A, as the Mishawaka Cavemen have won six straight to begin the season to move to the top spot in one of the state’s deepest, most-balanced classes. 

So far, Merrillville, Whiteland and now Mishawaka have spent time at No. 1 in the polls. 

The Cavemen did so with a 43-19 road win at Warsaw last week, knocking off one of the top area teams in 6A. But another challenge awaits, as undefeated 4A No. 5 NorthWood visits Mishawaka this Friday with first place in the Northern Lakes Conference on the line. 

“We continually remind our team that the majority of people voting in the polls have not seen us play,” Mishawaka coach Keith Kinder said, noting the No. 1 ranking is “neat” for the players and community. “Trophies are not awarded because of rankings and it is our goal to win trophies. To do that, we have to be focused on the process of trying to get better every day.

“We have a great group of hard-working, tough-nosed kids. The success that they have had up to this point is attributed to that. We had a great off-season and have done a good job of being efficient on offense and coming up with critical stops on defense.” 

That continues with this weekend’s matchup against NorthWood in a matchup of NLC titans. Mishawaka has won nine sectional titles in the last 13 years. NorthWood is seeking its first sectional since 2016, a year in which the Panthers were state runners-up and made the program’s seventh appearance in a title game. 

“NorthWood is one of the premier programs in our conference in terms of post-season success and consistency,” Kinder said. “They are loaded with weapons all over the field on offense and play so hard on defense. They present so many problems when they have the ball. A key for us will be to try and limit their big plays, which nobody has been able to do up to this point. We also must take good care of the football. They have scored a number of touchdowns on defense and have generated great field position by creating turnovers.” 

With both teams being 6-0 and the conference stakes on the line, it’s one of the premier games in Indiana this week. 

“It should be a great HS football game,” NorthWood coach Nate Andrews said. “Two proud communities. We must be mentally and physically tough for four quarters.” 

A big boost for Mishawaka was the return of running back Chase Gooden to the lineup after missing three games due to injury. He ran for 108 yards and two scores against Warsaw. Quarterback Brady Fisher added 90 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore fullback Novell Miller provides another weapon in the ground game. 

“It was great getting Chase back in the lineup,” Kinder said. “He has very good vision and runs with a forward lean. We like the 1-2 punch we have with Chase and Novell Miller at fullback. Brady has done a very good job of leading our offense and making sure we are in the right play.”

NorthWood has started 6-0 with an offense that has scored at least 31 points in each game and has tallied 40-plus points in four straight - 41-13 over Concord, 42-7 at last year’s 4A runner-up Northridge, 42-21 over Warsaw and 48-0 over Plymouth. 

The Panthers are led by quarterback Owen Roeder, who is completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,075 yards and 16 touchdowns. Nitareon Tuggle has 488 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, while Wes Yoder leads the team on the ground with 407 yards and also has 327 receiving yards. All three are juniors. 

“Overall we have been consistent,” Andrews said. “We’ve battled through small adversities during games that have allowed us to finish strong.” 

Artesians into Top 10

The reason there’s a new No. 1 in Class 5A is because Martinsville downed previous No. 1 Whiteland 35-21 last week. 

The Artesians have experienced a renaissance year, starting 5-1, with the lone blemish a three-point loss to Decatur Central. The win last week forged a four-way tie atop the Mid-State Conference between Martinsville, Whiteland, Mooresville and Plainfield. 

Martinsville took a 21-14 lead at halftime, then scored two fourth-quarter TDs to build a three-score lead. 

Artesians QB Tyler Adkins was 19-of-24 for 215 yards and three TDs, spreading the ball around to five different receivers. Running back Brayden Shrake ran for 175 yards and two scores. 

“They do such a good job of mixing up fronts and coverages, that you have to really be dialed in mentally,” Martinsville coach Brian Dugger said. “I thought Tyler Adkins was on all night, in identifying coverages and fronts and getting us in the right play.  We gave him a lot of freedom at the line and he was a huge part of Brayden Shrake having a successful night.  It seemed in the second half that they were trying to slow our pass game down and Tyler made the run check every time.  He only threw the ball five times in the second half. That honestly has been the key the past two weeks.  If he is able to get us in the right play, we feel really good about our chances.” 

The week before, Martinsville rallied to beat Franklin 27-26, scoring in the final minute after the Grizzly Cubs had taken a lead with 50 seconds left. 

Adkins is in his third year as the Artesians’ starter. He’s completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,348 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, and is closing in on 5,000 career passing yards. He has thrown 52 touchdown passes. His top receiver is Garrett Skaggs, who has 587 yards and four TDs. 

“Tyler is a coach on the field.  We have spent the past three years talking and watching football together almost daily,” Dugger said. “My job has been to put as much into his brain as I can and stay out of his way. 

