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« june 2007 |
main
| august 2007 »
july 31, 2007
countdown to kickoff: roncalli
30th of 63 entries
nickname: rebels.
class: 4a.
sectional: 14.
last year’s record: 6-4 overall.
coach: bruce scifres (173-43 at roncalli and overall).
assistant coaches: chris belch, tim puntarelli, mike sahm, ray shelburn, jerre mcmanama, chris strykowski, eddie keller, tommy schembra, don byrne, bob tully, nick himes, john harrington, pat schaub, nick marshall.
returning starters on offense: 3.
returning starters on defense: 7.
top returnees to watch: seniors tyler peterman and jack hawkins. peterman (6-1, 192) is an intense competitor who is a third-year starter at safety. he also helps on offense at receiver and running back. hawkins (6-1, 268) is a standout at defensive end who also is expected to contribute on the offensive line.
top prospect to watch: nate allen. a senior linebacker and tight end, allen (6-2, 224) is a player with excellent speed, hands and strength. “he can do many things,” scifres said.
expected team strengths: team speed is good, and the defense should be solid with “a good core returning.” joining peterman and hawkins as key holdovers are senior linebacker john keevers (6-1, 184) and senior cornerbacks tyler thompson (6-3, 181) and mike shepard (5-9, 176).
questions that must be answered: depth on the offensive and defensive lines are the rebels’ biggest concerns, scifres said. there also is general inexperience on offense. in a run-first attack, senior evan lemasters (5-10, 192) is expected to move to tailback after starting at fullback last season.
program’s all-time leading rusher: joe gillum (1983-85), 4,275 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: chad huck (1974-96), 3,345 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: glen huffman (1982-84), 943 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: dick nalley. a 1973 graduate, nalley was the first all-city and all-state player for the school that opened when he was a freshman in 1969-70. in college at indiana central (now university of indianapolis), he rushed for a career total of 3,559 yards and later made the 1980 u.s. olympic team in the bobsled. others of note include sean schembra, nalley’s nephew who held 16 school records when he graduated in 1998; nate lawrie, a 2000 graduate who went to yale and now is with the nfl’s new orleans saints; and jason werner, the 2004 indiana mr. football.
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countdown to kickoff: eastern hancock
29th of 63 entries
nickname: royals.
class: 1a.
sectional: 38.
last year’s record: 7-6 overall, 3-1 in the white river athletic conference.
coach: kyle johnson (61-43 at eastern hancock and overall).
assistant coaches: mark reddy, scott knight, scott smith, claytno shultz.
returning starters on offense: 3.
returning starters on defense: 5.
top returnees to watch: seniors jensen maroska and gary russell. maroska (6-2, 190) is moving to fullback and linebacker after starting at guard and defensive end last season; he is a good athlete, and johnson expects big things. russell (6-1, 165) is a difference-maker at receiver and safety. both will be third-year starters.
top prospect to watch: jeff cushing. a junior quarterback-defensive back, cushing (6-0, 150) is an excellent passer with big-play potential. “he has a high football iq and will make good choices,” johnson said.
expected team strengths: attitude. after graduating 14 seniors from the ’06 squad, johnson said this group is intent on proving that it can get the job done. with players such as maroska, russell, senior running back-defensive back jacob lowe (6-0, 180), junior running back-defensive back nate hungate (5-8, 145) and junior linebacker jacob roach (6-0, 1900), the coach expects that the royals will succeed.
questions that must be answered: the line positions, both offensively and defensively, have little experience. issues regarding depth also must be addressed.
program’s all-time leading rusher: information not available; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading passer: information not available; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information not available; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: doug peacock. a 1975 graduate, peacock was a south all-star as a defensive lineman and became a three-year letterman at indiana university. he is entering his 14th season as coach at mount vernon (fortville) and has a career coaching record of 110-74 in 17 seasons.
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july 30, 2007
countdown to kickoff: scecina
28th of 63 entries
nickname: crusaders.
class: 1a.
sectional: 37.
last year’s record: 4-6 overall, 2-1 in the indiana crossroads conference.
coach: ott hurrle (97-77 at scecina, 98-86 overall).
assistant coaches: denny davis, rick carrico, tony schmoll, chad canterbury, mike battles, mike kirk, tom branson, tom north, k.c. leffler, vinnie redell, evan knoop, jan clifton.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 4.
top returnee to watch: chris hampton. a senior offensive tackle-defensive tackle, hampton (6-4, 270) is expected to be a two-way anchor. he has good feet, according to hurrle. “if we have success, it will be running behind him,” the coach said.
top prospect to watch: matt catton. a senior guard-linebacker, catton (5-9, 180) was an all-city baseball player in the spring and hurrle expects that success to carry over. “he’s worked hard and been an excellent leader through our summer workouts,” hurrle said.
expected team strengths: the skilled positions look good with senior rb kevin lovell (5-10, 190) leading a capable cast. lovell ran for 1,358 yards last season, and he will be complemented by juniors sean connor (5-11, 175), danny biddle (5-9, 190), jared scaringe (5-8, 170), bret skirvin (5-9, 170) and howe transfer gilberto leija (5-10, 160) as backs and receivers.
questions that must be answered: other than hampton, other spots on both lines must have players step forth. hurrle also looks for a more balanced offense this season with two qbs — senior tim kingsley (6-4, 180) and junior vince kenney (6-3, 190) — showing good ability through the summer.
program’s all-time leading rusher: donald winston (1993-95), 4,423 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: pat adams (1992-94), 2,930 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: brian fields (1989-91), 1,462 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: pete quinn. a 1976 graduate, quinn became a four-year starter at center at purdue and was named to the school’s all-time football team in 1987. he was the boilermakers’ captain as a junior and senior and now is a color commentator for purdue’s football radio network. others of note include dave oberting (1957), mike sullivan (1957) and dan lintner (1969).
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countdown to kickoff: decatur central
27th of 63 entries
nickname: hawks.
class: 5a.
sectional: 7.
last year’s record: 4-6 overall, 3-3 in the mid-state conference.
coach: tim able (33-33 at decatur central, 85-80 overall).
assistant coaches: joe schott, tom blanck, chad schulte, eric schoch, brent dikeman, brian schott, chase lyday, quincy wallace, josh patterson, kevin kavanaugh, brian bulmer.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 8.
top returnees to watch: seniors bob belden and donald jones. belden (6-2, 265) is a versatile lineman who will see time at guard, center and tackle depending on what the hawks need. jones (6-1, 270) is a standout defensive tackle who has quickness, strength and a nose for the ball.
top prospect to watch: creighton harrington. a senior tailback, harrington (6-0, 195) was a part-time starter who rushed for 642 yards and four tds as a junior. “he’s got excellent speed, and he’s ready now,” able said.
expected team strengths: a strong senior class and quality on both offensive and defensive lines are plusses. another projected leader is junior quarterback blake beasley (6-3, 165), who passed for 760 yards and nine tds last fall.
questions that must be answered: senior tyler gladden (6-0, 195) is a solid returnee at linebacker, but three other lb slots must be filled. team speed is good, but the hawks must continue to improve in that area, according to able. building additional depth is another priority.
program’s all-time leading rusher: donnie mccoy (1997-2000), 4,276 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: scott garver (1996-99), 5,278 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: o’neal majors (1984-85), 1,353 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: aaron gibson. a 1995 graduate, gibson excelled at the university of wisconsin and was a first-round choice in the 1999 nfl draft by detroit. he has played with detroit, dallas and chicago; he now is in camp with buffalo.
