By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
6A No. 9 Warren Central (5-2) at 6A No. 2 Carmel Greyhounds (6-1)
The two former and soon-to-be once again, Metropolitan Conference rivals are meeting for the 75th time overall on Friday night at Greyhound Stadium. The ‘Hounds hold a 42-30-2 record against the Warriors, including playoff matchups. WC won last year, 32-3.
Warren Central opened with a loss to Center Grove (24-6). The Warriors rattled off five wins in a row at Warsaw (28-14), North Central (49-7), at Lawrence Central (31-21), at Ben Davis (38-23) and against Pike in overtime, 31-28. Last week, their streak ended in a shootout at Lawrence North, 63-48.
Quarterback Jack Quillen has passed for 65.8 percent (73-111) and 1,218 yards with 12 TDs and just two interceptions.
Keyon Thomas is the leading ball carrier with 134 rushes for 887 yards, second in 6A, and has 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Zechariah Wallace has 28 catches for 489 yards and seven TDs, Keysean Williams-Jarrett is just behind with 440 and three scores, while Mykell Tanner has 311 and two TDs.
The Greyhounds are on their second three-game winning streak as we head into Week 8 of the regular season. Aside from a 41-28 setback at Louisville Trinity on Sept. 5, Carmel is rolling in the first season with Kevin Wright back as head coach.
Week 7 saw Carmel easily take down a struggling Ben Davis squad (43-0) in what was probably the most lopsided score in the storied history.
QB Anthony Coellner scored just 21 seconds into the game and the Greyhounds didn’t stop, grabbing a 26-0 lead at halftime. The defense continued the shutout in the second half, while the offense added another 17 for the 43-point rout.
The run game ran over the Giants. Andrew Pemberton ran for 135 on 15 carries. Coellner also had 15 for 74 yards and Ayden Johnson had 53 on 12 runs. Jacob Bellin caught two for 71.
Coellner now has 1,214 passing yards and 15 TDs while passing an efficient 72.6 percent (85-117). Pemberton is sixth in 6A with 657 yards on 83 carries (7.9 average) and seven TDs. Coellner has 411 on 53 runs good for eight TDs and Johnson is a great complement with 357 on 74 rushes, also has seven scores.
Bellin leads with 544 receiving yards on 28 catches and 7 TDs. Dominic Shockley (260), Spencer Sell (195) and Carson Clark (188) provide depth at wide receiver.
1A No. 13 Sheridan Blackhawks (5-1, 4-0 HHC) at 2A No. 13 Eastern Comets (6-1, 3-1 HHC)
Sheridan has a chance to stay in the driver’s seat of the Hoosier Heartland Conference for next week’s matchup at home against the Carroll Cougars. But first, the Blackhawks travel to Eastern.
Friday is the 13th meeting between the two with Sheridan leading with an 8-4 record through the first dozen. Eastern has won two straight over the Blackhawks and three of the last five.
The past two weeks, Eastern dominated at Clinton Central (63-6) and Phalen Academy (67-0). Three weeks ago, the Comets knocked off Carroll at home, 28-27.
The Comets’ Gibson Eagle has 1,108 passing yards, completing 70-128 for 15 TDs and four INTs. Eagle has also ran for 189 and three scores. Isaiah Pickett is the top rusher with 507 on 78 and nine TDs. Bentley Hullinger is the top pass catcher with 476 yards on 21 catches and eight TDs.
Sheridan has won four straight over Clinton Central (40-0), Clinton Prairie (40-6), Taylor (22-13) and Delphi (45-6).
The Blackhawks’s three-headed running back tandem is racking up yards and scoring points. Alex Cravens leads the trio with 522 yards on 63 carries, Hayden Alexander 515 on 44 and Jon Barnes 343 on 52. All three have scored seven touchdowns. The three combine for 159 carries for 1,380 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Jaden Dunbar leads the defense with 48 tackles, including 10 sacks and has 13 quarterback hurries. Brody Heck is tops in the secondary with three INTs and also had a 69-yard punt return TD last week against Delphi.
