By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
1A No. 10 Carroll Cougars (5-2, 4-1 HHC) at Sheridan Blackhawks (5-2, 4-1 HCC)
There is a three-way logjam atop the Hoosier Heartland Conference. Sheridan, Carroll and Eastern all three have one loss.
Eastern has the easy road to at least a share of the HHC with a road game at Clinton Prairie (3-4, 2-3). The winner of Sheridan-Carroll would either share the HHC title or win outright, depending on if the Gophers can upset Eastern.
Sheridan leads the all-time series 10-7, but Carroll has shutout the Blackhawks the last two years, 24-0 in 2023 and 28-0 in 2024.
Carroll got their second blowout win in a row last week at Clinton Prairie, 51-18. Two weeks ago, they beat Clinton Central, 49-8.
The Cougars started 3-1, dominating at Caston (41-6), lost at 3A No. 6 Maconaquah (41-21) and won over Taylor (48-21) and Delphi (45-6).
The Blackhawks had their four-game winning streak snapped last week at Eastern, dropping their first HHC game (47-18).
Hayden Alexander (670 yards), Alex Cravens (545) and Jon Barnes (353) have rushed for 1,568 yards on 178 carries for an 8.8 yard per carry average and 22 touchdowns.
Sheridan plays at Clinton Prairie in a 1A Sectional 46 semifinal on Oct. 31.
Lafayette Central Catholic Knights (2-6) at Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles (4-4)
The Knights and Golden Eagles have met 18 times since Guerin football began in 2006. Central Catholic has won 12 to Guerin’s six. Last season, LCC took a nail-biter in Lafayette, 22-21. Guerin has won five of the last seven meetings.
Last week, Central Catholic snapped a five-game losing streak with a 69-8 win over Benton Central. The Knights’ other win was in Week 2 at Cardinal Ritter, 14-0.
Dru Stapleton and Joey Metzger both see ample time at quarterback. The two are 150 of 252 (59.5 percent) for 1,583 yards with 13 TDs and 11 interceptions. Mason Meister leads LCC in rushing with 441 yards on 96 carries and has four touchdowns. Wyatt Williams is the top receiver with 43 catches for 526 yards and a handful of scores.
After a 3-1 start, Guerin ended its three-game losing skid last week against Culver Academy, 35-21.
It took just five plays to strike first. Jack Linden plunged in from one yard out for 7-0.
Culver Academy tied it 7-7 late in the second. In the final seconds of the first half, Quentin Klee found an open Isaiah Lewis for a 31-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead.
Quentin found sophomore brother Kolbe for a 37-yard TD pass to lead at 21-7.
The Golden Eagles sustained a drive for Linden’s second rushing TD and a 28-7 margin.
Quentin Klee scored in the final seconds of the third for the final score.
Guerin Catholic goes to Hamilton Heights in the first-round of 3A Sectional 29 on Oct. 24.
Zionsville Eagles (3-5, 2-4 HCC) at 6A No. 9 Fishers Tigers (5-3, 4-2 HCC)
Friday is the 20th meeting of the Eagles and Tigers. Fishers has 12 wins to Zionsville’s seven. The Tigers have won four in a row, including last year (30-6).
Last week, the Eagles lost to Avon (14-7) and are 2-5 since they beat Pike in their opener.
Eli Showalter and Brody Kledzik are 93 out of 202 for 1,060 yards with seven TDs and nine INTs.
Seth Manna has seven rushing TDs to go with his 534 yards on 84 rushes. Nic Hoggs, Isaac Tuffnell, Theo Schott, Micah Morris and Ben Harney combine for 69 catches, 896 yards and seven TDs.
Fishers lost 14-7 last week at Westfield. Prior to that, the Tigers had won five of seven.
Gage Sturgill is one of the best QB’s around. He’s got 1,779 yards, 17 TDs and three his first three INTs at Westfield last week. Sturgill also has 208 and two TDs rushing.
Vincent Rozzi has 964 receiving yards and 11 TDs, while Ryan Thembulembu has 635 rushing (nine TDs) and 222 receiving (two TDs).
Fishers visits Noblesville in a 6A Sectional 4 semifinal on Oct. 31.
