Brunt, Dragash make picks for IHSAA sectionals
By CLIFF BRUNT
and CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Staff
Here are our picks for Week 2 of IHSAA sectionals.
6A – Fishers (8-2) at Carmel (7-3) — Dragash covering
Fishers has won nine straight, but the Tigers didn’t play a schedule like Carmel’s. Fishers avenged its only loss last week by defeating Noblesville. Carmel demolished a very good Hamilton Southeastern team 40-7 last week (story here). The Greyhounds had wins over Pike and Warren Central during the regular season. Carmel has a game breaker in UCLA commitment Austin Roberts, should the Greyhounds try to get the ball to him. Lately, Carmel has been more content to run the ball and use the zone-read option, with junior Isaac James emerging as a big-time playmaker. Fishers quarterback Connor Christiansen has passed for 1,865 yards and 18 touchdowns. There will be more pressure on him than usual tonight because Fishers’ defense will have a tough time containing Carmel’s offense.
Brunt: Carmel 35, Fishers 17
Dragash: Carmel 31, Fishers 21
6A – Arsenal Tech (5-5) at Southport (10-0) — Brunt covering
This game will match two of the best running backs in the state. Southport’s Christian Perry has rolled to 2,113 yards and 22 touchdowns this season on an unbeaten team that averages more than 500 total yards per game. Tech’s James Gilbert has posted big games against big-time competition. He ran for 183 yards against Pike and 171 against Indianapolis Cathedral. Southport also has an excellent sophomore quarterback in Luke Johnston, but he hasn’t seen speed like he’ll see Friday night from Tech’s defense.
Brunt: Tech 28, Southport 21
Dragash: Tech 28, Southport 27
6A – Pike (6-4) at Ben Davis (8-2)
This is a rematch of a thriller Ben Davis won 49-48 in overtime at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 21. There are two major differences in the rematch. First, Ben Davis quarterback Kyle Castner, who missed that earlier game with an injury, is back. Second, Pike’s primary playmaker, Tennessee-bound Dominique Booth, is out for the season after disclocating his elbow against Lawrence Central. Pike already has a leaky defense, so losing a player who could help the Red Devils keep up is a big-time loss. Ben Davis RB Chris Evans is a star in the making.
Brunt: Ben Davis 45, Pike 28.
Dragash: Ben Davis 34, Pike 31
5A — Zionsville (4-5) vs. Cathedral (5-5) at Arsenal Tech
A classic case of two teams that are much better than their records. Terry McLaurin ran for a ridiculous 312 yards last week in a 54-26 win over Decatur Central (story here). He has the Mr. Football award clearly in his sights, and though Zionsville plays pretty good defense, it won’t be good enough to stop the Ohio State commitment.
Brunt: Cathedral 42, Zionsville 20
Dragash: Cathedral 35, Zionsville 17
4A — Lebanon (8-2) at Roncalli (7-3)
Lebanon is hot, having won six of seven. The difference here will be Roncalli’s monster offensive line and its consistency from quarterback Cam Smock and running back Colin McManama. Roncalli’s schedule was extremely tough — the Rebels gave Southport one of its toughest games in a 21-16 loss, and they have a win over Brebeuf.
Brunt: Roncalli 35, Lebanon 21.
Dragash: Roncalli 28, Lebanon 17
3A — Western Boone (7-3) at Brebeuf (7-3)
Another of the state’s best running backs, LeVante Bellamy, will be in action here. The speedster has rushed for 1,604 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Logan Wethington is the player to watch for Western. He has passed for 1,312 yards and rushed for 415. Though WeBo has been solid this season, it won’t have enough speed to handle Bellamy.
Brunt: Brebeuf 42, Western Boone 28
Dragash: Brebeuf 35, Western Boone 14
1A – Tri-Central (9-1) at Sheridan (5-5)
This is a rematch of a game Tri-Central won 33-27 two weeks ago at Sheridan. Legendary coach Bud Wright tends to find ways to get it done in the postseason. Tri-Central has won nine straight, but at this time of year, tradition matters.
Workhorse running back Austin Hoover has rushed for 2,020 yards and 32 scores this season for Sheridan. He ran for 111 yards and three scores in the previous game against Tri-Central. He’ll do more than that this time.
Brunt: Sheridan 38, Tri-Central 28
Sheridan 30, Tri-Central 27
LOOKING BACK
Here’s a look at Brunt’s and Dragash’s picks from last week, and how they turned out.
Brunt prediction: Fishers 35, Noblesville 21.
Dragash prediction: Fishers 28, Noblesville 23
Actual score: Fishers 17, Noblesville 13.
Edge: Dragash.
Brunt prediction: Carmel 35, Hamilton Southeastern 17
Dragash prediction: Carmel 31, Hamilton Southeastern 24
Actual score: Carmel 40, HSE 7
Edge: Brunt.
Brunt prediction: Warren Central 42, Lawrence Central 10
Dragash prediction: Warren Central 28, Lawrence Central 14
Actual score: Warren Central 14, Lawrence Central 0
Edge: Dragash.
Brunt prediction: Southport 50, Perry Meridian 35
Dragash prediction: Southport 45, Perry Meridian 28
Actual score: Southport 45, Perry Meridian 15
Edge: Dragash.
Brunt prediction: Arsenal Tech 28, Franklin Central 14
Dragash prediction: Arsenal Tech 35, Franklin Central 10
Actual score: Arsenal Tech 28, Franklin Central 14.
Edge: Brunt called the exact score.
Brunt prediction: Cathedral 45, Decatur Central 35.
Dragash prediction: Cathedral 49, Decatur Central 28
Actual score: Cathedral 54, Decatur Cetral 26.
Edge: Dragash.
Summary: We agreed on the winners of every game, and we were right about all of them. Dragash had more success overall, but Brunt’s exact score on Arsenal Tech’s win makes up for it (at least in Brunt’s opinion).
SECTIONAL BRACKETS
Here are links to sectional brackets in each class: 6A 5A 4A 3A 2A A
COACH OF THE WEEK
Mike Donahue of Silver Creek High School has been named the Colts/NFL Coach of the Week, a program presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Coach Donahue was nominated after Silver Creek defeated Boonville to notch the school’s first IHSAA tournament win in just its third season of varsity football.
Silver Creek is now 4-6 on the year and will play Evansville Reitz in the second round this Friday.
The 2013 season marks the fourteenth year the Indianapolis Colts will be recognizing outstanding Indiana High School football coaches through the Colts/NFL Coach of the Week program, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
At the conclusion of the high school football season, each winning coach will receive a framed certificate signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano, Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson and Colts Youth Football Commissioner Mike Prior, as well as a $1,000 donation from the NFL Foundation. In addition, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will contribute $1,000 for the school’s athletic fund.
The following coaches were recognized as honorable mentions for Week 10:
| Region 1- Stacy Adams – East Chicago | Region 6- Chris Coll – Tri-West |
| Region 2- Dave Sharpe – Glenn | Region 7- Anthony Henderson – Marshall |
| Region 3 – Dean Lehrman – Heritage | Region 8- Phil Renforth – Lincoln |
| Region 4 – Mike Johnson – Pioneer | Region 9- Scott Buening – Southridge |
| Region 5 – Mike Jones – Winchester | Region 10- Winner |
