Playoffs continue this week with sectional championship games across the state of Indiana.
Here are four to keep an eye on locally heading into Friday:
CLASS 6A: #11 Warsaw (9-1) at #8 Penn (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Overall series: Penn leads 12-1
Just outside of the 260 area code, Warsaw is seeking its second sectional championship when it makes the drive to Mishawka to face NIC power Penn. The Tigers knocked off defending 6A state finalist Carroll 31-17 last week thanks to a strong start from the Tiger defense.
Coach Bart Curtis said it was the interception of Jimmy Sullivan on Carroll’s first drive that kickstarted Warsaw’s performance. Curtis stated that his players “played with passion and a purpose.”
“The interception by Eric Pohl really jump-started us into a good evening of football,” said Curtis. “(It was) definitely our best overall game played in all three phases (of) complimentary football: defense, kicking, and offense.
“Our kids executed our offensive plan as we’d hoped, and we did not turn the football over. Our offensive line played their best game (to date) as well.”
Warsaw’s only win against Penn all-time came in the sectional championship in 2019, the program’s first-ever sectional title. Curtis stated that this Penn team has been dominant all season, especially with a defense that sports 10 senior starters.
“It is vital for us to not allow massive creases for their D-Line and linebackers to run through and create turnovers when we have the ball,” said Curtis. “Their offense is damaging, timely and opportunistic with several playmakers as well. We must fit gaps well against their run game as their backs (Nolan McCullough and Jake Balis) can damage defenses and also keep their receivers (Kellen Watson, Elijah Coker and Tayshan Bardo) in check.”
Curtis emphasized that his defense cannot allow deep balls down the field. They will need to keep this matchup from becoming a shootout. Curtis wants to see his team continue to work hard with a high football IQ and be prepared to play physical football.
When asked about keys to beating Penn, Curtis kept it simple.
“We will need to play virtually mistake-free football,” said Curtis. “We will need to match Penn’s physicality and intensity. My message is ‘Be comfortable being uncomfortable.’ We believe this is what it will take to win.”
CLASS 4A: Bishop Dwenger (6-5) at #10 Leo (9-2), 7 p.m.
Overall series: Bishop Dwenger leads 2-1
When the Saints lost their first two games of the season by a combined score of 108-7 to Brownsburg and Cincinnati Moeller (Ohio), very few thought they would come into this championship game with a winning record.
Coach Jason Garrett has seen his team round into postseason form despite the early season struggles that saw the Saints getting off to a 1-3 start. An emotional Garrett has been very grateful for how much this season has meant to him and the program.
“When you go through adversity together as a team – adversity on and off the field – the soul is strengthened.” said Garrett. “It has been said ‘a bad day for the ego is a good day for the soul…adversity makes the man, if it is allowed.’
“This group from Day 1 in January – knowing the gauntlet of the schedule we were facing and the youth we would have on the defensive side of the ball – fully bought in 11 months ago and have never blinked.”
In Bishop Dwenger’s 42-28 win over Dekalb last week, the Saints found success in the passing game led by quarterback Ethan Springer, who threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett has high praise for his quarterback because of his leadership and willingness to learn.
“First and foremost, Ethan is an outstanding, high character, coachable, team-first young man,” said Garrett. “He continues to improve every week. In particular in the past three weeks, he has taken full command of the huddle, shown he can make audibles at the line of scrimmage and is managing the game at a high level. He is special.”
Over at Leo, Coach Jason Doerffler and his Lions survived a thrilling but stressful contest with rival East Noble last week in a 45-42 win. Because of this, the Lions are set to play in their fifth straight sectional title game.
“It was a great high school football game,” said Doerffler about last week. “(It was) back and forth with huge momentum swings in both directions. We were very proud of the way our guys kept responding to East Noble’s runs and we were very fortunate to come out on top. We had several guys step up and do a great job.”
One key contributor in the win was Dearious Carter, who has stepped up since Brett Fuller went down with an injury. In last week’s game, Carter had his best game as a Lion, rushing for 188 yards and a score. Doerffler said Carter played great despite his small frame, which creates deception behind Leo’s offensive line. Doerffler said Carter sees the field very well as a runner and has earned the success he achieved.
