Sectional semifinal Friday brought a mix of surprises, expected results and games that will be remembered for awhile.
Let’s break it all down in Bear Necessities.
CLASS 6A
• It was a master class of coaching and execution by Warsaw on Friday in its 31-17 victory over Carroll.
The Tigers ran a total of 60 offensive plays on the night – all runs.
That’s right, Warsaw won without attempting a single pass.
Coach Bart Curtis‘ team was unstoppable on the ground. What was more frustrating was the fact that it was death by a thousand cuts as Warsaw wore down the Carroll defense while eating up clock. The Tigers only averaged about 4.5 yards per carry, but took what the Chargers gave them, moving the ball down the field and owning the time of possession battle.
The Tigers held the ball for over 35 minutes in the game, while the Chargers had the ball for just under 13 minutes. Included in that was Warsaw’s first drive of the third quarter, which took up the entirety of the third quarter – a 19-play, 77-yard drive that put the Tigers up 17-3.
Warsaw had seven total possessions – five of which resulted in points and one which was used to kneel out the clock at the end of the game. It only punted once and did not turn the ball over.
• It was an unceremonious ending to the season for the Chargers, who were looking to return to the state championship game for the second-straight year.
If there is any solace, it is in the fact that a young receiver corps had another good game Friday. Sophomore Jaidon VanPelt put an exclamation point on his campaign with a four-catch, 146-yard effort that included an 80-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Junior Brady Rhoad had six catches for 76 yards and a score in defeat.
While Hansen Haffner graduates, Carroll is set to bring back the majority of its receiving corps in 2024 after going through growing pains in ’23. That bodes well with Jimmy Sullivan back as QB1 for his senior campaign.
• Homestead saw its season end with a lopsided loss to Fishers on Friday, but there was promise shown by a key player for the next few years.
With the Tigers stifling Brett Fuchs (17 carries, 38 yards) and the Sparty rushing attack, it was up to the passing game to move the ball for Homestead, an aspect of the offense that has struggled at times this season.
Sophomore Michael White had some success vertically, throwing for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His leading receiver was fellow sophomore Liam Moore – four receptions for 124 yards and a score.
It was a rocky season at times for White, but it was also a year to gain experience and learn the nuances of the varsity game. He finished the season with 1,060 yards passing and nine touchdowns with a 57 percent completion percentage, something to build on for his junior campaign.
CLASS 5A
• Looking for a return ace in the SAC? Junior Jamarion Kolagbodi has emerged as just that.
Kolagbodi opened Friday’s scoring for Snider with a 46-yard punt return for a score in the eventual 44-14 victory. It was his third return score of the season to go with a pair of kickoff returns to paydirt.
Kolagbodi, who was voted First Team All-SAC for his work at cornerback, also has four interceptions so far this year, further showcasing his skill as a big-time player.
As North Side preps for a shot at the Panthers next Friday, it would be wise to take the approach of not kicking, and maybe even throwing, Kolagbodi’s way.
CLASS 4A
• Where would Bishop Dwenger‘s offense be without Carter Minix?
The senior has been electric all year, giving the offense of the Saints that big-play threat that is so important in a run-heavy scheme.
Friday saw Minix once again be the catalyst, scoring on plays of 47 and 65 yards in Bishop Dwenger’s 42-28 victory over DeKalb. The senior finished with five receptions for 145 yards and the two scores.
So much attention when it comes to wide receivers comes on the tall, rangy dudes who are matchup nightmares with their size and athleticism. Minix is in the mold of a quick slot at 5-foot-9 that isn’t going to intimidate any defenses physically, but is fundamentally sound and fast enough to burn defenders.
The senior now has double-digit touchdowns in 2023 and is averaging well over 16 yards per reception on the season.
• The Leo-East Noble game was an instant classic, and it was the quarterbacks that shined on both sides.
Zander Brazel of East Noble and Kylar Decker of Leo, both looked upon by some as a product of the playmakers around them, feasted on the defenses on Friday. The duo combined for 553 yards passing and nine touchdowns in Leo’s 45-42 victory.
Both guys were able to make decisive and accurate throws throughout. Neither threw an interception, crucial in a game in which every possession was magnified.
Kudos to both.
• It wasn’t a surprise that Leo was able to rush for over 200 yards against East Noble, but it did catch people off guard on who the leading rusher was.
Senior Dearious Carter torched the Knights for 188 yards and a score on 21 touches in the victory. The effort surpassed his season run total for the SEASON – as he entered the night with 157 rushing yards.
Carter got the nod with Aidan Monds limited by injury. Monds was able to play at his linebacker spot, but Coach Jason Doerffler decided to only go one way with Monds to help take some of the load off of him. Enter Carter, who made the most of his opportunity in the victory.
• If you look at the team stats, you would think Columbia City was able to advance out of Friday’s game with Mississinewa.
The Eagles ran 18 more plays than the Indians, rushed for 323 yards, had six more first downs and just one penalty.
What killed Columbia City’s chances? Six turnovers, including four interceptions thrown by junior quarterback Zack Berry.
Berry was thrust into the starting role after starter Grayson Bradberry went down with an injury during the first half of last week’s win over Huntington North. It was a tough assignment for Berry, who did what he could but struggled against a challenge in taking on undefeated Mississinewa.
Bradberry’s injury fell in line with a season of health woes for the Eagles, who saw several of its top contributors suffer season-ending injuries over the course of the year.
CLASS 3A
• One aspect of the game that Heritage struggled with at times this season was turnovers.
On Friday, it cost them dearly.
Garrett forced four Patriots turnovers in the 20-6 win, the score that caught a lot of people off guard.
Heritage, which suffered just its second loss of the season, struggled to get the ball downfield. Calder Hefty, Kaidin Colburn and Brayden Nusbaum all had interceptions for the Railroaqders, while Hefty also caused and recovered a fumble.
Conversely, Garrett only turned the ball over once. Its defense has been opportunistic all season long, with 23 turnovers to their credit following Friday’s win.
Heritage had also been a team that feasted on forcing turnovers, which evened out its offensive miscues at times this year. But finishing minus-three in the turnover battle was what loomed large as the Patriots saw their season end a bit earlier that most thought it would.
CLASS 2A
• Credit the Bishop Luers defense, and particularly its defensive front, for making things difficult for Eastside in the Knights’ victory.
Wes Javins was a force all night long. While he only finished with one tackle for loss, he was consistently in the backfield, particularly early on. Fellow senior Damiun Jackson on the edge was also a significant disruptor with three TFL and nine total tackles.
Consider that Bishop Luers was held scoreless in the second half but escaped with the 14-10 win. Time after time the Blazers put the pressure on to where a single mistake would cost the Knights and have them surrender the lead. But each Eastside possession, the Luers defense stood tall and made plays.
• Bluffton gave Eastbrook a dose of its own medicine on Friday, rushing for 369 yards and five touchdowns in the 35-21 win.
Khamel Moore, who missed much of the regular season with an injury, was a monster, rushing for 241 yards and three touchdowns.
The Tigers have adjusted their offensive attack in a unique way – employing six offensive linemen on most plays. With four seniors and two juniors making up that six-man line, Coach Brent Kunkel is utilizing his team’s experience up front to their advantage.
QUICK HITS
Northrop‘s 49-point loss to Hamilton Southeastern was its worst playoff defeat in program history…Bluffton is playing in its seventh-ever sectional final – three of which have come in the last six years…Knox and West Noble combined for 420 rushing yards and just 54 passing yards.
Be the first to comment