Hamilton Southeastern freshman quarterback Deaken Johnson has completed 15 of 27 passes this season for 161 yards. (Joshua Herd)
By CRAIG ADKINS
For the Reporter
No. 9 Avon Orioles (3-2, 1-2 HCC) at No. 9 Fishers Tigers (3-2, 2-1 HCC)
Tomorrow night’s Hoosier Crossroads matchup at Fishers with Avon is the 20th all-time on the football field. There might not be a tighter series as Fishers has 10 wins to Avon’s 9. The Tigers took last year’s meeting, 27-13. Fishers has also won the last four.
The Tigers’ season-opening loss to Carmel (49-24) seemed to motivate Curt Funk’s squad. Fishers won three in a row at Lawrence North (31-28), at Noblesville (42-17) and home for the Mudsock over HSE, 28-16.
Last week, the Tigers got behind early and weren’t able to catch up at Class 6A top-ranked Brownsburg, 42-14.
Avon began its season with an overtime win over defending 5A champ Decatur Central (30-28) and went on the road to handle Ben Davis 35-14.
The Orioles then suffered consecutive losses at HSE (17-14) and at home to No. 1 Brownsburg in a shootout, 55-47. Last week, they grabbed a win at home over Franklin Central, 35-10.
Fishers is led by signal caller Gage Sturgill. The senior has completed 63.4 percent of his passes (59-93) for 948 yards, eight touchdowns and has yet to throw a pick.
Fellow senior receiver Vincent Rozzi has come on strong with 25 receptions for 464 yards and five TDs. Ryan Thembulembu continues to average close to 120 yards per game on the ground with 60 carries that total 479 yards, crossing the goal line seven times.
The Orioles have a similar run-pass mix. Quarterback Jace Cameron throws 65 percent (84-of-129) for 978 yards to go with 10 touchdowns and just one interception.
Andre Warfield has scored eight times while rushing for 512 yards on 71 runs. Shawn Curry has 27 catches for 462 and five TDs.
USA No. 13 Logansport Berries (5-0, 1-0 HC Big) at Hamilton Heights (1-4, 0-1 HC Big)
Tomorrow night, Logansport and Hamilton Heights play for just the second time. This is the second year of the Berries being in the Hoosier Conference.
Last year’s game was all Berries, 41-6.
It’s been four years since Logansport has started 5-0. Wins over Peru (48-0) and South Bend Adams (54-6) put them on notice in Class 4A. Three more convincing wins at Lafayette Central Catholic (49-17), home over Benton Central (61-6) and at Twin Lakes (45-28) have the Berries atop the HC Big School standings.
Bryson Herr has 359 passing yards and nine touchdowns. Elliot Baldini has rushed 67 times for 789 and nine scores.
Heights lost its first two to Lapel (23-7) and at Triton Central (28-13), both ranked 2A opponents. The Huskies’ lone win so far was home to Tippecanoe Valley (35-19).
Single-digit losses the last two weeks to Danville (27-24) and at Western (22-13) have Heights on the cusp of their next win.
Drew Woodruff has completed 56 percent (54-96) for 696 yards and seven TDs. Cam Fleming is his go-to, catching 18 for 283 and four touchdowns. AJ Flanagan has 26 rushes for 125 yards and a TD.
No. 11 Hamilton Southeastern Royals (3-2, 1-2 HCC) at Zionsville Eagles (2-3, 1-2 HCC)
HSE and Zionsville play for the 34th time tomorrow. The Royals lead the series with 24 wins to the Eagles’ nine. Southeastern won last year at home, 25-14.
Zionsville has book-end wins through five games, beating Pike (27-7), but lost three in a row at Lawrence Central (40-30), home to Westfield (27-3) and at Franklin Central (20-16). Last week their streak snapped with a 30-7 win at Noblesville.
Brody Kledzik and Eli Showalter combine for 61 of 131 (46 percent) for 718 yards with just 3 TDs and 6 INTs. Seth Manna has 341 rushing yards and five TDs, while Isaac Tuffnell has 175 receiving yards and two scores.
The Royals started off 3-0 beating Fort Wayne Carroll 14-7, North Central (31-7) and Avon (17-14). Since then, HSE lost at Fishers (28-16) and was edged by Westfield (21-17).
Freshman Deaken Johnson has stepped in as quarterback, throwing 15 of 27 for 161 yards. Kendrick Pennybaker has caught 16 for 337 and two scores. Carter Reed has rushed 88 for 308 and five TDs.
