Kyle Hill (@Coach_Kyle_Hill)

This week’s SWIN Game of the Week will bring Indiana Preps to Evansville Central High School, as the Bears will host the Jasper Wildcats, at the Bear Den, in a matchup of Class 4A and Southern Indiana Athletic Conference teams.  This could also very well serve as a preview of a future Sectional 24 matchup.  Each team comes into the game with a 5-0 record (with Jasper and Vincennes Lincoln joining the SIAC, all games for SIAC teams serve as conference games) on the season.  This game will serve as a key one as the race for the SIAC championship heats up.

Jasper (5-0, 4A # 3 – AP,  # 7 – Coaches), in its first season in the SIAC, has impressed with its solid and steady play offensively.  The Wildcats have also performed quite well defensively, having limited its opponents to under 8 points per game to this point.  The Jasper offense, led by QB Blake Mann and TB Lance Dawkins, key the Wildcats’ ground game.  Quade Popp (Sr., LG) serves as a leader for a very good Jasper offensive line. 

Evansville Central (5-0, 4A # 6 – AP, # 6 – Coaches) has rolled through its first five games, having scored 50+ points in 3 of its games to this point.  Offensively, the Bears have a potent combination of speed, power, and experience.  This has been especially apparent in its ground game.  The Bears, averaging well over 300 rushing yards per game, have three backs (Evans: 454 yards, nearly 10 yards per carry; Boberg: 264 yards, 11 yards per carry; Madison: 297 yards, nearly 8 yards per carry) that key the Bears’ ground attack.  

While the running game of the Bears (understandably) gets a lot of attention, the Bears also have the ability to strike with big plays in the passing game, as Central has three different receivers (Evans, Counts, Johnson) averaging well over 20 yards per catch.

Boberg (33 tackles, 3 Sacks) also serves as a leader for what has been a stout Central defense. 

There are all kinds of individual and unit matchups to watch in this one.  This should be an outstanding game at the Bear Den.  I cannot wait to see how this pivotal Class 4A and SIAC game will play out.