Tonight’s matchups:
Bedford North Lawrence at Columbus East
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Bedford North Lawrence 6-2 (4-2 HHC), Columbus East 7-1 (6-0 HHC)
Last week’s games: Bedford North Lawrence beat Madison 49-0, East won 48-7 at Jeffersonville
Last year’s meeting: East won 62-24 at Bedford
Coaches: Steve Weber is 148-58 in his 18th year, including 20-29 in his fifth year at Bedford North Lawrence; Bob Gaddis is 297-134 in his 39th year, including 179-34 in his 17th year at East
Key players: Columbus East QB Josh Major, RB Jamon Hogan, TE Tyler Thomas, OT Zach Clark, CB Jonah Wichman, S Ethan Summa; Bedford North Lawrence QB McCall Ray, RB Wyatt Martin, WR-K Esteban Flores, WR Drew Shoufler, LB Mikey Morales
What to watch for: The Olympians, who moved up to No. 2 in Class 5A this week, can finish unbeaten in the Hoosier Hills Conference for the 11th consecutive season. The Stars were the last HHC team to beat East, a 33-30 decision at Bedford in the final game of the 2006 regular season.
Prediction: Columbus East 49, Bedford North Lawrence 14
Columbus North at Southport
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Columbus North 7-1 (5-1 CI), Southport 5-3 (5-1 CI)
Last week’s games: Columbus North beat Bloomington South 23-0, Southport won 42-7 at Bloomington North
Last year’s meeting: Columbus North won 32-29
Coaches: Brandon Winters is 11-8 in his second year at Southport; Tim Bless is 132-89 in his 20th year, including 120-80 in his 18th year at Columbus North
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; Southport QB Eddie Schott, RB Jalen Caldwell, WR Rashawn Haskins, LB Tim Cassaday, K Hunter Cocherell
What to watch for: This likely will be a battle for second place in Conference Indiana, although the winner does have a slim chance at a share of the title. In Franklin Central would stumble at Terre Haute North, the winner between the Bull Dogs and Cardinals could tie the Flashes for the crown.
Prediction: Columbus North 31, Southport 24
Other area games:
Bedford North Lawrence at Columbus East, 7 p.m.
Columbus North at Southport, 7 p.m.
Jennings County at Jeffersonville, 7 p.m.
South Putnam at Brown County, 7 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Sheridan, 7:30 p.m
Next week’s games (sectional):
Columbus East at Seymour, 7 p.m.
Franklin County at Jennings County, 7 p.m.
Brown County at Greencastle, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
