Outside the Huddle is breaking down every area semistate matchup scheduled for this Friday as teams vie for a spot in the state championship games over Thanksgiving weekend.
We conclude our semistate primers with the showdown in Class 6A as Westfield (10-2) visits Carroll (9-3).
TWO STORYLINES
1. ON A MISSION
After losing to Brownsburg in the 6A state championship last year and in Week 6 of this season, Westfield is clamoring for another shot at the Bulldogs, who will play Warren Central in the south semistate on Friday.
But first things first, Westfield must handle Carroll on the road. Four years ago, the Shamrocks went to Carroll and earned a 37-14 victory in the regional round. In fact, Westfield has won four-consecutive games against teams from northeast Indiana, the last loss coming in November of 2014 against Snider in the regional round.
2. OFFENSE ON A ROLL
Since Carroll was held without a touchdown in a 9-6 loss to Bishop Dwenger in Week 4, the offense of the Chargers has been darn near impossible to stop.
Coach Doug Dinan’s team is on an eight-game winning streak since that setback while averaging 44.1 points per game. A lot of the credit for the offensive production must go to junior quarterback Gabe Frisinger, who has made tremendous strides from early in the season. During the winning streak, Frisinger has thrown for 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB AIDEN GRABOWSKI, SENIOR, WESTFIELD
Grabowski and sophomore Cooper Melvin split time at quarterback, but Grabowski is the more dangerous runner of the two, having account for a team-best 12 scores on the ground.
Whether it is running or passing, the 5-foot-10 Grabowski must be accounted for. He has thrown for close to 650 yards on the year and rushed for another 550.
RB ASHER WAGONER, JUNIOR, CARROLL
The Chargers aren’t a run-heavy team in the traditional sense. Their leading rusher is Frisinger, while sophomore Jackson Rhodes leads the team in carries by a non-quarterback.
However, Wagoner is Carroll’s short-yardage back. He has only carried the ball 65 times this season, but 14 of those have went for touchdowns. He has at least one score in every game but two, including three last week against Penn when he had just five touches total.
With so much firepower in the pass game, defenses can forget about Wagoner. That can be a grave mistake at times.
DE ALEX ARAMBOLES, SENIOR, WESTFIELD
What an absolute terror.
Aramboles is long and fast, a dangerous combination on the edge of a good defense that’s allowing just 13 points per game playing an all-6A schedule.
For the season, Aramboles has 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, both team highs for the Shamrocks. He also has 66 tackles as he is adept at sealing the edge against the run or an escaping quarterback.
Does Carroll stunt away from Aramboles or go right at him? It’s a matchup to watch on Friday.
DL GAVIN GOLDACKER, JUNIOR, CARROLL
Carroll did a phenomenal job in the trenches last week at Penn, particularly on offense. But the defensive front will need to rise to the occasion this week against Westfield.
Goldacker is a name to watch for the future, as he very well could be a First Team All-SAC player next year as a senior. For now, the 6-4, 250-pound beast will need to shine on Friday, as well as his defensive line mates.
For the season, Goldacker has 42 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. But it is not about production at the point of attack as it is now allowing the offense to gain leverage and run it down your throat. In other words, Carroll’s defensive line needs to get a consistent push. It can’t be knocked off the ball play after play. Goldacker will be a big part of that.
KEY TO VICTORY – WESTFIELD
FORCE TURNOVERS
Since throwing a trio of interceptions in Week 1 against Hamilton Southeastern, Carroll quarterback Gabe Frisinger has thrown 26 touchdowns and five picks. The junior has been very good at protecting the football, but did throw one INT in each of the last two weeks against Penn and Northrop.
Westfield has forced 14 interceptions and forced six fumbles on the year. Those aren’t huge numbers, but even two forced turnovers on Friday could make all the difference in what is expected to be a close game.
Frisinger’s confidence is high, as it should be with his play of late. But can Westfield rattle him with pressure that results in a few ill-timed throws that go the other way?
KEY TO VICTORY – CARROLL
SLING IT
This is a good Westfield defense, but it is by no means a lockdown unit. Carroll has steadily put up monster offensive numbers for the last two months, and if it can continue to do it, it has a great chance of returning to the state championship.
The Chargers have numerous weapons led by Jaidon Vanpelt, but when you factor in Mason Baughman, Harry Scheele and Logan Heath, that’s three seniors and a junior who have plenty of experience and have combined to haul in 25 touchdown receptions on the year.
Carroll isn’t going to win this game being conservative and trying to control the ball on long, sustained drives. Good thing is, the Chargers don’t roll that way anyway.
Attack. Attack. Attack.
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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