Columbus East at New Palestine
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus East 9-1, Martinsville 1-8
Last week: Columbus East beat New Palestine 35-7; Martinsville did not play
Last year’s meeting: Did not play
Coaches: Bob Gaddis is 286-132 in his 38th year, including 168-32 in his 16th year at East; Brad Rose is 8-22 in his third year at Martinsville
Key players: Columbus East QB Josh Major, RB Jamon Hogan, WR Cam Wilson, OT Jared Clark, C/LB Harry Crider, LB T.C. O’Neal, DB Ethan Summa, DB Wade Forman; Martinsville QB Jonathan Collier, RB Ben Balcerak, WR Colton Tribby, WR Eli Tumey, LB Gavin Curtis
What to watch for: The Class 5A No. 4 Olympians are coming off a resounding 35-7 win at 5A No. 2 New Palestine in the first round of the sectional. The Artesians, whose lone win came against Mooresville in Week 8, are a pass-first offense. East and Martinsville have a little familiarity with each other, having met in a preseason scrimmage the past several years.
Prediction: Columbus East 56, Martinsville 7
Columbus North at New Albany
Game time: 7 p.m. today
Records: Columbus North 8-1, New Albany 5-4
Last week: Both teams did not play
Last year’s meeting: Did not play
Coaches: Tim Bless is 124-87 in his 19th year, including 112-78 in his 17th year at North; Sean Coultis is 10-9 in his second year at New Albany
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; New Albany QB Dylan Clark, RB Darquan Richardson, WR Davin Alexander
What to watch for: Class 6A No. 6 North is coming off one of the best regular seasons in school history. New Albany was 5-2 and receiving votes in the 6A poll before dropping its final two regular-season games. Although the teams first met in 1928, they haven’t faced each other since 1984. In Columbus High School’s final game before the split in 1971, it edged New Albany 21-20.
Prediction: Columbus North , New Albany (THIS NEEDS FILLED IN)
Jennings County at Seymour
Game time: 7 p.m. today
Records: Jennings County 1-9, Seymour 7-3
Last week: Jennings County beat Madison 17-7; Seymour beat Silver Creek 24-6
Regular-season meeting: Seymour won 30-19
Coaches: Rick Zimmerman is 24-67 in his ninth year at Jennings County; Josh Shattuck is 32-47 in his eighth year, including 14-28 in his fourth year at Seymour
Key players: Jennings County QB Brock Ernstes, RB Brooks Wathen, WR/DB Tucker Marsh, OL/DL Brady Shepherd; Seymour QB Alan Perry, RB Zach Carpenter, WR Jackson Morris, S Evens Cribs
What to watch for: The Panthers are coming off their first win of the season in last week’s sectional opener. The Owls have won seven in a row following an 0-3 start and are having their best season since 2005. Last week, Seymour beat a Silver Creek team that had beaten the Owls in the season opener. The teams are meeting in the sectional for the first time since 2004.
Prediction: Seymour 21, Jennings County 14
South Decatur at Eastern Greene
Game time: 7 p.m. today
Records: South Decatur 6-3, Eastern Greene 8-2
Last week: South Decatur did not play, Eastern Greene beat Springs Valley 41-7
Last year’s meeting: Eastern Greene won 41-21 in the sectional
Coaches: Tony Bell is 11-8 in his second year at South Decatur; Joey Paradaen is 23-28 in his fifth year, including 21-10 in his third year at Eastern Greene
Key players: South Decatur QB Kordell Meadows, RB Damon Allen, OL/LB Brandon Farr, S Devon Martin; Eastern Greene QB Jeff Graham, RB Caleb Hamilton, LB Levi Southern, DB Deric French
What to watch for: With 2,094 yard on the ground, Allen is one of the state’s leading rushers. The Thunderbirds, who have only been playing football since 2003, have clinched their first winning season. They have been receiving votes in the Class A poll for most of the season, and their only losses are to the top two teams in Class A, Lafayette Central Catholic and Linton.
Prediction: South Decatur 27, Eastern Greene 26
