Staff Reports
Tonight’s matchups:
Whiteland at Columbus East
Game time
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7 p.m.
Last season’s records
East 14-1, Whiteland 2-8
Last year’s meeting
Teams did not meet
Coaches
Bob Gaddis is 304-134 in his 40th year, including 186-34 in his 18th year at East. Darrin Fisher is 150-130 in his 28th year, including 89-58 in his 14th year at Whiteland.
Key players
Columbus East QB Cole Gilley, RB Lance Greiwe, WR Dalton Back, TE Isaac VanCuren, G Jacob Bolte, LB Nash Murphy, LB Julian Greenwell, S Jonah Wichman; Whiteland QB Iyan Pelfree, RB Jake Perry, DL Alex Reed, LB Jacob Schultz, DB Jacob Brown.
What to watch for
The Olympians are the preseason No. 1-ranked team in Class 5A, despite losing 16 of 22 starters from their state championship team. Juniors Gilley and Greiwe are two of the new starters and will lead the East air and ground attack. Perry will be the go-to back for the Warriors, who build everything offensively off running the sweep. Whiteland has three starters returning on the defensive line.
Prediction
Columbus East 42, Whiteland 7
Franklin at Columbus North
Game time
7 p.m.
Last season’s records
Columbus North 9-2, Franklin 1-9
Last year’s meeting
North won 41-0 at Franklin
Coaches
Tim Bless is 134-90 in his 21st year, including 122-81 in his 19th year at North. Chris Coll is 80-52 in his 13th year, including 1-9 in his second year at Franklin.
Key players
Columbus North QB Trenton Kelley, RB Michael Johnson, WR Preston Terrell, TE/DE Mitchel Collier, OT Noah Algee, DE Will Redding, LB Tay Wells, S Jalen Paswater; Franklin QB Drew Byerly, DL George Admire, LB Clayton Coll, LB DeAndre Ward, CB Tyce Miller.
What to watch for
The Bull Dogs open the season ranked No. 9 in the Class 6A Associated Press poll. Kelley heads a group of 10 returning starters for North. Byerly, a junior, has been starting at quarterback for the Grizzly Cubs since midway through his freshman year. Ball State recruit Clayton Coll, the son of coach Chris Coll, made 144 tackles in 10 games last season and leads the Franklin defense.
Prediction
Columbus North 41, Franklin 7
Tonight’s other matchups
Jennings County at Batesville, 7 p.m.
Edinburgh at Brown County, 7 p.m.
North Decatur at South Decatur, 7 p.m.
Indianapolis Tindley at Trinity Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Next week’s matchups
Columbus East at Columbus North, 7 p.m. Aug. 24
Jennings County at Brown County, 7 p.m. Aug. 24
Edinburgh at North Decatur, 7 p.m. Aug. 24
Indiana Deaf at Trinity Lutheran, 7 p.m. Aug. 24
South Decatur at Tri-County, 2 p.m. Aug. 25