“There is not a play in our offense that he doesn't have to make a decision or check at the line.  It's been a lot of fun to watch. Letting Tyler have that kind of freedom has really expanded to kids like Garrett. He is another one who has put in the time and trained harder than anyone we have. He is having a great senior year, but more importantly he is one of those right there with Tyler during the game telling us what concepts are going to work.” 

Defensively, Nic Crone and Devon Brenner have led the Artesians, a unit allowing 17 ppg. Crone has 37 tackles, six sacks and nine tackles for loss. Brenner leads Martinsville with 58 stops. 

“Our defense has been great this year and more importantly extremely coachable.  When they make a mistake, they own it and fix it,” Dugger said. “We know we are a little undersized upfront, but our kids fight!  Nic has been the heart of our defense. We know that if we get into a passing situation, that Nic is going to impact the game. Whether it's QB pressure, or that they have to change their blocking scheme for him and open it up for someone else, or that they just decide to throw quick, it all has changed their approach, because of Nic. He is another one who has put in the work and it's showing up.” 

Martinsville hosts Perry Meridian this week and then travels to county rival Mooresville in a matchup of ranked teams in Class 4A, before finishing at home against Plainfield. Six of the eight teams in the conference have received poll votes this season and five have been ranked. Three - Whiteland, Decatur Central and Mooresville - have been in the top three of their respective classes’ polls.  

“The Mid-State is ridiculous,” Dugger said. Great teams and even better coaches. Each week is a challenge. Honestly, you have to keep blinders on and just try and go 1-0 each week.”

Southmont, WeBo meet for Sagamore supremacy

The Southmont Mounties are 6-0 for the first time in 41 years and are up to No. 9 in the AP Class 2A poll, while receiving votes in the IFCA rankings. 

The Mounties are currently leading the Sagamore Conference with a 4-0 mark - one game ahead of 3-1 Western Boone, Lebanon and Tri-West, their next three opponents. 

“The community support has been great this season,” 16th-year Southmont coach Desson Hannum said. “The excitement generated by our team can be felt in the school and the community as a whole.” 

This week’s matchup takes place at 3A No. 5 Western Boone. 

A big reason for Southmont’s success so far is its defense, which is allowing 13 points a game. Only one team - North Putnam in a 42-21 Southmont victory in Week 2 - has scored more than twice against it. 

Junior Wyatt Woodall has 51 tackles, while senior Seth Tolliver has 15 tackles for loss and six sacks. Sophomore Dylan Howell 14 TFLs and seven sacks. Kion Cornelius has two interceptions. 

“We have been led by our defense this year,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum said. “We have had several guys that have stood out at each level of our defense. Some keys for us this year have been the number of negative plays that have been able to create and the amount of pressure that we have been able to put on the opposing team's quarterback.  We have also been led by great individual performances by Dylan Howell and Seth Tolliver along our defensive front. At linebacker, Wyatt Woodall has put together another solid year, along with Kion Cornelius and EJ Brewer leading our secondary.” 

Offensively, Woodall leads a strong running attack with 590 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Carson Chadd has 410 yards and five scores and is averaging 9.1 yards per carry. 

Southmont faces Western Boone this week. The Stars are always a measuring-stick game as one of the top teams in West Central Indiana. The program won three straight state titles from 2018-20. But this matchup is not only a big one for Sagamore supremacy, but also in preparing both teams for the state tournament. Southmont will be seeking its first-ever sectional title when tournament play begins in October.
“Western Boone has been one of the top teams in the Sagamore Conference for the last several years,” Hannum said. “They are well coached. They are led by their defense and strong rushing attack. It will probably be our most challenging game to date.  The Sagamore Conference is up for grabs at this point during the season with several teams still vying to win the championship. Games like this are games that will prepare us for the tournament. We expect a close game that will be physical and hard hitting.” 

Western Boone is expecting a similarly strong game. 

“Southmont is a very similar program to ours,” Western Boone coach Justin Pelley said. “Coach Hannum does a great job of preparing his teams each and every year and we look forward to the challenge that awaits us. It is good we are playing at home and we are very familiar with them and them with us. This game will come down to kids making plays and who makes the least amount of mistakes, which is how it should be. It should be a fun night, but we will have to be ready if we expect to compete.” 

WeBo has started the season 5-1, with the lone blemish a 41-34 loss to Tri-West in Week 4. The Stars have followed that up with a 35-8 victory over North Montgomery and a 56-6 win at Frankfort. 

Their offense has scored at least 34 points in every game this season and is averaging 42 points per game. 

“Our offense is based on facets of the triple option so the QB and RB will naturally end up with the stats,” Stars coach Justin Pelley said. “However, we have been able to spread the ball around a fair amount which I hope makes us difficult to prepare for.  Senior wings Ryan Taylor and Ethan Bayles have been instrumental to our success as they are involved with the run and the pass.  However, you don't average 42 points a game running the triple option without the efforts of the lineman up front:  Korbin Smith, Clayton Unroe, Maddox Gadbury, Andrew Foster, Wyatt Dickey, Jaxson Gott, Emmy Roys and Josh Dickey.” 