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july 29, 2007
countdown to kickoff: shelbyville
26th of 63 entries
nickname: golden bears.
class: 4a.
sectional: 15.
last year’s record: 4-6 overall, 4-3 in the hoosier heritage conference.
coach: patrick parks (55-73 at shelbyville and overall).
assistant coaches: scott fitzgerald, eric woodke, eli veech, a.j. martzall, kyle shipp, john hartnett, keith limpus, kyle whitkemper.
returning starters on offense: 7.
returning starters on defense: 4.
top returnee to watch: david brown. a junior wingback, brown (5-9, 200) is strong and fast and motivated for a good season after missing several games following an injury in week 6 last year.
top prospect to watch: patrick ellis. a freshman, elllis (5-10, 175) also is projected as a wingback who will complement brown. “he’s an excellent all-around athlete who is ready to contribute,” parks said.
expected team strengths: the offensive backfield with brown, ellis, senior fullback derek atwood (5-9, 180) and junior quarterback kris skipton (6-1, 150). “derek gained about 1,000 yards, and kris can do things now that he couldn’t do a year ago,” the coach said.
questions that must be answered: the offensive line must show some progress, although it is not a large question. also, the defense will have a youthful look with limited experience. its development is key.
program’s all-time leading rusher: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading passer: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: julius denton. a 1986 graduate, denton was a standout defensive back who also played wide receiver and tailback for the golden bears. as a senior, he led the basketball team to the state finals, then later played basketball and one year of football at baylor. “he’s the best athlete i’ve seen come through in all my years here,” parks said.
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countdown to kickoff: danville
25th of 63 entries
nickname: warriors.
class: 3a.
sectional: 21.
last year’s record: 7-5 overall, 5-2 in the sagamore conference.
coach: terry siddall (7-5 at danville, 43-36 overall).
assistant coaches: l.t. helton, andy cooper, lyle messenger, jim wilson, mark creviston, dick burrows.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 8.
top returnees to watch: seniors colton cooper and karl schoening, both entering fourth year as starters. cooper (6-0, 205), a quarterback, threw for 1,841 yards last season. he also is a capable runner and an oustanding competitor. schoening (6-4, 340) is a big, strong athlete who is a force on the offensive and defensive lines.
top prospect to watch: steve houston. a senior center-defensive end, houston (5-11, 215) is an aggressive player who has made significant strides in the offseason. he’s done the work necessary to become a significant contributor, siddall said.
expected team strengths: experience is a plus with as many as 10 players on each side of the ball who have started at least part time. the passing game is solid with cooper and senior receiver k.c. woods (5-10, 175), who had 64 catches for 1,129 yards and 12 tds last season. “we’ve got 99.9 percent of our offense back,” siddall said.
questions that must be answered: even with the experience, depth is a concern. “we need to stay healthy,” siddall said. the coach also hopes conquer some stumbling blocks in the nonconference and postseason.
program’s all-time leading rusher: jeremy chadwick (1994-96), 4,243 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: colton cooper (2004-present), tba on exact yardage total.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information not available; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: jake powers. a 2003 graduate, powers was the 2002 position award winner at linebacker presented in conjunction with the mr. football program. he is the school's first player to receive a full scholarship to a big ten program (indiana). he was part of the 1999 team that made the school's only state finals appearance.
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july 28, 2007
countdown to kickoff: sheridan
24th of 63 entries
nickname: blackhawks.
class: 1a.
sectional: 36.
last year’s record: 15-0 overall, class a state champions; 6-0 in the hoosier conference.
coach: larry “bud” wright (322-140-2 at sheridan, 323-144-2 overall).
assistant coaches: rob williamson, nick trabant, doug hurlock, matt hewitt, brain millikan, travis wright, brett zachery, andy aldred, perry hume, don chesney, jeff woodcock, rick willoughby, kent remsen, larry hutchens, harvey stapleton.
returning starters on offense: 5.
returning starters on defense: 6.
top returnee to watch: nick zachery. the quarterback-defensive back (6-2, 195) enters his third year as a starter with 3,127 yards rushing and 782 yards passing. wright says he is bigger, stronger and quicker than before, thus poised for another big season.
top prospect to watch: brian hickman. a senior tight end-defensive end, hickman (6-3, 190) was a part-time starter last season. he has gained strength and confidence in the weight room and looks to make a significant impact this season, especially on defense.
expected team strengths: zachery heads a strong group of skill players that also includes classmate carlton summe, who accounted for 487 yards of offense (297 rushing, 190 receiving) last season. wright said he has seven or eight players who could contribute as backs, receivers or defensive backs.
questions that must be answered: seniors nick doty (6-1, 255) and cory paddack (6-4, 315) plus junior dave jessup (6-5, 270) all are two-year starters, but new faces will fill other slots. one could be junior travis paddack (6-0, 250). and depth in that area must be developed, wright said.
program’s all-time leading rusher: brett law (1986-89), 6,864 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: travis delph (1996-98), 2,671 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information not available; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: law. his career rushing total is sixth on the state’s all-time list and he is first in career scoring with 952 points (which was a national record for 12 years and still stands second). his junior year total of 453 points is a state and national record for a single season. he later totaled 1,134 yards and nine tds in four seasons at indiana university. another of note is brad maynard, a wr-db-qb-p-k in high school who became an all-america punter at ball state and is entering his 11th year in the nfl (four with the n.y. giants, startings his seventh year with chicago).
