Week 2: Five players to watch on the gridiron tonight

***DeKalb’s Tegan Irk drops back to pass during an August 19 game at Angola. (Photo by Steve Bowen/Bowen Arrow Photography)***

Week 2 is when teams make the biggest improvements. The same can be said for individual players.

Here are five players to watch this week:

Tegan Irk, DeKalb vs. Garrett

The Baron offense was limited to just 14 points in the season opener against Angola. Irk finished 13-of-24 for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Things should turn around against a Garrett defense that allowed 56 points in a loss to Adams Central. Irk has too many weapons at his disposal to be held down two weeks in a row, although Donnie Wiley will miss a second-straight game tonight with an injury.

Christian Lozada, Bishop Dwenger vs. North Side

Lozada had his name called out more than anyone else on the defensive side of the ball last Friday against Wayne. The junior flew around the field and racked up 17 tackles, including one for loss. He’ll have to have similar production this week to contain a Legends offense that will be chomping at the bit to put up more points than it did in Week 1.

Cameron Smitley, Jay County vs. Huntington North

Smitley had a really good start to his final season with the Patriots. The senior had five tackles and an interception in a 41-0 win over Blackford. This week, the offense of Huntington North will provide a much bigger challenge. Even in a loss to Eastbrook, the Vikings put up 459 yards of offense. Smitley will have a good chance at creating more turnovers as Huntington North gave the ball away four times versus the Panthers.

Tyson Reinbold, East Noble vs. NorthWood

The Knights’ offense looked lethal against Plymouth, but the level of competition takes a big step up this week as East Noble heads west on U.S. 6 to Nappanee. Reinbold had 13 carries for 107 yards and two scores last week. East Noble will want to sustain long drives that end in points to take down the Panthers. A steady dose of Reinbold will help accomplish that.

Fernando Macias, West Noble vs. Wawasee

Macias helped the Chargers run away from rival Central Noble last week. Just a sophomore, he and classmate Seth Pruitt are a dangerous one-two punch. Macias averaged nearly eight yards per carry last week. The Warriors were shutout last week in a 26-0 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Macias will now have a chance to run on the fast turf at Wawasee and could run wild against the Warriors.