Whiteland at Columbus East
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus East 10-1, Whiteland 6-4
Last week: Columbus East beat Martinsville 49-9, Whiteland beat Franklin 34-0
Last year’s meeting: Columbus East won 28-14
Coaches: Bob Gaddis is 287-132 in his 38th year, including 169-32 in his 16th year at East; Darrin Fisher is 148-121 in his 26th year, including 87-49 in his 12th year at Whiteland
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; Whiteland RB Ryan Hammond, RB Edwin Cisneros, WR Evan Hillman, OL T.J. Singh, DL Ryder Emberton, LB Logan Mullinix, LB Ryan Hahn, LB Gared Kleyn
What to watch for: Last year’s win against the Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak to Whiteland for the Olympians, who had fallen 59-22 in the teams’ previous meeting in 2010. Both teams come into the game with a lot of momentum. The Warriors have won six of seven following an 0-3 start. Class 5A No. 4 East has won nine in a row following a loss at Columbus North the second week of the season.
Prediction: Columbus East 42, Whiteland 14
Center Grove Columbus North
Game time: 7 p.m. today
Records: Columbus North 9-1, Center Grove 9-1
Last week: Columbus North beat New Albany 52-6, Center Grove beat Jeffersonville 62-6
Last year’s meeting: Center Grove won 34-7
Coaches: Tim Bless is 125-87 in his 19th year, including 113-78 in his 17th year at North; Eric Moore is 218-60 in his 22nd year, including 170-55 in his 18th year at Center Grove
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; Center Grove QB Jack Kellams, RB Russ Yeast, RB Titus McCoy, RB Triston Clark, OL Clay Hadley, DE Dan Root, LB Bailey Bennett, DB Corbin Laque
What to watch for: These two teams have met in the sectional four of the past five years, with the Trojans winning all four times. Class 6A No. 3 Center Grove has won nine in a row following a season-opening loss to Warren Central, which is now ranked No. 1. The 6A No. 6 Bull Dogs are looking for their first sectional title and first 10-win season since 2007, which is the last year they beat the Trojans.
Prediction: Columbus North 23, Center Grove 20
