INDIANAPOLIS — Whiteland came into Friday night trying to establish the run.

Decatur Central’s defensive front made sure that was never going to be easy.

The Hawks played fast and physical up front throughout their 35-0 Mid-State Conference-opening victory over Whiteland, setting the tone early before the offense eventually pulled away.

Elisha Johnson, Jayden Osborn, Malik Campbell and Colton Markus consistently attacked the line of scrimmage, helping Decatur Central slow Whiteland’s run-heavy approach and create opportunities for the rest of the defense.

Campbell came up with a quarterback sack that forced a fourth down, while the Hawks continued to pressure Whiteland and make it difficult for the Warriors to stay on schedule.

The pressure eventually resulted in turnovers as well, with Marquese Starr intercepting the ball after it was deflected.

Decatur Central needed that kind of defensive performance in its first conference game. Whiteland had opportunities early, but the Hawks repeatedly answered with stops. The Warriors also hurt themselves with penalties, including consecutive five-yard penalties on an early possession. Still, Decatur Central’s front made sure Whiteland could not turn its ground game into sustained momentum.

Then Ezekiel Hester stepped into the moment.

The sophomore quarterback is still learning what it means to be the player a program looks to when things get difficult. That education started last December — the moment last year’s seniors graduated and Decatur Central entered a new chapter without its experienced leadership.

“It was just a new chapter for me to step in,” Hester said. “I was really making an impact on the team, and we just kept pushing from there.”

Part of that growth has come from understanding he is not doing it alone. Hester credited former Decatur Central quarterback Bo Polston — now at the college level — with helping shape what leadership should look like. Polston pushed him in the weight room, in class, and on the field, while keeping him focused on the process rather than the moment.

Now Hester is passing that mindset forward to a group still figuring out its identity.

Offensive lineman Jordyn Shanks said that has been part of the challenge this season. Last year, the leadership structure was easy to identify. This year, younger players have had to grow into those responsibilities while the team figures out who it is.

But Shanks said the group’s biggest strength has never been in question.

Several players grew up playing together, and that familiarity has carried into the locker room. The energy is high, the players hold each other accountable, and they keep emphasizing staying together when things do not go their way. Friday gave them a chance to show what that looks like.

Once the defense established control, Hunter Harvey gave the Hawks the offensive production to separate.

The senior running back finished with 147 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored twice on the ground. He added a receiving touchdown, giving him three total touchdowns on the night. Harvey was a factor every time Decatur Central needed a play. He also nearly added another touchdown on special teams when he broke loose on a punt return, but a penalty erased the score.

“He makes one cut and takes off,” Shanks said of Harvey, describing how the senior makes the job easier for the players blocking in front of him.

Harvey was not the only weapon Decatur Central could lean on. TJ Tubbs provided a dependable complement in the backfield, rushing 10 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. His score with 8:40 remaining pushed the Hawks’ advantage to 35-0 and capped the scoring.

Hester completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns while adding 43 rushing yards on 11 carries. He also threw an interception — a reminder that the development is ongoing. For a sophomore making his first varsity start of the season, learning on the fly is part of the assignment.

Hester said the team has had to learn how to handle big moments and has emphasized details and discipline as it continues to mature. That was evident Friday. Decatur Central still had mistakes to clean up, but its ability to respond with physical play kept those mistakes from becoming momentum swings.

Whiteland tried to make the game a physical battle early. Decatur Central’s defensive front kept winning at the line of scrimmage. Once the Hawks began creating pressure and forcing Whiteland into difficult situations, Harvey and the offense took advantage.

The result was Decatur Central’s first shutout of the season and its second consecutive victory. MaxPreps lists the Hawks at 2-1 and Whiteland at 0-3 following Friday’s result.

For Whiteland, the next step is turning early offensive efforts into sustained drives as the Warriors move forward in conference play.

For Decatur Central, Friday provided a much more encouraging picture.

The Hawks showed they can control a game with their defensive front, lean on a senior playmaker like Harvey, and keep developing a sophomore quarterback still growing into everything the role requires.

They also showed that the mistakes and inexperience they have talked about do not have to define them.

They can respond with speed. They can respond with physicality.

And on Friday night, that was enough.

Decatur Central now turns its attention to Martinsville next Friday, carrying a 1-0 conference record into its next test.