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countdown to kickoff: center grove
23rd of 63 entries
nickname: trojans.
class: 5a.
sectional: 7.
last year’s record: 6-5 overall, 3-4 in the metropolitan interscholastic conference.
coach: eric moore (66-31 at center grove, 114-36 overall).
assistant coaches: brian harbin, ruben deluna, brad timmons, chad daniels, nick kerkoff, andy moore, patrick mallory, troy dice, ryan spoonmoore, john moran, joe siderewicz, john moore, nick lyon, tyler small, marty mills, david bucholz.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 6.
top returnees to watch: nick mongan and jordan luallen. mongan (5-9, 180), a senior strong safety, has good speed and is a playmaker. luallen (6-4, 205), a junior quarterback, is stronger, faster and ready for a big season. “both have excellent work ethic and are excellent leaders,” moore said.
top prospect to watch: senior elliott dutra. a transfer from whiteland, dutra (5-9, 183) is expected to see a multipurpose role with the trojans and could line up at halfback, fullback, wingback and slot receiver. “he gives us another speed guy, and he’s a better receiver than people realize,” moore said. “i hope he has a big impact.”
expected team strengths: speed, strength and experience all are plusses, according to the coach. another is the presence of junior anthony elias (5-11, 218), who has been a standout linebacker and running back. “we’ve got a lot of guys who have played, not only starters but other guys,” he said. “i hope we can play with the strength we’ve shown in the weightroom.”
questions that must be answered: the kicking game (kicking and punting) is a big one following the graduation of all-stater ian mcgarvey, now at ball state. depth on the defensive line and youth in the secondary are other items that could need attention.
program’s all-time leading rusher: jonny zwitt (1998-2000), 4,697 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: bill geiger (1994-96), 2,710 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: kurt casper (1995-97), 1,341 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: aaron halterman. a 2000 graduate, halterman started 35 of 44 games at tight end at indiana university where he made 66 catches for 711 yards. he since has moved to the nfl where he has spent time with practice squads in houston, san diego and the colts, receiving a super bowl ring last season. he signed with miami in the offseason.
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july 27, 2007
countdown to kickoff: southport
22nd of 63 entries
nickname: cardinals.
class: 5a.
sectional: 6.
last year’s record: 0-10 overall, 0-7 in conference indiana.
coach: bill peebles (1-19 at southport and overall).
assistant coaches: russell sumner, gene lezon, tyler weatherford, scott evans, kevin miller, brandon winters, brian dugger, mark stephens, tim ridder, ryan brizindine, steve miller, scott richards.
returning starters on offense: 1.
returning starters on defense: 1.
top returnee to watch: danny greenburg. a senior safety, greenburg (5-10, 190) was the team leader last season in tackles, sacks and interceptions. he has good speed and plays with enthusiasm. “he plays well deep or up close,” peebles said.
top prospects to watch: juniors shawn gibson and julian walker. gibson (5-11, 175) is a smart player who will make good decisions at quarterback. walker (6-0, 170) will start at tailback and cornerback after playing defense only last season. “he’s got speed and vision; he’s a playmaker,” peebles said.
expected team strengths: talent level, particularly in terms of speed, is the best it has been in several years, peebles said. “most of our talent is young, but i think we can surprise some people,” he said.
questions that must be answered: the line play will be critical, and size and depth at those positions are a concern. but peebles is confident the group can be solid, and that will be key to the cardinals’ efforts.
program’s all-time leading rusher: brent strong (1997-99), 3,998 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: steve howell (1998-2000), 4,241 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: todd hottell (1984-85), 812 yards (note: total may be higher; stats from 1982-83 unavailable).
program’s most famous alumnus: marlon fleming. a 1,000-yard rusher as a senior in 1990, fleming helped the cardinals to a semistate appearance. he also was an indianapolis star indiana all-star in basketball and later played that sport at ball state. “people here still talk about how good he was,” peebles said.
comments (0)
countdown to kickoff: cathedral
21st of 63 entries
nickname: cathedral.
class: 4a.
sectional: 14.
last year’s record: 13-2 overall, class 4a state champs.
coach: jim o’hara (39-21 at cathedral, 76-45 overall).
assistant coaches: mic roessler, bill smith, tim barthel, darvell huffman, greg boysaw, justin sharp, terry taphorn, darrick brownlow, mike prior, howard fogel, mark nash, adam barth, frank countryman, lou jorczak, matt ferguson, tim peterson, john o’hara.
returning starters on offense: 6.
returning starters on defense: 7.
top returnees to watch: seniors max davis and pete mattingly. davis (5-10, 220) is the team’s top returning tackler and the “quarterback of the defense” at linebacker. mattingly (6-4, 310) is a veteran of a strong offensive line and o’hara described his leadership as tremendous.
top prospect to watch: andrew pimentel. a senior quarterback, pimental (5-10, 170) is an intelligent player with good speed and a good passer. he missed much of last season with a thigh injury, but o’hara expects him to have a strong season.
expected team strengths: a fast defense that flies to the ball with a group including davis, robert maci, kakpindi jamiru, scott hunt and justin cureton. an offensive line with good size and good athletes. a senior class committed to leading the irish to a strong season.
questions that must be answered: filling holes left by graduates, most notably the running back slot vacated by william stubbs. among those vying for that spot are sophomore nick najem; juniors adam broady, larry steel and gavin mcginley; and seniors nick rich and marty mclinn.
program’s all-time leading rusher: otis shannon (1997-2000), 7,560 yards, a state record.
program’s all-time leading passer: zach fox (1995-97), 2,729 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: a.t. simpson (1994-97), 1,439 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: mark clayton. a 1979 graduate, clayton excelled at the university of louisville before going to the nfl. in the pros, he was chosen to five pro bowls and made 582 receptions for 8,974 yards and 87 tds in 11 seasons (10 with miami, one with green bay). other irish grads in the nfl include john jordan (green bay), moe gardner (atlanta), darrick brownlow (dallas, tampa and washington), blaine bishop (houston/tennessee, philadelphia), mathias kiwanuka (n.y. giants) and jeremy trueblood (tampa bay).
comments (2)
july 26, 2007
countdown to kickoff: speedway
20th of 63 entries
nickname: sparkplugs.
class: 2a.
sectional: 30.
last year’s record: 9-4 overall, 4-2 in the west central conference.
coach: denny pelley (138-53 at speedway, 233-109 overall).
assistant coaches: steve wray, damon hummel, danny masariu, brad pedigo, beau hill, dan maple, chris west, matt williams, tyler carmichael.
returning starters on offense: 3.
returning starters on defense: 5.
top returnees to watch: kyle linville and zach hall. linville (6-1, 170), a junior, was a top receiver who likely will move to quarterback. he also excels in the secondary. hall (6-2, 255) is a senior lineman who is a leader on both sides of the ball.
top prospect to watch: trai jones. a sophomore running back, jones (5-9, 190) is a tough runner who is expected to make a quick impact after a strong finish to last season.
expected team strengths: hall and junior nick may (6-1, 200) head an experienced line, which pelley said is a big plus. team quickness and believing in themselves are other assets.
questions that must be answered: a number of skill people, most notably quarterback-kicker-punter adam walton graduated. that prompts the likely move of linville to qb, but creates an opening at outside receiver. junior jaron avant (5-11, 230) looks set to contribute at fullback and linebacker.
program’s all-time leading rusher: jeff schwimmer (2000-03), 4,688 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: information not available; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading receiver: keith chambers (1991-94), 1,912 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: john dunn. a 1973 graduate, dunn was an outstanding quarterback and linebacker who led the sparkplugs to an unbeaten season as a senior in 1972. the three-sport star also played basketball and baseball at speedway and later basketball at butler.