A turning point came when Leo went for it on 4th and 1 at their own 30-yard-line with the game still hanging in the balance. It paid off as Kylar Decker threw a dart to Brock Schott, who found separation for a score. Doerffler called this “a huge play at a huge moment of the game.”
Riley Stewart, who missed an extra point in the 42-41 overtime loss to New Haven earlier in the season, made the biggest kick of his career to push his team into the sectional title game.
“We ask Riley (Stewart) to do a lot,” said Doerffler. “Not only is he our center, but he also handles kicking and punting duties.
“That’s a lot to handle but he works very hard at all of that. We had the confidence that he would make the kick and he came through for our team.”
Doerffler said Bishop Dwenger has been battle-tested all season long and it will not be intimidated by the moment. Knowing from his deep roots in the SAC, he knows this will be a ballgame to the finish.
“They have guys that are used to winning a lot of football games,” said Doerffler. “They are big, physical, and great blockers and tacklers. They are well-coached and will be ready to play. They play solid defense and have some very good offensive skill players. We will have to play very solid football in all three phases to come out victorious.”
Coach Garrett realizes that Leo is a formidable opponent and the Saints will have a tremendous challenge containing Schott and Kaden Hurst whenever they are on the field.
“They are a very athletic, fast, and well-coached team in all three facets,” said Garrett. “It continues to be much to prepare for. We must be sound and execute at a high level. Discipline, focus and execution are at the core of everything we are preparing for.”
The Lions hope that this is the year that they can exercise their painful demons from past playoffs. Leo has not won a sectional since making it to semistate in 2011.
Since that time, Leo has played in six sectional championship games and lost four by less than seven points. One of those games came in 2015 against Bishop Dwenger, where the Lions’ 40-yard field goal with no time left sailed wide right.
In 2021, Leo lost an overtime heartbreaker at Northridge by a single point. Last season, Leo’s field goal attempt was blocked by Columbia City’s Stratton Fuller with no time left in regulation. The Eagles eventually won in OT.
Garrett said he and his team have hopes of being able to hoist another sectional crown.
“They are one of the toughest, most battled tested groups of young men I have ever been around…” said Garrett about his team. “They inspire me beyond measure. They give hope to the future as great men, great husbands, great fathers and great community leaders.”
CLASS 3A: Delta (7-4) at Garrett (6-5), 7 p.m.
Overall series: First meeting
For the first time since their run to semi-state in 2016, the Railroaders will be playing for a sectional championship game.
Coach Chris DePew liked what he saw last week against a very good Heritage team that entered Friday’s game with a 9-1 record.
“We tackled well in space, (we) were physical, eliminated big plays and forced turnovers,” said DePew. “We aren’t big, but our defense does move well. Coach Brody Dixon had a great week as our coordinator. Special teams covered kicks well and didn’t allow any short fields for Heritage.
“I think we had only one penalty on the night, converted a lot of 3rd and 4th downs, threw the ball efficiently and avoided negative plays on offense.”
Despite trailing 6-0 early, Garrett responded thanks to a key interception from sophomore linebacker Brayden Nusbaum and a short touchdown by junior fullback Cam Ruble.
The Railroaders took the lead in the second quarter when quarterback Calder Hefty scored on a short carry. Hefty would later pick off Heritage quarterback Kobe Meyer, who played his final high school football game throwing for just 90 yards and three INTs.
Mistakes bit Heritage again in the second half when Hefty recovered a third quarter fumble. That set up a 41-yard TD pass from Hefty to Parker Skelly to give Garrett a comfortable 2-score lead that they did not relinquish.
Despite several comeback attempts by Heritage, the Garrett defense stood tall against one of the best teams in the area. DePew remembered vividly the moment that he knew his team had pulled off the upset.
“For us, it was Kaidin Colburn’s interception in the fourth quarter,” said DePew. “We had a two-score lead and Heritage was scrambling to catch up, but when Kaidin made that play it felt like that was the nail in the coffin. We were able to grind out a couple first downs after that and Heritage had used its last timeout.”