Rowen Durbin has thrown for 774 yards and run for 325, while senior Trevor Weakley has 804 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Bayles has 366 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season. 

“We have had a good year so far.  We take pride in taking it one game at a time and letting things play out from there,” Pelley said. “Expectations are high at Western Boone, but we embrace the challenge and simply take one game at a time.  Our recent success has elevated some of these expectations around the state, but we cannot control that.  We are doing the best we can with what we have and what we have is a group of players who have experienced winning and know what it takes.” 

Heritage walks off with wild win

The wildest finish of Week 6 came at Heritage Christian, which beat Covenant Christian 34-28 on a strip-sack on the final snap. 

With the game tied 28-28 and Covenant Christian setting up for one last play near midfield, Heritage’s Collin Thompson forced the ball free with a strip-sack. Carter Taylor scooped up the loose ball and took it downfield for a touchdown. 

It was Heritage’s only lead of the night. 

“It was definitely the craziest finish I have ever been a part of,” Heritage Christian coach Kyle Ray said. “To win our homecoming game on a walk-off fumble recovery for a TD is something I will never forget. The sheer excitement and enthusiasm was incredible in the moment. I made a promise to myself to stay composed and positive the whole game, which was very challenging at times because we didn't play great. But, when Carter crossed the goal line, I just let all the emotion out and celebrated with our players and coaches. It was an amazing moment.” 

The victory gave the Eagles a 4-2 record, with the two losses coming to 2A No. 5 Scecina and 3A No. 8 Guerin Catholic. 

Senior QB Kyle Antoine has thrown for 1,291 yards and run for 521 to lead the Eagles. The vast majority of those yards have gone to seniors Luke Valerio (541 yards) and Christian Dora (407 yards). Antoine has had a handful of big games this year, running for 248 yards and throwing for 176 in a season-opening 55-20 victory over Traders Point Christian. In Week 4, he threw for 304 yards and ran for 78 in a 49-22 victory over Eastern Hancock. Antoine had 222 passing yards in the win over Covenant Christian. 

Antoine is a two year starter. 

“It has been awesome having Kyle back at QB. A tremendous leader, competitor, and person.  We have developed a close relationship over his career, and there is no one else I would rather have at QB for our team this season,” said Ray, who was an All-American quarterback himself at Franklin College. “His ability to run and throw makes us a very dangerous team.  He's got to take better care of the football down the stretch, but he has played some really great plays this year.” 

Thompson, who had the strip-sack to start the game-winning play Friday, leads Heritage’s defense with 60 tackles. Ray said “he has been all over the field this year,” 

This week, the Eagles travel to 3-3 Lapel before facing South Putnam and Indianapolis Manual to finish out the year. 

“We've had a great schedule this year,” Ray said. “Each and every week, we have to compete at a high level.  It has been fun! To advance in the state tournament, you have to beat good football teams. Lapel is a very good team, and it's always a battle when we play them.”  

Other games to watch this week

• 6A No. 1 Brownsburg (6-0) at Zionsville (4-2)
• Cincinnati LaSalle at 6A No. 3 Indianapolis Cathedral (4-1)
• 6A No. 5 Ben Davis (4-2) at 6A No. 6 Carmel (4-2)
• 6A No. 7 Carroll (Fort Wayne) (6-0) at Homestead (3-3)
• 5A No. 7 Valparaiso (4-2) at 5A No. 2 Merrillville (5-1)
• Jasper (3-3) at 5A No. 9 Castle (4-2)
• 4A No. 7 Mooresville (5-1) at 5A No. 4 Whiteland (5-1)
• Louisville Male at 4A No. 2 Roncalli (6-0)
• 4A No. 6 New Prairie (6-0) at South Bend Riley (4-2)
• 4A No. 9 Evansville Reitz (6-0) at Evansville Memorial (4-2)
• Yorktown at 4A No. 10 Greenfield-Central (4-2)
• 2A No. 9 Cass (5-1) at 3A No. 1 West Lafayette (6-0)
• Christian Brothers (Mo.) at 3A No. 2 Indianapolis Chatard (4-2)
• Mt. Vernon (Posey) (4-2) at 3A No. 3 Gibson Southern (6-0)
• Northview (4-2) at 3A No. 8 Guerin Catholic (3-3)
• North Knox (3-3) at 2A No. 1 Linton (6-0)
• 2A No. 6 Triton Central (5-1) at 2A No. 5 Indianapolis Scecina (5-1)
• Fort Wayne Dwenger (4-2) at 2A No. 8 Fort Wayne Luers (3-3)
• Monrovia (2-4) at 1A No. 1 Indianapolis Lutheran (6-0)
• 1A No. 8 Triton (5-1) at 1A No. 3 North Judson (6-0)
• 1A No. 4 North Decatur (6-0) at North Daviess (4-2) 

 

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