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countdown to kickoff: cascade
19th of 63 entries
nickname: cadets.
class: 2a.
sectional: 30.
last year’s record: 10-2 overall, 5-1 in the west central conference.
coach: josh hagenow (0-0 at cascade and overall).
assistant coaches: jason thompson, jake jones, don helmick, dan hartmen.
returning starters on offense: 0.
returning starters on defense: 0.
top prospects to watch: conner guthrie and brian williams. guthrie (5-9, 165), a junior quarterback, has shown potential to be a good leader. williams (5-11, 210), a senior lineman, is considered the cadets’ top player up front and likely will play guard on offense and tackle on defense.
expected team strengths: hagenow said the tradition initiated by former coach derek moyers (now at pike) remains alive. “even though we have little varsity experience, the kids believe,” hagenow said.
questions that must be answered: that lack of experience will be a hurdle, but hagenow said enthusiasm is high and the commitment to summer work has been good. joining guthrie and williams as potential key contributors are sophomore fullback jordan young (5-10, 165), senior flanker elliott lane (5-10, 155), senior lineman luke simpson (6-3, 195) and senior linebacker clayton taylor (5-11, 185).
program’s all-time leading rusher: chad middleton (1991-94), 3,214.
program’s all-time leading passer: taylor long (2000-03), 5,973 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: jake daugherty (2003-06), 2,216.
program’s most famous alumnus: jacob simpson. a south all-star in 2004, simpson shares the state record for receptions in a game with 17 in a sectional game against tri-west. he also set wcc single-season records for catches (73), receiving yards (1,032) and td receptions (14) as a senior.
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july 25, 2007
countdown to kickoff: tech
18th of 63 entries
nickname: titans.
class: 5a.
sectional: 6.
last year’s record: 7-4 overall, 4-2 in the indianapolis public schools athletic conference.
coach: arnold mickens (0-0 at tech, 1-1 overall).
assistant coaches: robert young, mike mundy, ron scruggins, keith young, art laker, larry johnson, rob wynkoop, eddie bann.
returning starters on offense: 3.
returning starters on defense: 7.
top returnees to watch: matt green and curtis king. green (6-2, 305), a senior offensive tackle, will be a third-year starter and has solid technique. king (5-9, 170), a junior safety, is an athletic player with ability to contribute on offense and on returns.
top prospect to watch: george nelson. a junior, nelson (5-8, 190) is extremely strong and looks to be a go-to running back after impressive showings throughout summer workouts.
expected team strengths: the defense looks to be solid with king, senior outside linebacker jeremy wallace (6-0, 230) and senior defensive tackle carl manuel (6-1, 255) heading the holdovers. wallace drew praise for his aggressiveness.
questions that must be answered: with cedric lloyd resigning as coach just 11 days before the start of official practice, the first priority is to determine who will be appointed as interim coach. titans athletic director frank craig said he hopes to have that resolved by friday. the next item is determining who will play quarterback, where junior leo lee (6-0, 180) and sophomore luke pepelmeier (5-8, 165) are vying for the position.
program’s all-time leading rusher: information not available; will be updated if possible.
program’s all-time leading passer: information not available; will be updated if possible.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information not available; will be updated if possible.
program’s most famous alumnus: enoch demar. the 1998 graduate was a three-time all-big ten selection as an offensive lineman at indiana university. he then played in the nfl with the cleveland browns.
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countdown to kickoff: carmel
17th of 63 entries
nickname: greyhounds.
class: 5a.
sectional: 4.
last year’s record: 12-3 overall, class 5a state runner-up; 6-1 in the metropolitan interscholastic conference.
coach: mo moriarity (19-8 at carmel, 202-50 overall).
assistant coaches: rob holman, john hebert, gabe johnson, vic martin, shawn hogan, jed richman, brian spilbeler, wes page, sid swartzendruber, pete o’hara, jim mckenzie, andrew byers, toby steele, mike meyer, aaron bosket.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 5.
top returnee to watch: aaron king. the senior running back (5-10, 190) rushed for 2,382 yards and 38 tds last season and already is the school’s career leading rusher. moriarity said king is very strong, very competitive and someone who gets the job done on the field.
top prospect to watch: brooks michel. a junior offensive tackle, michel (6-6, 275) teams with louisville recruit ryan barnes (6-7, 295) to give the greyhounds a pair of solid bookends on the line. “he’s grown, and he’s worked very hard since last year,” moriarity said of michel.
expected team strengths: experience is a huge plus, what with king, barnes, purdue-bound receiver jordan brewer (6-5, 215), junior quarterback morgan newton (6-3, 205) and senior linebacker connor o’banion 6-1, 215) among the returnees. “we feel like we’ve got a number of good players,” moriarity said. “now that we’re in our third year, we also feel good about our staff. we’re far ahead of where we’ve been.”
questions that must be answered: six graduated from the ’06 secondary, although juniors joe rippe (6-1, 170) and scott dehnke (6-0, 180) should anchor this year’s group after getting playing time in the latter part of last season. moriarity also wondered how the senior class will step up in intangible categories.
program’s all-time leading rusher: aaron king (2005-present), 3,516 yards entering 2007.
program’s all-time leading passer: mark herrmann (1975-76), 4,327 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: jason williams (1992-94), 1,684 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: herrmann. a 1977 graduate, herrmann became an all-america quarterback at purdue where he threw for a then records of 9,946 yards and 71 touchdowns. he then played 11 years in the nfl, passing for 4,015 yards and 16 tds with denver, the colts, san diego and los angeles rams. another alumnus to make the nfl is ol matt elliott, who was tagged as “mr. irrelevant” as the last player picked in the 1992 draft. he played one year with washington (1992) and three with carolina (1995-97).
