Tonight’s matchups:
Bedford North Lawrence at Columbus East
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Bedford North Lawrence 6-3, Columbus East 9-1
Last week’s games: Bedford North Lawrence did not play, East won 63-0 at Seymour
Regular-season meeting: East won 48-24 at East
Coaches: Steve Weber is 148-59 in his 18th year, including 20-30 in his fifth year at Bedford North Lawrence; Bob Gaddis is 299-134 in his 39th year, including 181-34 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 Class 5A No. 2 Olympians will be playing the Stars for the second time in three weeks. Bedford, which hasn’t played since that regular-season finale at East, gave the Olympians by far their closest Hoosier Hills Conference game this season. The Stars led 7-0 after one quarter before East outscored them 28-3 in the second quarter. The Olympians threw the ball only three times, but ran for 487 yards and seven touchdowns, with Hogan accounting for 248 yards and three scores. Ray ran for 144 yards and threw for 159 for Bedford.
Prediction: Columbus East 49, Bedford North Lawrence 14
Jeffersonville Columbus North
Game time: 7 p.m.
Records: Jeffersonville 3-6, Columbus North 8-1
Last week’s games: Both teams were off
Previous meeting: The teams have not met since North won 30-20 in the 2014 sectional
Coaches: Alfonzo Browing is 13-17 in his third year at Jeffersonville; Tim Bless is 133-89 in his 20th year, including 121-80 in his 18th year at Columbus North
Key players: Jeffersonville QB Devaca Parks, RB Kam Fuller, WR D’Andre Rutherford, WR Jeremiah Thornton, K Seth Scott; Columbus North QB Trenton Kelley, RB Cortez Bandy, WR Jaylen Flemmons, WR Tristan Bailey, WR/CB J.D. Harris, OT/DT Logan Abbott
What to watch for: This will be a battle of assistant coaches. Offensive coordinator Jason Perry is filling in for Bless, who was suspended for the rest of the Bull Dogs’ games following a sideline altercation in the regular-season finale at Southport. Browning was ejected in the final seconds of the Red Devils’ regular-season finale against Jennings County and, per IHSAA rules, has to miss this week’s game. Jeffersonville also may be without starting quarterback Shaun Wimberly and running back Kam Fuller, who are injured.
Prediction: Columbus North 63, Jeffersonville 0
Other area games:
Indianapolis Lutheran at South Decatur, 7 p.m.
