Now that nine weeks of the regular season are in the books for area prep football teams, it is time to look ahead to sectional play.
We continue our sectional football primers in Class 2A with a field containing just one area team in the Bluffton Tigers.
DRAW
Blackford (0-9) at Tipton (1-8)
Elwood (1-8) at Eastern (7-2)
Eastbrook (6-3) at Frankton (4-5)
Bluffton (7-2) at Alexandria (8-1)
THE FAVORITE
BLUFFTON
Bluffton’s offense should continue to get a push with the return of Khamel Moore, who first played in Week 8. While its run game wasn’t struggling, it is a huge boost to have one of the top players back in the lineup. Tucker Jenkins and freshman Cooper Craig have been great on the ground for the Tigers while Braxton Betancourt has thrown for over 600 yards.
Bluffton was once the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A and should have the edge going into the sectional. The team won six straight before falling to conference foes Heritage and Adams Central.
The Tigers didn’t earn the easiest path opposite Alexandria, the team with the best record amongst the field of eight. However, Bluffton has a top 30 defensive points allowed average in the entire state, regardless of class.
THE CONTENDER
ALEXANDRIA
Other than a 12-point loss to undefeated Mississinewa, Alexandria has rolled through most of the season in impressive fashion. It will host what could have been the sectional title game opposite Bluffton. Five of Alexandria’s wins have come by 40 or more points, although it was tested in Week 9 against a good Madison-Grant squad.
Despite the fact that five different guys have thrown passes for Alexandria, it is sophomore Brady Gast that has been the leader, throwing for over 1,400 yards with an offense that should test Bluffton. Senior Carson Cuneo is a 1,000-yard rusher who ran for over 100 yards in eight of Alexandria’s nine games.
With 97 total tackles and a sack, Cuneo leads the defensive efforts as well. Alexandria has forced 17 turnovers with 11 coming by way of fumble recoveries.
THE REST
EASTBROOK
You never count out Eastbrook in the postseason. This is a perennial contender that just doesn’t have losing seasons under Coach Jeff Adamson, who has led the Panthers for the past 35 seasons. Eastbrook has won 15 postseason titles since 1994, by far the most decorated program and coach in this sectional.
What leads the Eastbrook game is the ground attack of senior Gage Engle and sophomore Bodie Howell, who have combined for over 1,700 yards rushing. Howell also provides the passing in the rarer instances that Eastbrook goes to the air (just 55 pass attempts this year). Engle is also the second-leading receiver. While it isn’t just a two-man show, Engle is also second in tackles on the team while he and Howell each have a pair of interceptions.
FRANKTON
Frankton has yet to string together more than one set of back-to-back wins this season, but also has not lost more than two in a row. That kind of back and forth isn’t great for consistency needed come the postseason, especially opposite Eastbrook in the first round. The good news is the Eagles find ways to get on the scoreboard, only being shutout once while averaging 25 points per game.
While it throws the ball a little bit, Frankton is another team in this field that prefers the ground game. Sophomore Nate Luzadder has carried for more that 1,300 yards and has almost half of the team’s touchdowns while Brady Carmack has emerged as a reliable receiver.
EASTERN (GREENTOWN)
When you talk balanced offenses, Eastern has one. Senior Eli Edwards has thrown for over 1,900 yards and 19 TDs, while Jayden Eagle has run for over 1,400 yards. Five receivers have gone for over 100 yards on the season, led by over 782 yards from Braylen Word.
Senior Noah Jourdan has been a monster defensively with almost 100 tackles and freshman Abram Edwards has 86 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss. Edwards also has four interceptions on the season.
ELWOOD
Elwood’s one win came against sectional foe Blackford. The Panthers have been shut out six times and average just six points per game while giving up over 47 per contest. Slowing down the offenses in this sectional will be difficult, especially first-round opponent Eastern.
This is a fairly young and inexperienced team, anchored by quarterback junior Jayden Mullins and freshman utility player AJ Flanagan.
BLACKFORD
Sitting winless on the season is Blackford, but luckily it gets to visit another of the low-win teams in the opening round. The Bruins have gotten on the scoreboard in all but two of their games, but only have two wins in the last three seasons combined.
Carter Clouse’s run game leads an offense that does not put up a lot of yardage. Blackford is very young and doesn’t use a lot of seniors in skill position roles. Freshman Brady Bannister sees significant time on offense.
TIPTON
Tipton dominated Elwood for its one win of the regular season and has been held out of double figures six times (shut out four) throughout the season. The Blue Devils are just two years removed from a 10-win season and three years removed from a sectional title.
Tipton’s offense is predicated on the run led by almost 900 total yards from Calvin Condict, who handles the bulk of the offensive workload. Condict also is second on the team in tackles while junior Oliver Conaway has two interceptions.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
Be the first to comment