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july 24, 2007
countdown to kickoff: triton central
16th of 63 entries
nickname: tigers.
class: 2a.
sectional: 29.
last year’s record: 9-1 overall, 5-0 in the mid-indiana football conference.
coach: rob robertson (27-24 at triton cnetral and overall).
assistant coaches: bobby thompson, eric fink, nick roudebush, brian moline, eric anderson, keith turner, adam turner.
returning starters on offense: 3.
returning starters on defense: 5.
top returnee to watch: jacob beaty. the senior defensive tackle-offensive guard (5-11, 195) is one of the team’s fastest players and highly intelligent. he was a class 2a underclass all-state selection last season.
top prospects to watch: jordan martin and garret pritt, both juniors. martin (6-0, 180), a quarterback, is a good passer and agile runner who should help make the offense more versatile. pritt (6-3, 205) is an explosive athlete who will be a threat as a runner, receiver and linebacker.
expected team strengths: intelligence is a strong suit with beaty and senior adam persinger (6-0, 200) tied for the no. 1 academic ranking in their calss. persinger will start at safety and be a multipurpose player on offense, playing wing, wideout and some quarterback, after starting at qb the past two seasons. the tigers also have increased size this season.
questions that must be answered: robertson said his team is solid through 11 on both sides of the ball, but depth is a concern. whether mifc play adquately prepares the tigers for the postseason could be another issue.
program’s all-time leading rusher: thad mcclusky (1994-97), 4,193 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: keith ducker (1986-88), 3,367 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: josh mccurdy (2000-03), 1,423 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: aaron warnecke. a 1993 graduate, warnecke — who passed for 1,767 yards as a two-year quarterback for the tigers — went to to indiana university as a walk-on but ended up starting three years as a safety or linebacker.
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countdown to kickoff: brownsburg
15th of 63 entries
nickname: bulldogs.
class: 5a.
sectional: 6.
last year’s record: 3-7 overall, 3-6 in the hoosier crossroads conference.
coach: brett comer (3-7 at brownsburg and overall).
assistant coaches: chad neal, justin pelley, jason wilburn, ken schnepp, jason johnson, joe fredwell, justin armstrong, rick thompson, john kruggel, tom robbins, bryan neese.
returning starters on offense: 7.
returning starters on defense: 8.
top returnee to watch: jayme comer. senior linebacker (6-2, 220) — son of the coach — has size, speed and likes to hit people. that combination has made him the bulldogs’ defensive mvp the past two years and drawn multiple scholarship offers already.
top prospect to watch: chris jones, a move-in from midland, mich., should make an impact on the offensive and defensive lines. the junior ot-dt (6-1, 260) has shown strength in the weightroom, solid skills on the field and a good understanding of the game.
expected team strengths: experience is a plus with four three-year starters in jayme comer, linebacker jacob carlson (6-2, 190), center michael shepherd (6-0, 255) and offensive tackle trevor talbott (6-6, 330). improved team strength and enhanced depth with a large senior class are other positives.
questions that must be answered: the bulldogs are relatively untested at skill spots, including quarterback where junior brad hollen is being pushed by sneior jon luellen. the defense also allowed too many big plays in ’06, so that is an area that must be resolved.
program’s all-time leading rusher: scott garrard (1998-2000), 2,669 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: dan gatlin (1984-85), 4,013 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: brock smith (1995-97), 1,649 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: scott wells, who caught a hail mary pass for the winning score of the class 4a state championship game in 1985. a video of wells' catch and ensuing celebratory pileup were featured not long after on “late night with david letterman.”
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july 23, 2007
countdown to kickoff: tri-west
14th of 63 entries
nickname: bruins.
class: 2a.
sectional: 30.
last year’s record: 3-7 overall, 2-5 in the sagamore conference.
coach: chris coll (3-7 at tri-west and overall).
assistant coaches: rodney farmer, dave hobaugh, jason ward, mike boatman, tom boles, chris volz, tony hiland, matt simmerman.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 3.
top returnees to watch: seniors taylor goode and josh peterman. goode (5-9, 170), will play receiver and running back and should be one of the most explosive players in 2a, according to coll. peterman (5-10, 205) is an intense, physical linebacker who also should help on offense, either at guard or fullback.
top prospects to watch: junior jake allen and sophomore john frederick. allen (6-4, 195) and frederick (5-9, 160) are in competition for quarterback duties, and coll calls it a “no-lose situation” because both are quality players. whoever isn’t the qb is expected to make an impact in the secondary.
expected team strengths: energy and intensity are traits in which the bruins should excel, coll said. he added that the team has worked very hard and is signficantly stronger, although he still wants improvement in that area. “we want to get after people for four quarters,” he said.
questions that must be answered: size is a concern, and the squad must get better with its line play on both sides of the ball. that is particularly true in run blocking, where team goals were not met.
program’s all-time leading rusher: david catt (1992-95), 4,316 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: tyler bruce (2003-06), 8,193 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: chris rutherford (2002-05), 3,009 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: p.k. williams, a 1986 graduate who was a three-time all-state player at wide receiver and a former state record holder with 177 career receptions (for 2,884 yards), a mark that stood for 15 years. another notable player was volz, a 1998 graduate who became a standout defensive back at the university of indianapolis.
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countdown to kickoff: brebeuf jesuit
13th of 63 entries
nickname: braves.
class: 3a.
sectional: 21.
last year’s record: 3-7 overall.
coach: ryan gallogly (0-0 at brebeuf, 30-16 overall).
assistant coaches: bryan nemec, ted hampton, brian grismore, steve underhill, andre anderson, jeff cardinal, joe dayan, bill schroeder.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 5.
top returnee to watch: charlie scheller. the senior defensive end-tight end (6-1, 220) is physical, has experience and is a good leader. he will be a key player as the braves transition to new schemes on both sides of the ball — a pass-oriented spread attack on offense and a 4-3 alignment on defense.
top prospects to watch: sophomores evan kroot, michael white and tommy green. kroot (5-11, 170), a running back, shows good speed and vision, giving him an ability to get to the corner or find cutback lanes. white (6-1, 250) has an excellent combination of size, speed and strength and figures to be a two-way lineman. green (6-0, 185) is a hitter who is expected to make an impact at linebacker.
expected team strengths: team intelligence and the desire for improvement. “no one was satisfied with last season, so the attitude is very good,” gallogly said. “the players are quick to pick things up.”
questions that must be answered: gallagly said the team needs to be more physical across the board and better at finishing games. “in looking at video from last season, we were in a number of games late and couldn’t finish,” he said. “but as we grow, we can be very good.”
program’s all-time leading rusher: mario swope (2002-05), 4,598 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: aidan fitzgerald (2001-04), yardage total not available.
program’s all-time leading receiver: not available; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: jim marten. a 2002 graduate, marten excelled on the offensive line at boston college before being chosen in the third round of the 2007 draft by the dallas cowboys.
