We are breaking down every area sectional this week as the postseason kicks off this Friday.
First up is Sectional 44.
THE FAVORITE
ADAMS CENTRAL (8-1)
Rolling through the ACAC in dominant fashion, the Flying Jets enter Sectional 44 as the decided favorite not just in this field, but all of the north in Class A.
The defense is stifling, allowing under 5 points per game. Four of the last five games and five of the last seven have been shutout victories for Coach Michael Mosser’s team.
Battle tested and led by a stud crop of seniors, AC has its eyes on what rival South Adams did a year ago – advancing to the state championship game.
The Flying Jets’ ground-and-pound style isn’t difficult to decipher, but how it goes about it is, with a mix of fakes and counters to go with an underrated pass game with Braysen Yergler as one of the most sure-handed receivers in the area.
THE CONTENDER
CHURUBUSCO (7-2)
Might the Eagles have something for Adams Central? We won’t have to wait long to find out, as the duo collide to open sectional play on Friday.
In terms of Sagarin Ratings, Churubusco is No. 3 in Class 1A while Adams Central is No. 2, with the Eagles playing the more difficult schedule per the rankings.
Much as the Flying Jets lost a close decision to Eastside earlier in the year, so did the Eagles, which fell 20-13 to the Blazers in Week 4. After dealing with quarantine and short-handed game day rosters earlier in the year, Coach Paul Sade’s team has run off five straight wins – four by shutout.
The offense is sound, but the strength of this team is the defense – with Hunter Bianski amassing 28 tackles for loss while Cullen Blake has 12.5 and sophomore Gavin Huelsenbeck 11.
The big question is if Churubusco can match up in the trenches and win a fair amount of snaps over Adams Central. It has to be a slug-it-out type game as it is tough foreseeing the Eagles able to move the ball consistently on AC.
If anyone is going to challenge the Flying Jets in this sectional, it is ‘Busco.
THE REST
NORTHFIELD (6-3)
The Norse are not sensational in any one area, but they do have seasoned offensive players, particularly with Jake Halderman at quarterback and Jaydan Goshert as the team’s top rusher.
The draw was favorable to Northfield with an opening-round game at Fremont and a semifinal likely against Southwood, a team the Norse beat in the regular season.
SOUTHWOOD (4-5)
The Knights limp into the postseason losers of three of their last four, but this is not a team to be taken lightly. The defending sectional champions can be sneaky if given the opportunity to stay in games. They will play either ‘Busco or AC in the semis.
TRITON (3-6)
Triton gets the bye and will likely play Northfield in the semis. Anthony Schuh is a sophomore running back that has amassed 1,072 yards and 11 touchdowns.
FREMONT (3-6)
The Eagles have one postseason win in the last 10 years.
NORTH MIAMI (0-9)
The Warriors have lost every game this season. They are allowing just over 40 points per game while scoring barely six per contest.
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