By CRAIG ADKINS
For the Reporter
North Central Panthers (2-3) at 6A No. 3 Carmel Greyhounds (4-1)
Carmel is off to its best start since 2021 when they all but cruised through the regular season with an 8-1 record. Their only loss was at home to Center Grove (41-14) before a sectional championship defeat to Brownsburg.
Friday night’s battle on the gridiron will be the 72nd in the all-time series between the Panthers and Greyhounds. Carmel has a 43-28 lead and has won 18 of the last 19. North Central last beat Carmel in 2019 in a thriller, 27-21. Carmel won last year, 48-14.
First-year head coach Collin Coffer has two wins in his first five games. Prior to that, the Panthers had lost 32 consecutive before their season-opening win over Brebeuf Jesuit. NC had lost three straight to Hamilton Southeastern (31-7), Warren Central (49-7) and Lawrence North (55-21) by big margins before last week’s outlasting of Harrison (West Lafayette), 41-28.
Chase Grove passes 60 percent (73-122) for 931 yards, 10 TD and just 2 INTs. Zion Murphy is the leading rusher with 252 yards (7.4 per carry). Tank Averitte had 135 yards and a pair of scores. Grove’s favorite targets are Demetrius Averitte with 336 yards and three TDs. Javen Brooks has 248 receiving yards and a team-leading four touchdowns.
Anthony Coellner has 60 more passing yards than Grove (991) while completing 77 percent of his throws (70-91). Coellner has 11 TDs and five interceptions.
Senior receivers Jacob Bellin (402), Dominic Shockley (260), Spencer Sell (146) and sophomore Carson Clark (185) have combined for 55 catches and 13 TDs.
Andrew Pemberton has emerged as one of the best tailbacks around with 61 carries for 491 yards and five touchdowns.
Noblesville Millers (1-4, 0-3 HCC) at Franklin Central Flashes (3-2, 1-2 HCC)
The Millers head to Franklin Township with hopes of ending their current four-game losing streak and more importantly, halting a four-game streak against the Flashes.
Friday night is the 10th meeting between Noblesville and Franklin Central with FC holding a 6-3 mark. Last year’s game was won by the Flashes, 35-28.
After a season-opening 21-6 win at Mount Vernon (Fortville), the Millers have been edged by Homestead (13-10) and are ultimately searching for an identity on both sides of the football. Hoosier Crossroads Conference losses in the last few weeks to Fishers (42-17), Westfield (41-7) and Zionsville (30-7) have their backs against the wall.
Junior QB Windsor Hutchins is 47 of 69 for 377 yards (68.1 percent) and two TDs. Alfred Alwine leads with 118 yards, but Cody Prater leads with 12 catches.
Noah Shinkle leads the ground game with 73 rushes for 274 yards and five touchdowns.
Starting with wins over Perry Meridian (48-6) and Roncalli (22-15), the Flashes sandwiched a Zionsville win (20-16) with ranked losses at Brownsburg (35-7) and Avon (35-10).
Franklin Central is led by QB Connor Moreland has 861 yards passing for 62 percent and 11 TDs. Nathan Sparks has carried 82 times for 279 yards and a TD. Markell Bailey has 15 catches for 283 and seven scores.
Sheridan Blackhawks (3-1, 2-0 HHC) at 1A No. 13 Taylor Titans (4-1, 2-1 HCC)
Sheridan visits Taylor in the southeastern part of Howard County for the 11th matchup in their history. The Blackhawks won the first nine before Taylor edged out the Titans in the pouring rain last year, 12-11.
Week 1 saw the Hawks come back on the road to defeat Greenwood Christian 32-29, but they were upended in their home opener to Alexandria, 54-14.
After no game three weeks ago with Tri-Central forfeiting its season, Sheridan took it out on Hoosier Heartland Conference rivals Clinton Central (40-0) and Clinton Prairie (40-6) in its last two games.
Junior Hayden Alexander leads a three-headed rushing game with 384 yards on just 23 carries for 16.7 per carry and five TDs. Seniors Alex Cravens (371) and Jon Barnes (292) have combined for 83 carries and 10 touchdowns.
Brody Heck and Jalen Dunbar are tied for the team leader in tackles with 26 each. Dunbar has three sacks and a fumble recovery. Heck and Alexander each have two interceptions.