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july 22, 2007
countdown to kickoff: warren central
12th of 63 entries
nickname: warriors.
class: 5a.
sectional: 5.
last year’s record: 15-0 overall, class 5a state champs; 7-0 in the metropolitan interscholastic conference.
coach: steve tutsie (15-0 at warren central and overall).
assistant coaches: kyle akers, scott marsh, justin dixson, brad rose, eric mattingly, chris price, cory clark, kyle enright, angelo muhammad, brett cooper, antoine wynne, adam sherman, ryan green, larry page, henry jordan, sam williams, adam nelson, a.j. riggs, matt apple, larry willen, keith jackson, whamond edmond, will bumphus, craig hawks, kevin humphrey, bruce dunston, dave rhodes, josh true, brian clarke.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 4.
top returnee to watch: jewell hampton. the senior running back (5-9, 205) played in the shadow of indianapolis star indiana mr. football darren evans last season, but tutsie said hampton is strong, fast and “ready to be the man.” he netted 508 yards and four tds on 49 carries in 2006.
top prospect to watch: logan worley. a senior quarterback, worley (5-8, 170) has guided the warriors’ jv to undefeated records the past two seasons. “he’s athletic, he can throw and most of all, he is tough,” tutsie said.
expected team strengths: the running game again will be a staple, with hampton, junior eric williams (6-1, 195, who sat out last season after transferring from fort wayne snider) and junior george cheeseborough (5-8, 175) all expected to be big-play threats. a defense intent on stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback also should factor in a big way.
questions that must be answered: last year’s senior-laden squad made the ’06 warriors virtually invincible, but depth must be developed this season. experience is another area that needs time, but tutsie is hopeful that team speed — which the warriors have in abundance — will overcome any miscues.
program’s all-time leading rusher: darren evans (2004-06), 7,220 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: jeff george (1983-85), 8,126 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: lance scheib (1983-84), 1,804 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: george. a record-setting high school qb, george led the warriors to state titles in 1984 and 1985. he went on to play at a year at purdue and two at illinois before being chosen first overall in the 1990 nfl draft. he has passed for 27,602 career yards and 154 tds with the colts, atlanta, oakland, minnesota and washington. other warren grads who have played in the nfl include jamie asher (te, washington), justin smith (lb, st. louis, chicago) and justin beriault (db, dallas).
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countdown to kickoff: broad ripple
11th of 63 entries
nickname: rockets.
class: 4a.
sectional: 13.
last year’s record: 3-7 overall, 3-3 in the indianapolis public schools athletic conference.
coach: bob ashworth (3-7 at broad ripple, 127-69 overall).
assistant coaches: kenneth berry, cleveland witherspoon, rodney lett, marcus moorman, demarcus carter.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 4.
top returnee to watch: dwayne donigan. senior running back (5-7, 175) is a strong, shifty, fast runner with a low center of gravity. he rushed for 813 yards last season and has more than 2,300 yards in three years.
top prospect to watch: james taylor. a junior receiver-defensive back, taylro (6-0, 165) transferred from arlington last year and did not play. he has excellent speed and fits well with the plan of attack.
expected team strengths: in a word, speed. senior receiver tony williams (5-11, 170), donigan and junior wingback darell harvey (5-10, 160) placed 1-2-3 of 370 campers in a speed contest at a colts-sponsored camp. sophomore fullback martell baker (6-2, 205) is another key. a full offseason of preparation also is a plus.
questions that must be answered: can the rockets stop anybody? considering they allowed 30 or more points in eight games last year, including 70 in the sectional to north central, upgrading the defense is priority 1. “that will be our emphasis,” ashworth said.
program’s all-time leading rusher: charles miles (1985-88), 2,761 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: kenny sanders (1996-99), 7,808 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: rosevelt colvin. a 1995 graduate, colvin became a star at purdue and was chosen in the fourth round of the 1999 draft by chicago. played four seasons with the bears before four more with the patriots, helping the team win super bowl xxxiv. other rockets who made the nfl include stacey toran (1980), who played five years the los angeles raiders before being killed in a car crash in august 1989, and randy minniear (1962), who played five years with the new york giants and cleveland browns.
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july 21, 2007
countdown to kickoff: washington
10th of 63 entries
nickname: continentals.
class: 2a.
sectional: 29.
last year’s record: 0-10 overall, 0-6 in the indianapolis public schools athletic conference.
coach: jim boswell (0-10 at washington, 57-86 overall).
assistant coaches: joe purichia, jeff lakin.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 4.
top returnees to watch: calvin williams and frank guerrero. williams, a junior quarterback-defensive back (5-10, 165), has good athletic ability and can throw. guerrero, a senior center-linebacker (6-1, 230), figures to be a two-way leader.
top prospect to watch: joe white. the freshman tailback-defensive back (5-10, 165) has excellent speed and is expected to contribute quickly.
expected team strengths: a second season in boswell’s system should allow for progress, and the coach is pleased with how the feeder program is developing. speed also should be a plus, as should the drop to class 2a.
questions that must be answered: participation numbers are a concern, but boswell said once the team experiences some success — not measured solely by wins and losses — that more players will come out. a key is confidence, which boswell also hopes to improve.
program’s all-time leading rusher: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading passer: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s all-time leading receiver: information unavailable; will be updated.
program’s most famous alumnus: boris “babe” dimancheff. the 1940 graduate was an all-city performer who played two years at butler before becoming an all-american at purdue. he then played seven years in the nfl, helping the chicago cardinals to the 1947 league championship, before a long coaching career, mostly at the pro level. dimancheff was inducted into the indiana football hall of fame earlier this year.
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countdown to kickoff: bishop chatard
ninth of 63 entries
nickname: trojans.
class: 3a.
sectional: 22.
last year’s record: 14-1 overall, class 3a state champs.
coach: vince lorenzano (51-8 at chatard, 110-75 overall).
assistant coaches: chris toner, jim pappas, charlie vannice, glenn bill, nate vannice, kevin jennings, kevin shine, ken harden.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 7.
top returnee to watch: zach martin. the junior defensive end (6-5, 265) is someone who is strong, swift and smart. “he’s one of those guys who comes along once every five or six years,” lorenzano said.
top prospect to watch: ari pappas. the sophomore running back (5-11, 185) is a player with good speed and toughness. he figures to be a contributor in the backfield.
expected team strengths: the defense, led by martin, noseguard graham wilkerson (6-0, 210) and linebackers mike dum (6-2, 205) and john dury (6-2, 215), should be a cornerstone. returning quarterback rob doyle (6-0, 195) completed 66-of-121 passes for 1,115 yards and 15 tds, so the offense may open up some to take advantage of his ability.
program’s all-time leading rusher: joe holland (2003-06), 5,265 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: bill lynch (1969-71), 4,257 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: kyle conner (1993-95), 1,498 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: cap boso. a two-way standout for the trojans, boso played at the university of illinois. he then went to the nfl where he had 54 receptions for 591 yards and four tds in six seasons, one with the st. louis cardinals (1986) and five with the chicago bears (1987-91).
