Columbus North head coach Logan Haston calls out instructions to his players on the first day of football practice Aug. 4 at Columbus North High School.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Columbus North will face a new opponent, and Columbus East will see a familiar foe Friday night when teams across Indiana open the high school football season.
The Bull Dogs, who have opened against Decatur Central the past three years, will host a different Mid-State Conference opponent when Whiteland comes to town. The Olympians will open against Bloomington South for the third consecutive year, this time on the road.
The Whiteland team that North will be facing is coming off a 4-5 season. Two of the Warriors’ losses were to Class 5A state champion Decatur Central, a team the Bull Dogs routed 41-15 to open last season.
“It’s a unique and exciting challenge, something fresh on our schedule,” North coach Logan Haston said. “They’re a very unique scheme, and their defense always flies to the football. They’re a really good team, they’re well coached, and we’re excited for the opportunity.”
Whiteland returns nine starters on both sides of the ball, led by running back-linebacker Jordan Palmer. Senior Jonah Upchurch the new quarterback for the Warriors, who have been a run-heavy team throughout coach Darrin Fisher’s 20 years at the helm.
“They’re very creative with their run schemes,” Haston said. “They do a lot of motions and shifts. We have to stop the run first and foremost, but we can’t fall asleep in the secondary. We have to be disciplined on the back and and read our keys.”
Columbus East head coach Eddie Vogel gives instructions to his players on the first day of football practice Aug. 4 at Columbus East High School.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Meanwhile, East also will have to stop a running attack led by senior Braylen Townsnend, who ran for 2,149 yards and 25 touchdowns for Bloomington South last season. Junior Duncan Combs threw for 1,960 yards and 21 scores.
The Panthers went 8-5 and won a regional title last season before falling to Decatur Central in the semistate. Mo Moriarity, who has had two stints as head coach at Bloomington South and has led the Panthers and Carmel to state championships, is back as offensive coordinator for Bloomington South coach Gabe Johnson.
“I’m sure with coach Mo, they will lean on the running back, but I would assume they’re going to throw the ball pretty well, as well,” East coach Eddie Vogel said. “They have a tight end that’s really good, and I’m sure they have some wideouts, so it will be a challenge for us.”
The Olympians played Whiteland to a stalemate in Friday’s controlled scrimmage.
“It’s always great when you get a chance to go against a quality team like Whiteland and you get to kind of measure where we’re at,” Vogel said. “We have a lot to fix, but I’m happy with the effort we got (Friday), and we’re going to do what we can to get ready for B-South.”
The Bull Dogs scrimmaged at 5A No. 1 New Palestine, the defending 4A state champs and one of the state’s top programs, regardless of class.
“We shook off some of the cobwebs during the scrimmage,” Haston said. “Our guys have been hard at work for a long time now, so they’re itching to get a chance to play somebody else.”
