Tonight’s matchups:
Columbus East at Jennings County
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus East 2-1 (1-0 HHC), Jennings County 1-2 (0-1 HHC)
Last week’s games: East beat Seymour 44-6, Jennings County lost to New Albany 28-14
Last year’s meeting: East won 36-0 at East
Coaches: Bob Gaddis is 292-134 in his 39th year, including 174-34 in his 17th year at East; Rick Zimmerman is 25-70 in his 10th year at Jennings County
Key players: Columbus East QB Josh Major, RB Jamon Hogan, TE Tyler Thomas, OT Zach Clark, CB Jonah Wichman, S Ethan Summa; Jennings County QB Justin Rennemeier, RB Brooks Wathen, WR Zane Beineke, DT Brady Shepherd, K Dylan Boswell
What to watch for: The Class 5A No. 4 Olympians bounced back from their loss against Columbus North with a lopsided win at Seymour last week. The Panthers’ lone win was a 42-29 victory against Greensburg in Week 2. East, which will look to extend its Hoosier Hills Conference winning streak to 72, has shut out Jennings the past two years.
Prediction: Columbus East 42, Jennings County 10
Columbus North at Franklin Central
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus North 3-0 (1-0 CI), Franklin Central 2-1 (1-0 CI)
Last week’s games: Columbus North beat Bloomington North 49-0, Franklin Central beat Bloomington South 24-21
Last year’s meeting: North won 40-0 at North
Coaches: Tim Bless is 126-88 in his 20th year, including 114-79 in his 18th year at Columbus North; Grant Lewis is 9-14 in his third year at Franklin Central
Key players: Columbus North QB Trenton Kelley, RB Cortez Bandy, WR Jaylen Flemmons, WR Tristan Bailey, WR/CB J.D. Harris, OT/DT Logan Abbott; Franklin Central QB Dylan Bishop, RB Jaylen Brown, WR Austin Benner, LB Mario Coles, K Quinn Ferguson
What to watch for: The Bull Dogs, who moved into the Class 6A rankings at No. 9 this week, will be playing on grass for the first time this season. The Flashes upset Bloomington South last week, snapping the Panthers’ 18-game Conference Indiana winning streak. Franklin Central’s lone loss was a 37-21 setback at 5A No. 1 Roncalli.
Prediction: Columbus North 24, Franklin Central 21
Other area games:
Indian Creek at Brown County, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh at Switzerland County, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Milan, 7 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran at Knightstown, 7 p.m.
Next week’s games:
New Albany at Columbus East, 7 p.m.
Madison at Jennings County, 7 p.m.
Brown County at Southside HomeSchool, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh at South Decatur, 7 p.m.
Springs Valley at Trinity Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Terre Haute South at Columbus North, 7:30 p.m.
