Outside the Huddle is breaking down every area regional matchup scheduled for this Friday.
We dip into Class 3A as Angola (7-5) heads to undefeated Knox (12-0).
TWO STORYLINES
1. A CINDERELLA STORY
When Angola took a 33-28 loss at Eastside to conclude the regular season, many looked at the next week’s showdown with a seven-win Tippecanoe Valley squad as the end of the road for the Hornets in 2025.
Coach Andy Thomas’ team had showed some moxie in the regular season, but had fallen short in close games with Lakeland and Eastside during a 4-5 campaign.
But the licks the Hornets took paid off in the playoffs. After upsetting both Tippecanoe Valley and West Noble, Angola secured its first sectional title in seven years with a dramatic two-point win over Garrett last week.
An average season has turned into a successful one for Angola in a matter of weeks. Can it drum up some magic again in the regional?
2. AN EPIC CAMPAIGN
If you haven’t heard of Myles McLaughlin, you haven’t been paying attention.
The Knox senior quarterback back broke the single-season record for rushing yards in late October with a 469-yard performance against Jimtown. He currently sits at 4,396 yards on the ground and 67 touchdowns. He is two rushing scores shy of breaking the nation’s all-time record for rushing touchdowns in a season, set by Ta McClendon of North Carolina in 2001 and tied by Charlie Spegal of New Palestine in 2017.
It is true that Knox goes as McLaughlin goes. He has only attempted 20 passes all year. But he is averaging nearly 11 yards per rush, and averages of 34 attempts per game.
For his career, McLaughlin has rushed for 11,389 yards and 170 touchdowns.
Just incredible.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
HAWK HASSELMAN, SENIOR, ANGOLA
The do-everything guy for the Hornets. Hasselman leads the team in rushing yards (1,249), rushing touchdowns (16) and receiving touchdowns (five) while being second on the team in tackles. He kicks off, punts and handles extra point and field goal duties as well.
Consider this – Angola has scored 27 total touchdowns this year. Hasselman is responsible for 22 of them – 16 rushing, five receiving, one passing.
MYLES MCLAUGHLIN, SENIOR, KNOX
As mentioned above, Knox is led by McLaughlin. The Redskins rarely throw, but when they do, it’s McLaughlin, meaning he has the ball in his hands on every single play as QB1.
Running out of the zone read scheme, it is up to McLaughlin to give the ball off or pull it and run. More times than not, he runs. It has worked out pretty well as he is averaging a first down per run.
LUCAS LENTZ, SENIOR, ANGOLA
Angola’s best two-way lineman, the All-NECC Big School Offense honoree is a big and tough dude to deal with on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
As a defensive lineman, Lentz is at the point of attack up front. He is tops amongst linemen with 81 tackles to go with five tackles for loss. His play, along with the rest of the first two levels of the Angola defense, will factor large into Friday.
CAIN WEBER, SENIOR, KNOX
Corralling Hasselman will be a big priority for the Redskins. That will heavily involve Weber, who is a fierce pursuer from his linebacker spot. When Weber lines you up and lowers his head for a tackle, you are going down and you are going to feel it.
Weber has 79 tackles and 16 tackles for loss this season, both team highs. He also leads the defense with five sacks.
KEY TO VICTORY – ANGOLA
PLAY KEEPAWAY
Hardly anyone has been able to slow down McLaughlin in his four years as a high school ball carrier, so let’s be clear that Angola isn’t doing it.
The best way to combat a dominant offensive player is to keep the ball away from him. And the best way for the Hornets to do that is to put together long, sustained drives that result in points.
Angola averages 20 points per game. It is going to have to score more than that to have a shot in this game. So not only do the Hornets need to win the time of possession battle, they also need to convert those long drives into touchdowns.
KEY TO VICTORY – KNOX
BURY ANGOLA EARLY
Angola has been incredibly pesky all season long, and has found ways late in games to steal victories. They are 3-0 in games decided by three points or less, all of those coming in Week 8 and beyond.
McLaughlin is going to get his yards. Knox is going to score its points. What the Redskins cannot do is allow Angola to match them on the scoreboard and go into the fourth quarter with this game close.
If you play around with the Hornets, they can sting you late.
See what Blitz did there?
PREDICTION
Coming Friday when Blitz makes his regional picks.
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
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