INDIANAPOLIS – A rematch of last year’s 6A semi-state competition is up for grabs Week 1 as Hamilton Southeastern hosts Fort Wayne Carroll.
The Royals fell short of making a trip to Lucas Oil last November, losing to the Chargers up in Fort Wayne by a 21-15 score. The Chargers lost to Center Grove in last year’s 6A state championship. Yet coming into the 2023 season, both teams are still locked and loaded – and primed for another deep run into the tournament later this fall.“We have a lot of core players coming back this year and our senior squad has been focused on leadership to bring the younger players up to speed,” Carroll defensive back Braden Steely said. “Our offense is very talented at the skill positions. Our confidence is high and we are looking forward to the challenge against HSE.”Steely, a Western Michigan commit, is one of many returning starters on a team that finished 13-1 last season. Ashton Pesetski, Justin Anderson, Will Jeffries, Ethan Tranquill, and Cameron Lentz are all projected to start and are high-impact players. And, of course, no one can forget about quarterback Jimmy Sullivan – a 6’3, 180-pound junior gunslinger who holds eight FBS offers. Still, the Chargers are under no illusions that they’ll face a tough Hamilton Southeastern squad.“We are reviewing film daily, running through situations in practice and making adjustments as needed.” Steely added. “We plan to be physical, aggressive and make plays on special teams to round out all of our options. We have a great game plan from the coaches that will have us ready on Friday night.”They’ll certainly need that game plan from Coach Doug Dinan and his staff as they take on a 12-1 Hamilton Southeastern team that many observers picked to unseat the Trojans last season, but fell short up in Fort Wayne.
The Royals struggled offensively in their opener v. Lawrence Central but then proceeded to score over 30 points in eight out of their next 10 games in 2022. “One of the biggest strengths of HSE is their run game,” Anderson, a 6’2, 215 outside linebacker, said. “They are a run-first team so they will try and push the ball field which we must stop. Our strengths as a team is we can stretch the field on our offense with our passing and we can cover the pass well.”Two of the reasons Hamilton Southeastern is so potent on offense is offensive tackles Cameron Gorin and Styles Prescod. Gorin is a junior who already holds offers from Ball State, Marshall, Louisville Western Michigan, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan. Prescod is a 6’6, 270-pound offensive lineman who anchors the Royals and could be one of the best prospects the state has produced in recent memory. The Notre Dame commit is eager for a rematch.“I won’t get into specifics but last year they were just more physical than us, so that is something we don’t take lightly,” Prescod said. “As a team they are a well-coached team with good players that play hard. We plan on playing disciplined, tough, physical and relentless football.”Coupled with Gorin and Prescod, the Royals are loaded with offensive playmakers – notably running backs Jalen Alexander and Azariah Wallace, as well as wide receivers Donovan Hamilton and Kameron Anthony – who will pack a heavy punch. “We’ve been watching film and they have an explosive quarterback,” said Hamilton Southeastern cornerback Donovan Rhodes. “We’re focusing on ourselves. We are (close) as a team and everyone’s on the same page from the coaches to the players.”