Columbus East at New Albany
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus East 3-1 (2-0 HHC), New Albany 3-1 (2-0 HHC)
Last week: Columbus East beat Jennings County 36-0, New Albany beat Bedford North Lawrence 35-21
Last year’s meeting: Columbus East won 54-20
Coaches: Bob Gaddis is 280-132 in his 38th year, including 162-32 in his 16th year at East; Sean Coultis is 7-7 in his second year at New Albany
Key players: Columbus East QB Josh Major, RB Jamon Hogan, WR Cam Wilson, OT Jared Clark, C/DL Harry Crider, LB T.C. O’Neal, DB Ethan Summa, DB Wade Forman; New Albany QB Dylan Clark, RB Darquan Richardson, WR Davin Alexander
What to watch for: The Olympians are facing what likely will be their toughest test from a Hoosier Hills Conference opponent. The Bulldogs are averaging 34.0 points a game, second in the conference to East’s 41.8, and are receiving votes in this week’s Associated Press Class 6A poll. New Albany’s Richardson has rushed for 609 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games. East should get a boost from the return of quarterback Josh Major, who has missed the past 2½ games with a concussion.
Prediction: Columbus East 28, New Albany 21
Columbus North at Terre Haute South
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Columbus North 4-0 (2-0 CI), Terre Haute South 0-4 (0-2 CI)
Last week: Columbus North beat Franklin Central 40-0, Terre Haute South lost to Perry Meridian 21-20
Last year’s meeting: Columbus North won 59-13
Coaches: Tim Bless is 120-86 in his 19th year, including 108-77 in his 17th year at North; Tim Herrin is 13-23 in his fourth year at Terre Haute South QB Evan Steppe, RB Keontae’ Smith, LB Ethan Cox
Key players: Columbus North QB Triston Perry, RB Mitchell Burton, OT David Redding, DT Coleman Tennyson, DT Hunter Wolford, LB Tucker Payne, WR/CB J.D. Harris, WR/S Harley Huser; Terre Haute South QB
What to watch for: On paper, this appears to be a mismatch. The Braves are still looking for their first win of the season, while the Bull Dogs are off to their first 4-0 start since 2010. But North, which is ranked No. 5 in this week’s Associated Press Class 6A poll, will have a long bus ride. The last time the Bull Dogs visited Terre Haute South, they got off to a slow start, falling behind 35-14. North rallied to force overtime before falling 43-35.
Prediction: Columbus North 45, Terre Haute South 14
Other area games:
Jennings County at Madison, 7 p.m.
Southside Homeschool at Brown County, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
Next week’s games:
Columbus East at Floyd Central, 7 p.m.
Bedford North Lawrence at Jennings County, 7 p.m.
Brown County at Cloverdale, 7 p.m.
Milan at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
Park Tudor at South Decatur, 7 p.m.
Terre Haute North at Columbus North, 7:30 p.m.
