Week one 6A IHSAA football power rankings: Kyle Neddenriep Indianapolis Star picks Central Indiana's best teams ahead of Week 1

[Dave007]

Are you ready for some football!  Great article (as always) by Neddenriep in todays IndyStar.  For those that don't have subscription below is cut-and-paste on 6A.  His rankings re for Central Indy teams only like he has done in years past.

Center Grove plays such a monster schedule, and I tend to agree with him should they start 0-5 and still be top team in Indiana going into week 6.  It just seems like there is a large gap this year with Center Grove and everyone else.  I can't wait for the Mud Bowl part II as season-ending matchup vs Irish will be at Arlington!  Let the moaning and bitching begin!

 

CLASS 6A

 

1. Center Grove (12-2 last season)

 

 

I’m not predicting this will happen, but if Center Grove is 0-5 through five weeks, I might still have the Trojans in this spot. Center Grove opens the season with a murderer’s row of St. Edward (a back-to-back Ohio state champion and ranked No. 13 in the country by High School Football America), Oakland, Tenn. (ranked No. 31 in country), Louisville Trinity, Cincinnati Moeller (ranked No. 54 in country) and Harvest Prep (Ohio). But even a tough start against this challenging schedule does not necessarily mean Center Grove does not belong at the top of 6A. And the Trojans, ranked No. 33 by High School Football America, should be up to the challenge with several returners on both sides of the ball for coach Eric Moore, including the quarterback-receiver combination of Tyler Cherry and Noah Coy and Owen Bright at linebacker on defense, among others. The regular-season finale against Cathedral will be more telling than the first five games.

2. Hamilton Southeastern (12-1)

 

 

The Royals are in position to build off last year’s big season that ended a step short of the goal with a 21-15 loss to Fort Wayne Carroll in the semistate. That result provided plenty of motivation for fourth-year coach Michael Kelly’s team through the offseason, especially considering the season opener is at home this week against Carroll. There are so many key players back for Hamilton Southeastern, including Notre Dame recruit Styles Prescod on the offensive line and top running backs Jalen Alexander and Azariah Wallace, who combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards last season. Not to mention top receiver Donovan Hamilton and several top defensive players. The hunger for more should be an advantage for the Royals and, honestly, an easier route to Lucas Oil Stadium from the north side of the bracket (though it is more difficult now than a few years ago). The opener vs. Carroll and Week 4 and 5 (at Fishers in Mudsock game and vs. Westfield) should tell us a lot about the Royals and where they could go this season.

Indiana high school football preview:Everything you need to know for 2023 season

3. Ben Davis (6-4)

 

 

Trying to figure out where the Giants fit in is difficult. There are many reasons to like this team with so many returners back in key spots, including quarterback (Thomas Gotkowski), running back (Alijah Price), linebacker (Nylan Brown) and playmaker everywhere (Mark Zackery). Ben Davis was close last year in every loss (Brownsburg, Center Grove and Carmel), but were then blown out by Brownsburg, 48-20, in the first round of the sectional. There is also a transition to a new coach in Russ Mann, though he was around last season as an assistant for Jason Simmons and has a long history coaching. A trip to Cincinnati Moeller (No. 54 in country) for the opener should give us some idea on the Giants’ possibilities this season. That Week 4 game against IMG Academy (No. 5 in country) will also be intriguing.

4. Cathedral (10-2)

 

 

The Irish have an outstanding quarterback in senior Danny O’Neil, a Colorado commit, and a reliable, playmaking tight end in Miami of Ohio commit Zach Meeks. I also liked what I saw from junior running back Jalen Bonds at the scrimmage Friday against Franklin Central and a defense that has some athleticism with Jackson Weingart moving to defensive end and a solid front seven overall. This team doesn’t have the overall offensive weapons — at least not yet — that last year’s team did, but I still expect Cathedral to compete against anyone on the schedule, including Center Grove. If Lafayette Jeff does not hang with the Irish in the opener at Lucas Oil Stadium, I’d expect the Week 2 game at Brownsburg to be a much bigger and better challenge.

