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 4A as a few area teams are pulled south.
THE DRAW
Mississinewa (9-0) at Western (4-5)
Columbia City (5-4) at Huntington North (1-8)
Frankfort (1-8) at Marion (2-7)
Kokomo (7-2) at Jay County (4-5)
THE FAVORITE
KOKOMO (7-2)
The reigning sectional champions are the most complete team in the field. Both losses, including Week 9 against Lafayette Jeff, came to bigger schools. The Wildkats are 5-0 against 4A opponents this season.
Success is largely predicated on the run game, with Kokomo averaging 221 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Reis Beard has rushed for more yards than he has thrown for (729-542) and has accounted for 18 total scores.
The defense is skilled and experienced. Senior Tracy Dowling leads the ‘Kats in sacks with five and tackles for loss with 7.5. Fellow senior Rondell Greene is a solid cover corner, responsible for three interceptions.
THE CONTENDERS
MISSISSINEWA (9-0)
You can never overlook an undefeated team in the playoffs, but you can also question the strength of schedule in a traditionally weak Central Indiana Conference.
That said, the 42-6 rout of Eastbrook last week, the most lopsided defeat for the Panthers in the CIC in the 21st century, shows what Ole Miss is capable of.
Senior quarterback Nolan Quaderer has been exceptional, throwing for 1,730 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 73 percent of his passes and tossing just a single interception. His favorite target is fellow senior Deakon Dilts, with 610 yards receiving and 10 scores while also leading the defense with four interceptions.
COLUMBIA CITY (5-4)
Where is Columbia City at mentally after four-straight losses, capped by a shocking 28-22 loss to Norwell at home last week?
It is all about urgency, and if the Eagles play with some. This is a team that has allowed an average of 33.7 points over the last four weeks. The offense hasn’t been much better, but the tone needs to be set on the defensive side of the ball.
The schedule is favorable, with a visit to Huntington North followed by a home game against either Mississinewa or Western. The Eagles showed moxie last year in grinding out postseason wins over the likes of Wayne and Leo. Does this team have what it takes to repeat as sectional champs?
THE REST
WESTERN (4-5)
The issue with the Panthers is that they allow too many points – over 29 per game. They have only held two teams below 20 points this year, both of which they won.
With Mississinewa’s powerful offense first on tap to start the playoffs, the matchup doesn’t favor Western, which will need huge games from a pair of underclassmen – junior Mason Tedder (127 tackles) and sophomore Matthew Mckitrick (107 tackles) – to have a shot.
JAY COUNTY (4-5)
It has been an up-and-down campaign for Grant Zgunda’s Patriots, who began the season 3-0 but only won one game the rest of the regular season.
Of Jay County’s four wins, they came against teams a combined 4-32 the year.
A visit from Kokomo to open the playoffs isn’t exactly the best-case scenario.
MARION (2-7)
Coach Craig Chambers’ second go-around with the Giants has the program pointed in the right direction in Year 1, but this is still a team in transition.
Marion has lost five-straight games entering the playoffs, although did get a favorable draw in Frankton.
A player to watch is sophomore Tim Jones, who is the team’s quarterback and leading rusher.
HUNTINGTON NORTH (1-8)
The switch to a spread offense hasn’t paid much in the way of dividends in Coach Mike Eshbach’s first season, but it’s a work in progress.
The lone Vikings win this year came against winless Bellmont by a single point in Week 5.
A positive is that Huntington North scored its season high in points (27) in a loss to Columbia City in Week 4. Its first-round foe? Columbia City.
FRANKFORT (1-8)
Frankfort hasn’t won a sectional game since 2013. The Hot Dogs won on the road in Week 1 and scored 44 points, but haven’t won nor scored in double figures since.
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