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july 20, 2007
countdown to kickoff: western boone
eighth of 63 entries
nickname: stars.
class: 3a.
sectional: 21.
last year’s record: 4-7 overall, 2-5 in the sagamore conference.
coach: jeff pearson (132-117 at webo and overall).
assistant coaches: dan kiger, ronnie robinson, joe busald, travis brunes, sam pursel, danny pierce, tab greenle.
returning starters on offense: 2.
returning starters on defense: 2.
top returnee to watch: drew pearson. son of the coach, the senior quarterback-defensive back (5-10, 160) is athletic and enters his fourth season as a starter. coach pearson said it will be important for him to become a solid leader considering the team’s overall inexperience.
top prospect to watch: senior travis wright (6-2, 210) figures to be a key contributor as a fullback and linebacker after spending last season as a jv player and varsity backup. “he’s a north-south runner,” coach pearson said.
expected team strengths: coachability is a positive. pearson said this group works hard, listens well and could end up surprising people. with its season opener against sheridan, he said the stars will grow in a hurry.
questions that must be answered: depth in the offensive line and depth at linebacker are two areas that the staff has worked to develop. “we’re looking for kids to step up,” pearson said.
program’s all-time leading rusher: travis hollingsworth (1987-90), 5,862 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: david mcclain (1985-88), 5,317 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: troy martin (1985-88), 2,643 yards.
program’s most famous alumni: hollingsworth, who is 22nd on the state’s career rushing list and sixth on the all-time scoring list with 664 points. mcclain and martin are other candidates after leading the stars to the 1988 class 2a state championship, mcclain winning the phil n. eskew mental attitude award.
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countdown to kickoff: ben davis
seventh of 63 entries
nickname: giants.
class: 5a.
sectional: 6.
last year’s record: 9-4 overall, 4-3 in the metropolitan interscholastic conference.
coach: mike kirschner (0-0 at ben davis, 14-26 overall).
assistant coaches: jason simmons, justin faires, jeff jones, brock vanderbush, eddie brown, chad mccarthy, mark bruce, tom meeker, brent ritchotte, ron barnes, mike davidson, pete riordan.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 4.
top returnee to watch: marqueis gray. the senior quarterback (6-4, 205) is rated as one of the nation’s top prospects at his position by student sports magazine. “his overall athletic talent, and his ability to run or throw sets him apart,” kirschner said. gray completed 73-of-140 passes for 1,113 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior despite missing two games. he also rushed for 603 yards and seven tds.
top prospect to watch: dominick taylor. the senior tight end-defensive end (6-2, 210) is fast, strong and skilled. fans may notice him more on defensive, but his hands will make him a capable target on offense.
expected team strengths: speed, with players such as gray, receiver tandon doss (6-3, 185), receiver lavarus williams (6-0, 185), defensive back rapheal williams (5-9, 180) and linebacker demario owens (5-10, 185).
questions that must be answered: “we have to find out how tough we are, how we’ll respond when we get hit in the mouth,” kirschner said.
program’s all-time leading rusher: jesse avant (1996-98), 4,272 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: james banks (1999-2001), 5,074 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: scott mcgowan (1986-88), 1,991 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: corey harris. he led ben davis to the 1987 class 5a state title as a star running back, then played collegiately at vanderbilt where he amassed 2,690 yards and 13 tds (1,486 yards, 6 tds rushing; 1,204 yards, 7 tds receiving). he went on to play more than a decade in the nfl as a defensive back with houston, green bay, seattle, miami, baltimore and detroit, winning a super bowl with the ravens in 2001.
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july 19, 2007
countdown to kickoff: westfield
sixth of 63 entries
nickname: shamrocks.
class: 4a.
sectional: 13.
last year’s record: 4-7 overall, 3-6 in the hoosier crossroads conference.
coach: bo belden (21-52 at westfield and overall).
assistant coaches: chris kuhn, matt kettlebar, russell kooi, sam murphy, joe snyder, gary compton, jason fekete, eric pilkington, will hoppenrath.
returning starters on offense: 7.
returning starters on defense: 9.
top returnees to watch: seniors andrew black and rich bray. black (6-1, 290), an offensive guard, is a tremendous athlete for his size; he runs well and is explosive. bray (6-1, 220), a linebacker, is a smart, physical player who is old-school in his approach. black could see some time on defense, and bray could play some running back.
expected team strengths: team unity will be a plus, what with 35 seniors on the '07 roster. “this is a special group; they were undefeated as freshmen in the conference, and it’s the first group i’ve had that’s had winning seasons all the way through since the seventh grade,” belden said.
questions that must be answered: running back is a spot where someone needs to emerge. belden also is trying to determine whether the shamrocks can utilize a full two-platoon system. “we hope to decide on that by the end of the first week of (official) practice,” he said.
program’s all-time leading rusher: brandon haughey (1996-99) , 4,437 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: ben carnes (1998-2001), 3,781 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: chris roberts (1978-81), 1,887 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: haughey, who completed his career with the shamrocks as the school’s career leader in rushing and scoring. he also was second in career interceptions and fourth in career receiving yards. he went on to play at the university of st. francis.
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countdown to kickoff: beech grove
fifth of 63 entries
nickname: hornets.
class: 3a.
sectional: 22.
last year’s record: 2-9 overall, 0-3 in the indiana crossroads conference.
coach: dave coudret (2-19 at beech grove, 49-93 overall).
assistant coaches: jim cross, dan bender, mike renfro, maurice gunn, kyle brown, ron louzon, randy degolyer.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 7.
top returnees to watch: senior offensive tackle spencer stonerock and senior receiver david sanders. stonerock (5-10, 185) is a high-intensity guy, while sanders (5-9, 145) has no fear, coudret said. he’ll go for the football no matter where it is.
top prospects to watch: running back kyle cruz and linebacker cody crook. cruz (5-9, 165), a sophomore, brings excellent speed and stands out when he touches the ball. crook (6-1, 195), a junior, began last season on the jv but moved to the varsity by season’s end. “he was too good to keep off the field,” coudret said.
expected team strengths: experience and leadership; 17 seniors make this the hornets' largest senior class in several years. special teams also should be solid, with senior kicker-punter matt stewart returning to anchor them. he’s averaged 34.5 yards per punt over two seasons.
questions that must be answered: the hornets ended a 27-game losing streak last season, so the question for ’07 is how well will they jell. coudret is confident that this group can be much improved.
program’s all-time leading rusher: brandon hicks (1998-2001), 3,377 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: mike renfro (1991-94), 3,120 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: mike hathaway (1986-89), 1,454 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: renfro. he was a standout quarterback-linebacker who played in the 1995 indiana north-south all-star classic.
