Indiana Sectional Championships (4A-6A): Key Players & Outlook
By Harvey Scruggs Indiana high school football fans are in for a treat when sectional championships kick off on Friday for the state’s three largest classes. When these teams take the field, all eyes will be on a number…
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Continue ReadingBy Harvey Scruggs
Indiana high school football fans are in for a treat when sectional championships kick off on Friday for the state’s three largest classes. When these teams take the field, all eyes will be on a number of standout football players as well. Let’s look at some key matchups and players to watch in the Class 4A – 6A games.
CLASS 4A
Mooresville Pioneers are the favorite to win Sectional 23, with the help of Purdue recruits in
Zach Richards
Zach
Richards
6'4" | 295 lbs | OL
Mooresville | 2021
State
IN
and
Jaelin Alstott-VanDeVanter
Jaelin
Alstott-VanDeVanter
6'6" | 260 lbs | OL
Mooresville | 2021
State
IN
. On the edge for the Pioneers is senior Tommy O’Connor who has recorded 12 sacks. The 6’4 220-pound sackmaster is headed to Cincinnati to play baseball at the next level. In Sectional 21, lookout for 6’6 215-pound Ball State pledge Tanner Koziol and Indiana State recruit
Rylan Cole
Rylan
Cole
6'0" | 183 lbs | DB
Mount Vernon | 2021
State
IN
to lead Class 4A top ranked Mount Vernon Marauders in their quest for a championship. Marauder quarterback Gehrig Slunaker is garnering attention from college coaches. The remaining Class 4A field in the sectional championships bolster talented players in Hobart linebacker
Bobby Babcock
Bobby
Babcock
5'11" | 203 lbs | LB
Hobart | 2021
State
IN
an Illinois State commit and one of the Midwest’s top 2022 prospects in Leo lineman
Landen Livingston
Landen
Livingston
6'4" | 280 lbs | OL
Leo Junior-Senior | 2022
State
IN
. Livingston holds offers from the likes of Indiana, Purdue, West Virginia, and Michigan State. Another notable prospect playing for a championship on Friday is Evansville Central linebacker
Jacob Boberg
Jacob
Boberg
6'0" | 210 lbs | LB
Evansville Central | 2021
State
IN
,
CLASS 5A
We can expect a battle in Sectional 15 when the Castle Knights make a visit to Bloomington to take on the North Cougars. Last year’s game went into overtime, with Castle edging the Cougars, 28-21. Look for junior standout quarterback Reese Lozano to hook up with targets
Bailen Murphy
Bailen
Murphy
6'3" | 190 lbs | WR
Bloomington North | 2021
State
IN
and tight end
Aaron Steinfeldt
Aaron
Steinfeldt
6'4" | 230 lbs | TE
Bloomington North | 2021
State
IN
. Lozano, just a junior, is a dual threat for the Cougs, and he holds an early FCS offer while senior wideout Murphy is committed to Indiana State. The Indian Hoosiers were able to lock up Steinfeldt, to add to their already talented 2021 recruiting class.
There will be plenty of talent on the field when (8-2) Decatur Central Hawks and the (9-1) Cathedral Irish meet in the Sectional 13 title game. The Hawks have a playmaker in Javon Tracy Javon Tracy 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Decatur Central | 2022 State IN , an electric player that will line up everywhere on the Hawks’ offense. Iowa looks to be the favorite in landing Tracy’s services. For Cathedral, senior wideout Camden Jordan Camden Jordan 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Cathedral | 2021 State IN has piqued the interest of Power Five college coaches with his ball catching ability. Jordan has several offers from MAC programs but is slated to play baseball for Louisville. Look for Indiana’s player of the year frontrunner, quarterback Nate McCahill to lead the potent Irish offense. Tight end Brennan Wooten Brennan Wooten 6'4" | 240 lbs | TE Cathedral | 2023 State IN is a prospect in the 2023 class and so is junior linebacker Jeff Utzinger. Keep an eye out for 6’5 195-pound junior receiver Rocco Ciocco, Hoosier recruit offensive lineman Vinny Fiacable Vinny Fiacable 6'3" | 290 lbs | OL Bishop Dwenger | 2021 State IN , and the Bishop Dwenger Saints to make a deep run in the 5A tournament. The state’s top passer, Fort Wayne North Side’s Duce Taylor Duce Taylor 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB North Side | 2021 State IN will do all he can to end the Saints season on Friday. Taylor has a few scholarship opportunities. Before Valporaiso lineman Cooper Jones Cooper Jones 6'6" | 240 lbs | DL Valparaiso | 2021 State IN heads to Bloomington to suit up for the Hoosiers, he is eying a trip to Indianapolis for the 5A championship game.
CLASS 6A
The largest class of football in the state obviously owns the Hoosier state’s top prospects and teams. Nationally ranked Center Grove is the 6A favorite and their roster has close to a dozen next level players. Led by junior defensive end Caden Curry Caden Curry 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Center Grove | 2022 State IN , junior quarterback Tayven Jackson Tayven Jackson 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Center Grove | 2022 State IN , and Minnesota commit Austin Booker Austin Booker 6'6" | 240 lbs | DL Center Grove | 2021 State IN . Lawrence North is looking to secure its first sectional championship since 1990. The Wildcats have the playmakers to pull off the feat against one of the state’s storied programs in Warre Central. Look for Indiana recruit Donaven McCulley Donaven McCulley 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Lawrence North | 2021 State IN and uber-talented junior Omar Cooper Omar Cooper 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Lawrence North | 2022 State IN Jr. to hook up many times on Friday. In Sectional 5, you have a red hot team in the Carmel Greyhounds and the Brownsburg Bulldogs facing off in the state’s game of the week. Duke Blue Devil recruit Justin Pickett Justin Pickett 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL Carmel | 2021 State IN solidifies the offensive line for the Greyhounds. Many picked the Bulldogs as a 6A favorite, and rightfully so. The roster has a plethora of division one recruits. Starting with Kansas commit, quarterback Ben Easters Ben Easters 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Brownsburg | 2021 State IN , Purdue recruit, wide receiver Preston Terrell Preston Terrell 6'2" | 182 lbs | WR Columbus North | 2021 State IN and Indiana recruit Joshua Sales Joshua Sales 6'6" | 275 lbs | OL Brownsburg | 2021 State IN on the offense.
Westfield Rocks and junior defensive end Popeye Williams Popeye Williams 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Westfield | 2022 State IN are on a roll and look to capture the Sectional 4 championship. Newly formed Elkhart has the benefit of creating a roster that is as talented as any in the state. Look for Penn State recruit Rodney McGraw Rodney McGraw 6'6" | 225 lbs | DL Elkhart Central | 2021 State IN and company to make waves in the Class 6A tournament. Other notable prospects playing for a sectional title on Friday include Merrillville’s JoJo Johnson JoJo Johnson 5'10" | 169 lbs | WR Merrillville | 2021 State IN , Missouri target Daylan Carnell Daylan Carnell 6'2" | 188 lbs | DB Ben Davis | 2021 State IN , Lafayette Jefferson defensive end Jalen Monrrow Jalen Monrrow 6'4" | 250 lbs | DL Jefferson | 2021 State IN .