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If there was high school fantasy football, we'd pick these SW Indiana standouts

treasure washington, kyle sokeland and anthony kristensen, evansville courier & press
·6 min read

EVANSVILLE — Another year, another high school fantasy football draft.

The Courier & Press sports staff last fall conducted its first high school fantasy draft, and it seemed to resonate well with readers and athletes here in Southwestern Indiana. We decided to follow up with high school baseball and softball drafts in the spring. And now we're back for more.

Last week, we gathered to pick our teams using a snake order. We each selected six players and a head coach. As always, this is supposed to be fun.

We hope you enjoy.

North Posey’s Liam Stone escapes from Mater Dei's Clay Martin (52) as the North Posey Vikings play the Mater Dei Wildcats at the Reitz Bowl in Evansville, Ind., Friday evening, Nov. 4, 2022.
North Posey’s Liam Stone escapes from Mater Dei's Clay Martin (52) as the North Posey Vikings play the Mater Dei Wildcats at the Reitz Bowl in Evansville, Ind., Friday evening, Nov. 4, 2022.

Round 1

Treasure Washington — Liam Stone, North Posey

When it comes to being the No. 1 pick, Stone's numbers speak for themselves. He's run for 12 touchdowns already this season after totaling 20 in the previous year. There's a pretty good chance you'll win your league with Stone in your starting lineup.

Anthony Kristensen — Roland Vera, Jr., Reitz

I debated with myself on whether I should take Vera or Elijah Wagner, but I ultimately decided on Vera because of how many different spots he plays and how many points he's putting up if he was actually in fantasy. Receiving, rushing, passing, defense and even punting, he's giving you a lot of points in almost every category.

Kyle Sokeland — Elijah Wagner, Bosse

This takes nothing away from the players above, but I'm shocked Wagner fell to third. All he's done is lead the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference in passing (818) and rushing (753) yards through four games. That's on top of 17 total touchdowns.

Power rankings: Here are the Courier & Press rankings through Week 5

Round 2

KS — Antonio Harris, Castle

He puts up numbers rushing and receiving - look at his Mater Dei game - which seems like an easy decision on my team.

AK — Xander Hunt, Vincennes Lincoln

When Hunt fell to this point, I had no other choice than to take him. He's the defending SIAC Player of the Year and is having another big season this year. He's a dual-threat quarterback who does it all for the Alices. I'm happy to have him as my QB.

TW — Maximus McCool, Castle

McCool (503 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) isn't just one of the SIAC's top backs. He can also be explosive when put out wide, averaging over 20 yards per reception.

North’s Cainen Northington (22) carries the ball as the Castle Knights play the North Huskies at John Lidy Field in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.
North’s Cainen Northington (22) carries the ball as the Castle Knights play the North Huskies at John Lidy Field in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.

Round 3

TW — Jed Galvin, North Posey

Both of the running backs I have in my lineup are solid. Galvin is cementing himself as one of his school's best rushers with 35 career touchdowns and counting. He still has one more year to go in the North Posey program.

AK — Cainen Northington, North

The Huskies are always going to be a run-first team. Angelo St. Louis was a great back last season and Northington has picked up. He gets yards and scores while making defenders miss, precisely what you want from your fantasy back.

KS — Luke Ellspermann, Memorial

This is a PPR league, right? The junior leads the Tigers in catches, yards and touchdowns by a wide margin.

Round 4

KS — Sean DeLong, Gibson Southern

I’ve always preferred running backs in fantasy football who can get points running and receiving. DeLong has a history of doing both in the Gibson Southern offense.

AK — Hayden Summers, Reitz

Summers is an explosive option who is always a threat. I feel like he'd be highlighted more if he wasn't part of a greater whole in an absolutely stacked Reitz team, but he's still a very important part of what the Panthers do. He's an excellent fourth-round addition to my team.

TW — Jackson Graff, North Posey

All of the wideouts mentioned above are elite in their own right. But I also consider Graff to be in that conversation. He remains one of North Posey's most reliable playmakers after posting career highs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns last season.

Heritage Hills' Preston Coop (5) intercepts the pass intended for Boonville's Tyler Rinehart (5) as the Heritage Hills Patriots play the Boonville Pioneers Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Heritage Hills' Preston Coop (5) intercepts the pass intended for Boonville's Tyler Rinehart (5) as the Heritage Hills Patriots play the Boonville Pioneers Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Round 5

TW — Heritage Hills (D/ST)

It's about time the Patriots were represented in this draft. Picking their defense was a no-brainer to me as they've allowed 40 points so far this season, the fewest of anyone in the PAC. Heritage Hills' linebackers have earned high praise for their performance after last week's win against North Posey.

AK — Reitz (D/ST)

My third and final Panthers pick, this was a no-brainer for me. Reitz's defense hasn't allowed more than seven points in a game and just 28 in the first five games of the season. Turnovers, sacks, forced punts: You can bet this defense is getting you a lot of points in a fantasy season.

KS — Memorial (D/ST)

The reason why the Tigers are undefeated is this defense. They’re ranked second in the state in points allowed with three shutouts in the past four weeks. Also capable of raking up turnovers.

Round 6: Head coach

KS — John Hurley, Memorial

The numbers tell the story: 133 career victories with five trips to the state championship. Memorial is also impressing with a 5-0 start. Hurley always deflects credit but it starts at the top.

AK — Nick Hart, Gibson Southern

Though I've only been in Southern Indiana for a little over a year, I've learned that it's not wise to bet against Hart or his Titans. There's a reason they're a state title contender year in and year out. Taking him was another one I couldn't pass up.

TW — Cory Brunson, Reitz

The team Brunson is leading is currently riding a 15-game regular season win streak and hasn't lost a home game in almost two years. Brunson, who won a sectional championship with Harrison in 2015, nearly led Reitz to another title game last season.

Round 7

TW — Matthew Fisher, Memorial

Fisher has one of the area's strongest arms and has also played a vital role in the Tigers' success this season. After all, he is committed to Indiana University for baseball. He's near the top of the SIAC leaderboard in many statistical categories, including passing yards, touchdowns and quarterback rating.

AK — Carter Holsworth, Jasper

Fantasy points come from running backs. Holsworth is the first option on a run-heavy Jasper team. This was another easy choice when he fell to me here. He is always capable of a big play and putting the ball in the end zone.

KS — Tanner Boyd, Gibson Southern

If I’m trying to rack up points, a dual-threat quarterback is usually a solid option. The senior went over 200 total yards again in the win over Southridge.

Our teams

Washington: QB Liam Stone, QB Matthew Fisher, RB Jed Galvin, RB Max McCool, WR Jackson Graff, Heritage Hills D/ST, HC Cory Brunson

Kristensen: QB Xander Hunt, RB Carter Holsworth, RB Cainen Northington, WR Hayden Summers, WR Roland Vera Jr., Reitz D/ST, HC Nick Hart

Sokeland: QB Elijah Wagner, QB Tanner Boyd, RB Sean DeLong, WR Luke Ellspermann, WR Antonio Harris, Memorial D/ST, HC John Hurley

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: C&P writers pick HS fantasy football teams of SW Indiana stars 2023