Hefty had one of his better games as a Railroader, throwing for 70 yards with a TD pass while rushing for 22 yards and another score. On defense, he had five tackles, recovered a fumble and forced a INT.
“We scaled back the pass game in our offense some (in order) to let him be more decisive and efficient,” said DePew on his quarterback. “He has responded. As a DB, he’s a good tackler and has a good feel for the ball when it’s in the air. Best of all, Calder is a student of the game.
“We can track how much film everyone has watched on Hudl, and oftentimes he has more viewing minutes than many of us coaches. He is ultra prepared.”
Garrett now has its mind on Delta. The Eagles have won seven sectionals since the turn of the century. Like Garrett, Delta has not won a sectional since 2016.
In the 24-21 win over defending sectional champion Yorktown last week, Delta put up 21 of its 24 points in the second quarter. Senior Kaiden Bond rushed for 174 yards on 16 carries (10.9 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. A 38-yard field goal from Brayden Stanley early in the fourth proved to be the difference.
“Delta has a huge offensive line, weighing 275, 280, 275, 290 and 230 across the board,” said DePew. “Our front seven has two people that weigh over 200. We need to continue to rely on our speed, stay smart and find ways into their backfield. If those big linemen get their hands on us, it’ll be tough.”
Garrett hopes its momentum from last week will translate into similar success against Delta. If the defense is able to contain the run and the offense can generate enough points in the hybrid Wing-T/Flexbone offense, Garrett will have a chance to hoist a sectional title.
CLASS 2A: #7 Bishop Luers (8-3) at Manchester (5-6), 7 p.m.
Overall series: Bishop Luers leads 3-0
After escaping with a 14-10 win over Eastside last week, Bishop Luers will have an opportunity to repeat as sectional champions for the first time since 2018.
Coach Kyle Lindsay’s squad has won games in gritty, resilient fashion. Although their first two games of this sectional have been closer than many would expect.
Going into this game, Luers will have the task of playing against an improved Squires team that poses a frontline that is very close to that of Delta. Coach Eddie Fields has instantly changed the culture surrounding the boys in North Manchester.
“We have been playing much better late in the year in all phases of the game,” said Fields. “Most of it just comes down to our kids continuing to work hard and getting better in the weight room and on the field.
“We just have a group of guys who have decided they want to be great and that mission has lead to success (that) a lot of people didn’t see coming out of Manchester football.”
Fields said the players are watching more film and his quarterback and receivers have spent extra time after practice throwing an extra 100 or more balls a day.
In last week’s 28-21 win over Central Noble, the Squires had a strong game not just running the ball but also through the air. Quarterback Logan Eastgate threw for 176 yards, with 114 going to Eli Metzger. The defensive front recorded eight sacks against the Cougars.
“Coach (Zach) Baber does a good job over there (at Central Noble) and they are only going to continue to get better,” said Field. “(Eastgate) was exceptional in the game. He had a great night throwing the ball, but he also ran for a good chunk.
“He converted two huge fourth downs with his feet, one (being) a 50-yard touchdown on 4th and 1. You win with kids like Logan Eastgate. When Logan is playing well, everyone gets better.”
When Eastgate is slinging the ball, it opens up the field for running back Reiss Gaerte to get out and run.
The Squires have their most wins in a season since 2009 (8-2) and are playing in their first sectional championship game since 2007. It has been 32 years since the Squires brought home a sectional championship.
Fields said this is a standard he hopes this program can get to in the future. However, while his team only has three seniors, this is an opportunity they are embracing each and every second they can.
When asked about playing co-SAC Champion Bishop Luers, Fields’ message is “to play with purpose and intention for the entirety of the contest.” He aid he doesn’t want his team to be “super heroes” but to play to their strengths and believe in each other.
“Ultimately, to beat Luers we have to communicate well, play confidently and consistently execute the fundamentals on both sides of the ball,” said Fields. “Also, energy will matter. If we can enjoy the moment, then we can shock the world.”
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