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july 18, 2007
countdown to kickoff: whiteland
fourth of 63 entries
nickname: warriors.
class: 4a.
sectional: 14.
last year’s record: 10-3 overall, 4-2 in the mid-state conference.
coach: darrin fisher (15-10 at whiteland, 76-82 overall).
assistant coaches: dan rector, todd croy, dan engel, len scotten, mike wynn, dave thompson, steve spinks, arnie kesling, blake mayfield, chris engel, travis thomas.
returning starters on offense: 4.
returning starters on defense: 5.
top returnee to watch: mitch meador. junior middle linebacker has ability to make a lot of plays. he can go sideline to sideline. his presence allows the team’s defensive line to do more things.
top prospect to watch: luke harris. junior running back is fast, strong and athletic. he is moving up from the junior varsity and will have the opportunity to make things happen.
expected team strengths: speed and work ethic. as a group, fisher said this group runs and hits as well as any he has had. in addition, the team plays hard and with an intensity. last year’s success has carried over in this way.
questions that must be answered: varsity inexperience. talent level is good but unproven, especially on defense. participating in a team camp at indiana university was a help.
of note: warriors will be without elliott dutra, a senior running back who transferred to center grove. dutra rushed for 2,033 yards and 39 tds on 355 carries as a junior.
program’s all-time leading rusher: matt crick (1999-02), 4,491 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: adam money (2003-06), 3,889 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: ken sears (1974-77), 1,307 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: sears, an all-state player who set career school records for receptions (66), receiving yards (1,307) and receiving tds (13). he later was the program’s head coach from 1996-2004.
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countdown to kickoff: avon
third of 63 entries
nickname: orioles.
class: 5a.
sectional: 6.
last year’s record: 6-5 overall, 5-4 in the hoosier crossroads conference.
coach: dave shelbourne (39-18 at avon, 189-129 overall).
assistant coaches: scott williams, dave ballou, dave nichols, scott hibbard, terry haston, kevin koonce, ike moore, edwin watson, ryan luttrull, mike lingel, andy carpenter, mark shayotovich, dave teany, tommy smith, dan butler and cedric lloyd.
returning starters on offense: 3.
returning starters on defense: 6.
top returnee to watch: trey smith. senior free safety does an excellent job in the secondary. he also has been an impact player as a return man on special teams.
top prospect to watch: sam johnson. senior running back is a “move back.” he lettered with the orioles through as a sophomore before moving to florida. he also placed seventh in the state wrestling meet at 171 pounds in 2006. said shelbourne: “he’s back, and we’re glad. he fills a need.”
expected team strengths: team has the most depth it has had had since shelbourne has been coach. it may not have “star” players, but it has a good number of good players. shelbourne projects that the orioles will have no two-way starters. the defensive line is expected to be more solid than a year ago.
questions that must be answered: squad is inexperienced offensively, with new players in the lineup at receiver, tailback and fullback. shelbourne said he feels good about the quarterback spot, where junior jake harris (6-4, 210) shows promise. he moves up from the jv. the offensive line also is young and must develop.
program’s all-time leading rusher: jessie schubert (1996-99), 5,347 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: tyler haston (2002-05), 5,958 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: stephen geller (2002-05), 2,353 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: dave ballou, who now is an assistant coach in the program. a 1996 graduate, he was a two-time all-state player as a defensive lineman and later played at indiana university.
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july 17, 2007
countdown to kickoff: zionsville
second of 63 entries
nickname: eagles.
class: 4a.
sectional: 13.
last year’s record: 8-3 overall, 7-2 in the hoosier crossroads conference.
coach: larry mcwhorter (105-29 at zionsville and overall).
assistant coaches: jim uland, andy gall, justin olson, jody weldy, scott turnquist, kyle park, tommy richardson.
returning starters on offense: 6.
returning starters on defense: 3, although some may shift positions.
top returnee to watch: kevin lee. senior offensive lineman (6-1, 225) is a good player and a good leader. he may shift to the defensive line. his leadership is key as the eagles have a large squad but not a large number of seniors.
top prospects to watch: alex lupinski. junior tight end-defensive end has good size (6-2, 220), quickness and skills. another is gene barrett, a wide receiver who moves up from the junior varsity.
expected team strengths: eagles should be very quick and intent in their effort. team is not very big, that that is normal.
questions that must be answered: squad lost three starters in the defensive line, so that is an area that will be tested. for the first time in years, there is no clear-cut heir apparent at quarterback. juniors danny violi, mel woodard and max zahner plus sophomore jake isenbarger are vying to follow a line of qbs that includes corey richmond, mark nicolet and tyler reimer. “the decision could go down to game day,” mcwhorter said.
of note: senior leah einterz is projected as the team’s top placekicker. mcwhorter said she has improved from last year and has range on field goals to 35-40 yards.
program’s all-time leading rusher: jake stilabower (1995-98), 3,783 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: mark nicolet (2001-03), 4,813 yards.
program’s all-time leading receiver: jon pavey (2005-06), 2,018 yards.
program’s most famous alumnus: nicolet, a standout quarterback who also was chosen all-state as a defensive back and kicker during his career. he is entering his senior year at hillsdale (mich.) college. he passed for 1,949 yards and 12 tds as a junior.
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countdown to kickoff: arlington
first of 63 entries
nickname: golden knights.
class: 5a.
sectional: 5.
last year’s record: 6-4 overall, 5-1 in the indianapolis public schools athletic conference.
coach: rob patchett (16-15 at arlington, 23-30 overall).
assistant coaches: steve moorman, josh pierson, elvin caldwell, tyrone evans, nick nobbe, mike miley, steven moorman jr., kara wynn.
returning starters on offense: 8.
returning starters on defense: 6.
top returnees to watch: quarterback dorian jenkins and running back david taylor. both are seniors. jenkins (6-1, 205) passed for 1,136 yards and 14 tds last season. taylor (5-10, 185) rushed for 1,064 yards and 15 tds despite missing some games. had high games of 263 yards and 223 yards.
top prospect to watch: michael duncun. senior linebacker (6-0, 220) was not part of the program last season but figures to make his presence known this year. patchett said duncun is big, strong and adds to a quality linebacker corps. “he’s a hitter in the middle,” the coach said.
expected team strengths: as much firepower as arlington returns offensively, patchett said the defense is as good as it ever has been. “we’re quick and physical, and i feel good about our team after our summer work,” he said.
questions that must be answered: special teams are a perennial concern, especially in finding a kicker and a punter. team also must replace two graduated offensive linemen. developing linemen is another regular concern.
program’s all-time leading rusher: derrick ellis (1996-99), 5,948 yards.
program’s all-time leading passer: unknown.
program’s most famous alumnus: ellis, who was voted the 1999 indianapolis star indiana mr. football.
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july 16, 2007
special online series to commence tuesday
the star plans on offering online previews of each area football team over the next month as entries in the preps insiders blog that will be labeled "countdown to kickoff."
from arlington to zionsville, avon to whiteland and 59 others, it will be overviews of 63 teams over 30 days as the teams prepare for the aug. 17 start of the 2007 season.
check back tuesday for the first entries in the series -- on arlington and zionsville.
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the insiders
the star's crew of preps insiders -- kristen leigh porter, jeff rabjohns, pat mckee, nat newell and mark ambrogi -- weigh in with what's happening in the world of high school sports.
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