When Columbus East hosts Castle on Friday night, more than a regional football championship will be on the line.
If the Olympians win, they will move to Class 6A for at least the next two years. They already moved up from 4A to 5A because of the IHSAA’s Tournament Success Factor and are one win away from accumulating enough points to move to the state’s largest class.
"It’s a good problem to have," East coach Bob Gaddis said. "It means that you’ve been successful."
The 5A co-No. 3 Olympians (10-2) will face the Knights (7-4) for the first time since Gaddis has been at East. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Before he came to East, Gaddis faced Castle every year during his tenure at Evansville Reitz. The Knights were coached by John Lidy at the time, and one of his former assistants, Doug Hurt, has been the head coach the past 13 years.
"He’s kind of a disciple of John Lidy, who was one of the great coaches in our state," Gaddis said. "When Doug got the job, I think he kind of went back to some of the things John did, particularly defensively. They built their team on defense. Their offense is different than when John was there, but it’s been a great football tradition for a long time."
Castle has used two quarterbacks for most of the season. Junior Nathan Harpenau was the starter early in the year and has completed 81 of 127 passes for 969 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Cameron Justus has started late in the season and is 66 of 116 for 899 yards and 15 scores.
Both Justus, a right-hander, and Harpenau, a left-hander, have played and thrown passes in most games.
"They’re both good players," Gaddis said. "We’re preparing for both of them."
The Knights also have a formidable ground game with senior Noah Taylor. Taylor has carried 156 times for 1,360 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Last week, Taylor carried 24 times for 344 yards and six scores in a 55-34 sectional final win against Terre Haute South.
"He’s a really good player," Gaddis said. "He’s a big guy that’s really fast, a tremendous athlete. They have a tight end who’s a big kid. He’s a big guy who catches a lot of balls for them, and then they spread it out to four other guys. They’re very balanced in their passing and running."
Gaddis said from watching film, Castle has thrown 27 screen passes in the past three games.
"They’re a little bit different than anybody we’ve faced in that they’re going to run the inside and the outside zone with the good back," Gaddis said. "They not only push it downfield, they throw it under a lot. They spread you out."
The Olympians and Knights have one common opponent. East beat New Albany 20-19 in Week 5 and 31-16 the first week of the sectional. Castle lost to New Albany 27-20 in Week 2.
Junior Cole Gilley has completed 114 of 187 passes for 1,929 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Olympians. Sophomore Mark McDonald has carried 186 times for 1,416 yards and 18 scores. Junior Dalton Back has 38 receptions for 639 yards and seven touchdowns, while senior Cody Horner has 24 catches for 562 yards and seven scores.
If East wins, it would either host 5A No. 2 Decatur Central or visit Bloomington South in next week’s semistate. Gaddis said he hasn’t talked about the potential jump to 6A with his team.
"We’d love just to win a regional championship," Gaddis said. "If we can win this one, then we’re still alive, and that’s our goal right now."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: Castle at Columbus East football in regional
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Columbus East High School
Admission: $8
[sc:pullout-text-end]
