FOOTBALL: Bengals, Cougars win titles; more in area roundup
Oct. 14—Peru scored early and often in thumping host Manchester 52-6 Friday night to secure the outright championship of the Three Rivers Conference. The Class 3A No. 9 Bengal Tigers finished off a perfect 8-0 run through the TRC and carry a 9-0 record into the postseason.
After Manchester scored on the opening kickoff return, Peru responded with a 7-yard run by quarterback Matthew Roettger, then added scores by Alex Ross and Avionne Jackson for a 20-6 lead after a quarter.
In the second quarter, Roettger added another TD on a 3-yard plunge, Ross scored from 10 yards out and Roettger hit Braxton Strong for a 47-yard TD and a commanding 39-6 lead at halftime. A Tanner Boggs 12-yard scamper put Peru up 45-6 in the third quarter to get the running clock moving.
Roettger connected on another TD pass, a 22-yarder to Brady Hahn for the game's final score.
Peru hosts Guerin Catholic in Class 3A Sectional 28 next Friday. Manchester fell to 3-6, 3-5 TRC.
CARROLL 24, SHERIDAN 0
Carroll shut out Sheridan to win the Hoosier Heartland Conference title for the first time since 2016. The Class A No. 3 Cougars finished off a perfect regular season at 9-0 to go with their perfect 7-0 run through the league.
After a scoreless first quarter, visiting Carroll got on the board with a field goal by Eli Falkenberg. The Cougars finally found pay dirt with a touchdown with 1:25 left before halftime and led 10-0 at the break.
A Keegan Ellis rushing TD early in the third quarter to put the Cougars up 17-0 and another Ellis TD run with 5:50 left put the game well in hand at 24-0.
Carroll visits Tri-County next Friday in Class A Sectional 43. Sheridan finished third in the league with a 5-2 mark and is 6-3 overall.
EASTERN 48, CP 20
Eastern took second place in the HHC with the victory. The Comets took a 14-7 lead after a quarter at Clinton Prairie and rolled to a 20-point second quarter for a 34-7 lead at halftime. Eastern added a dozen more points in the second half to go up 48-13 and cruise to the finish.
Eastern (7-2) finished 6-1 in the HHC. The Comets host Elwood in Class 2A Sectional 36 next Friday. CP fell to 5-4, 3-4 in the HHC.
TL 24, NW 19
Twin Lakes topped Northwestern in the Hoosier Conferences fifth-place game. Northwestern punched in a score in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead after a frame. Host team Twin Lakes equalized in the second quarter and the teams then traded scores with TL leading 14-13 at halftime.
The Indians pushed their lead to 22-13 after three quarters but Northwestern scored seconds into the fourth quarter to trim the margin to 22-19.
Northwestern takes a 3-6 record into next Friday's Class 3A Sectional 28 game at Maconaquah. Twin Lakes is 5-4.
DELPHI 41, TAYLOR 13
Home squad Delphi got off to a 13-0 lead after a quarter and were up 20-0 midway through the second quarter.
In the second half, Taylor's Javionne Harris scored on a 40-yard run and Jaylyn Wooten scored a 48-yard TD.
Taylor (1-8, 0-7 HHC) hosts West Central next Friday in Class A Sectional 43. Delphi is 4-5, 4-3 HHC.
CASS 38, S'WOOD 14
Cass topped Southwood in a clash of teams battling for fourth place in the TRC. The Kings finish the regular season 5-4, 5-3 in the TRC and host Delphi in Class 2A Sectional 34 next Friday. Southwood is 4-5 overall, 4-4 in the TRC.
ROCHESTER 36, MAC 14
Host Rochester roared out of the gate to post a 20-0 lead after a quarter. Maconaquah got moving in the second frame and trailed 26-14 at halftime but Rochester held Mac quiet all second half and led 34-14 going into the final frame.
Maconaquah fell to 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the TRC to tie for third place in the league. The Braves host Northwestern in Class 3A Sectional 28 next Friday. Rochester improved to 7-2 overall, 7-1 in the TRC and takes second in the league.
TRI-CENTRAL 21, CC 14
Tri-Central started slowly, giving up a safety and touchdown at Clinton Central in the opening two minutes to go down 8-0, but found its footing in the second quarter. Owen Tolle ran in a four-yard TD in the second quarter to get the Trojans on the board, then Jacob Cline returned a punt for a TD to put TC ahead 14-8.
Brody Arnold then scored on a five-yard keeper for a 21-8 TC lead at the half. CC punched in a score in the third quarter to cut the margin to 21-14 and that scoreline held the rest of the way for the Trojans' second straight win.
Tri-Central (3-6, 2-5 HHC) plays at Frontier in Class A Sectional 43 next Friday. CC fell to 1-7, 1-6 HHC.
RENSSELAER 33, TIPTON 0
Home team Rensselaer took off after a slow start to win the HC's seventh-place game. After a scoreless opening frame, the Bombers led just 8-0 at halftime. Rensselaer took advantage of three turnovers in a row by Tipton in the third to go up 26-0 heading into the final period.
Tipton (1-8) hosts Blackford next Friday in Class 2A Sectional 36. Rensselaer is 5-4.
