Conference play begins Friday for most teams across the state. For some, it means positioning themselves to make a run at a league title. In tough conferences like the MIC and Hoosier Crossroads, a win Friday could mean more in about eight weeks.

Rivalry week continues, with the always tough battle between Bishop Chatard and Roncalli. The series has been dead even over the last twenty years. The Brebeuf Jesuit and Cardinal Ritter game is sure to be a barn burner.

 

Notable Matchups
Avon vs Hamilton Southeastern
Players to Watch
AVON: QB Brandon Peter, RB Derrick Tennant, DE Joe Belden
HSE: WR Chris Ford, RB Aaron Matio, TE Kyle Schrank
Winner
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN

Fishers vs Noblesville
Players to Watch
NOBLESVILLE: LB Donavan Lynch,
FISHERS: QB Zach Eaton, RB Maurice Campbell, DE Joel Wilcox
Winner
FISHERS

Center Grove vs Carmel
Players to Watch
CG: DE Jovan Swann, RB Titus McCoy, RB Max Norris
CARMEL: ATH Isaac James, RB Shakir Paschall, LB Noah Burks
Winner
CARMEL

wk 3 gow

Key Factors

No.1 Ben Davis: Having a veteran Quarterback in Kyle Castner will give the Giants the edge in this matchup. He’s beaten this Pike team in the regular season every year as a starter. The depth on this team offensively is scary. Junior Chris Evans may be the most dangerous playmaker in the state. He’s dynamic when he has the ball in his hands and that can come a number of ways. Castner has a huge target in Senior Brennan Gillis. He’s a matchup nightmare for defensive backs at 6’6 and how Gillis uses his basketball instincts to make a play on the ball in the air. The Giants defense is rock solid and I can’t foresee them having a melt down when the Red Devils offense takes the field.

No.6 Pike: Senior Quarterback Beau Trudeau shown some moxy leading a late winning drive to beat a very good Fishers team. He has a ton of weapons at his disposal and it’s expected that Pike will score a bunch. In order for them to pull out an upset, the game will likely fall square on the shoulders of Trudeau, again. The Red Devils do have the state’s best duo at the linebacker position in Quintin Moon and Aaron Jones. It’ll be important for the rest of the defense to rally around those guys and try to slow down the Giants offense that averages 520 yards a game.

Winner
BEN DAVIS 35-31
Pike has had the Giants number in playoff games, but in the regular season beating the Giants is a tall order. Especially this season where Ben Davis is the strongest it’s been in years.