Week 5: Five players to watch on the gridiron tonight

As we do each week, we take a look at five players who may have the biggest impact on their games this Friday night.

Here are the players to keep on watch in Week 5:

Aiden Furnish, Leo at East Noble

Furnish tallied 16 tackles through Leo’s first three games, including being critical with seven in week one’s close loss to Kokomo. Last week in an overtime loss to New Haven, Furnish’s tackles: zero. That is incredibly unusual for one of the NE8’s more aggressive linebackers. Considering how vocal Furnish is on the Leo defense, you have to bet good money that he is seething at not getting ahold of a Bulldog last week and the fact he’s yet to register a sack this season. Look for him to be ultra aggressive in this rivalry game.

Tyson Reinbold, East Noble vs. Leo

As the East Noble passing game picks up, it is opening more doors for Reinbold on the ground, where he ran for 128 yards a week ago and leads the Knights with 399 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the season. Reinbold can be uniquely allusive and his ability to get through the Leo defense that is giving up under 20 points per game is critical in the Knights being able to protect their home field against a long despised rival.

Toby Tippmann, Bishop Dwenger vs. Homestead

Bishop Dwenger’s traditional offensive skill positions accounted for exactly zero points last week with point coming by way of special teams the entire way offensively and defensively. Don’t expect that to carry over for a second straight week. Could the Saints run game explode against Homestead? Dwenger went for 171 yards on the ground last week with 58 of them coming from Tippmann, but a week prior he went for 117 himself against North Side.

Cameron Fravel, Adams Central vs. Heritage

Fravel was a monster for the AC defense a week ago, recording eight tackles and a sack in handing Jay County their first loss of the season. Now he will look to do the same thing in an attempt to hand Heritage a similar first loss. This is a game that is kind of a de facto ACAC title game (yes, we know Bluffton and we don’t count you out yet), so for that regard a lot of eyes are one this contest in Monroe. Expect some good leadership on the defensive front from Fravel, who will look power his way at Heritage’s sensational multi threat quarterback.

Brayden Nusbaum, Garrett at Eastside

Garrett wants you to know they are back as a team to watch after an upset of Lakeland last week. So we are watching as the Railroaders visit Eastside against the surprisingly also 2-2 Blazers. Brayden Nusbaum has been helpful on both sides of the ball, but the sophomore has been a leader among the defensive players. Leading Garrett with 35 total tackles, Nusbaum’s urgency is important against an always solid Eastside run game.