5. Brownsburg (10-2)

 

 

Speaking of the Bulldogs … Brownsburg looked to be on the cusp of a really special season a year ago but an injury to quarterback Jayden Whitaker was tough to overcome and even with Whitaker back in the lineup, the Bulldogs lost 14-7 to Cathedral in the regional. Like HSE, Brownsburg brings back two outstanding running backs in seniors Garrett Sherrell and Ariyan Ballance and a big-time receiver in Minnesota commit Corey Smith. The defense graduated a fair share of talent, but Best Dare is a player to watch at linebacker and there are other less-experienced players with talent on that side of the ball. Senior quarterback Jake Dunn will get his chance after filling in for Whitaker last season. After a trip to Fort Wayne Dwenger, home games vs. Cathedral and Franklin Central the following two weeks will be intriguing.

6. Westfield (8-4)

 

Coach Jake Gilbert’s Shamrocks are lurking out there as three-time defending sectional champions and a significant threat on the north side of the 6A bracket. Junior running back Kendall Garnett is an exciting player and the top three pass-catchers return in juniors Gabe Aramboles and Mikeah Webster and senior tight end Max Nosler. There is a lot of talent returning on defense, too, with junior Lennox Cruz Williams and senior defensive and Miami of Ohio commit William Goodvine III leading the way. Westfield will get a chance Friday to avenge last year’s season-opening loss to New Palestine when the Dragons visit. The back-to-back games against Hamilton Southeastern (away) and Brownsburg (home), Week 5 and 6, respectively, will be games to watch as well. The Shamrocks lost to both last season, then fell 20-0 to HSE in the regional.

7. Warren Central (6-6)

 

 

The Warriors could be one of the area teams that makes the biggest jump in 2023. Coach Mike Kirschner goes into his third season with a team that is still relatively young, but a defensive line of junior ends Damien Shanklin and Tyrone Burrus, sophomore tackle Jerimy Finch, senior tackle Perris Green and junior end Jevon Guess is a group you have to like. Senior defensive back Sean Pennington will need to help a young secondary along. The offense has promise, too, with junior Keith Jackson a dual-threat quarterback returning and a couple of experienced linemen in senior Braylon Maddox and Michael McDowell and an extremely talented junior, Cameron Herron. A Week 2 trip to Fort Wayne Carroll could tell a lot about the Warriors.

8. Carmel (6-4)

 

 

The Greyhounds started last season with competitive losses against Louisville Trinity and Center Grove, won five in a row (including a victory over Ben Davis), then lost two of three to end the season with a disappointing 28-9 loss to Westfield in the sectional opener. Coach John Hebert loses a lot of talent to graduation, but senior Alijah Alfayyad is one of the area’s more underrated running backs and Indiana recruit Christian Peterson should be a playmaker on both sides of the ball. Senior safety Hunter Snow and senior lineman Artemas Bryant will also be players to watch on defense. Like Center Grove, the early part of the season is full of out-of-state opponents (CBC of St. Louis, Detroit King and Louisville Trinity in Weeks 2, 3 and 4, respectively), but that Week 7 game at Ben Davis and the following week vs. Warren Central at home will provide more insight into the Greyhounds’ postseason chances.

9. Fishers (7-4)

 

 

The Tigers might be flying a little too far under the radar with rival Hamilton Southeastern bringing so much talent back. But Fishers is coming off a strong season as well and brings back plenty of talent with players like senior running back and Miami of Ohio commit Khobie Martin, junior receiver JonAnthony Hall, senior offensive tackle Grant Haworth on offense and senior defensive end and Ball State recruit Brady Wolf and linebackers Jake Prewitt, Carter Imes and Jev Hutton. The Tigers could be 3-0 heading into that Mudsock rivalry game vs. Hamilton Southeastern in Week 4.

10. Lawrence Central (5-6)

 

 

The Bears have made steady progress in Will Patterson’s three seasons, but are still looking for a breakthrough. Is this the year? There is experience at quarterback with senior Bryson Luter, who can run and pass, and a 1,000-yard receiver in senior Ahmaad Duff. There are also standouts on defense in seniors Mataio Russell and D.J. Morton. It won’t take long to see how the Bears stack up with games against Westfield, Lawrence North and Warren Central in Weeks 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

[Bobref]

9 hours ago, Dave007 said:

but a defensive line of junior ends Damien Shanklin

Notre Dame has offered Shanklin.