Tonight’s matchups:
Columbus East at Jeffersonville
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus East 6-1 (5-0 HHC), Jeffersonville 2-5 (2-3 HHC)
Last week’s games: East won 56-3 at Madison, Jeffersonville lost at New Albany 49-35
Last year’s meeting: East won 56-14 at Lucas Oil Stadium
Coaches: Bob Gaddis is 296-134 in his 39th year, including 178-34 in his 17th year at East; Alfonzo Browing is 12-16 in his third year at Jeffersonville
Key players: Columbus East QB Josh Major, RB Jamon Hogan, TE Tyler Thomas, OT Zach Clark, CB Jonah Wichman, S Ethan Summa; Jeffersonville QB Shaun Wimberly, RB Kam Fuller, WR D’Andre Rutherford, WR Jeremiah Thornton, K Seth Scott
What to watch for: The Class 5A No. 4 Olympians can clinch at least a share of their 14th consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference title. East ranks fifth overall in the state and first among 5A teams in scoring average with 50.43 points a game. The Red Devils are led by Fuller, who carried 26 times for 173 and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 54 yards and a score in last week’s loss at New Albany.
Prediction: Columbus East 56, Jeffersonville 13
Columbus North vs. Bloomington South at Lucas Oil Stadium
Game time: 8:15 p.m.
Records: Columbus North 6-1 (4-1 CI), Bloomington South 3-4 (2-3 CI)
Last week’s games: Columbus North beat Perry Meridian 55-7, Bloomington South beat Terre Haute North 30-21
Last year’s meeting: Bloomington South won 42-28 at Bloomington South
Coaches: Tim Bless is 131-89 in his 20th year, including 119-80 in his 18th year at Columbus North; Mo Moriarity is 287-88 in his 32nd year, including 183-47 in his 20th year at Bloomington South
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; Bloomington South QB Gavin Yeskie, RB Kristian Pechac, RB Maveric Thiery, WR Chris Bomba, WR Sean Azcui, DB Phillip King
What to watch for: The Bull Dogs will be playing at Lucas Oil for the first time since Sept. 17, 2011, when they lost to Lawrence Central 42-30. The Panthers, which handed North its only regular-season loss and reached the semistate last season, have been haunted by injuries to Pechac and Bomba this season. Bomba missed the first three games, and Pechac, who was hurt in the opener, just returned last week.
Prediction: Columbus North 35, Bloomington South 21
Other area games:
Jennings County at Floyd Central, 7 p.m.
Owen Valley at Brown County, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh at Wes-Del, 7 p.m.
Oldenburg Academy at South Decatur, 7 p.m.
Indianapolis Shortridge at Trinity Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Next week’s games:
Bedford North Lawrence at Columbus East, 7 p.m.
Columbus North at Southport, 7 p.m.
Jennings County at Jeffersonville, 7 p.m.
WIC placement game at Brown County, 7 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Sheridan, 7:30 p.m.
