IHSAA football power rankings Week 3: New teams at top of 5A, 4A; 6A gap closing
The Indianapolis-area high school football power rankings going into Week 3 of the season:
CLASS 6A
1. Center Grove (1-1)
The Trojans bounced back in a big way from a season-opening loss to St. Edward (Ohio), defeating three-time defending Class 6A Tennessee state champion Oakland 28-10. Center Grove limited Oakland to 209 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers. Tyler Cherry was 18-for-22 passing for 282 yards and three TDs. Up next is a home game vs. Louisville Trinity (1-1). Previous: 1.
Week 2 coverage: Center Grove 'got our swag back' vs. Tennessee champs
What We Learned: Balanced Brownsburg, cardiac Decatur Central, more surprises
2. Hamilton Southeastern (2-0)
The Royals rolled to a 35-7 win over North Central as Chandler Weston passed for three touchdowns and HSE turned on the running clock midway through the third quarter. HSE hosts Avon (0-2) this week in a warmup for the big Mudsock matchup next week vs. Fishers. The Orioles are coming off a 42-14 loss to Ben Davis. Previous: 2.
3. Ben Davis (2-0)
The gap from No. 1 to 3 here is razor thin. I think the Giants could probably make a good argument for No. 1, though Center Grove and HSE have done nothing (in my opinion) to drop. Ben Davis is coming off a 42-14 win over Avon that was played with a running clock in the fourth quarter. Thomas Gotkowski passed for 136 yards and three TDs and Alijah Price ran for 114 yards and a touchdown and also caught a TD pass. Up next: vs. Pike. Previous: 3.
4. Brownsburg (2-0)
The Bulldogs made a statement with a 45-31 win over Cathedral that included big games from quarterback Jake Dunn (11-for-15 for 258 yards and three TDs; 62 rushing yards and a TD), running back Garrett Sherrell (185 yards and two TDs on 27 carries) and receivers Cayden Olinger (six catches, 126 yards, two TDs) and Corey Smith (four catches, 123 yards, one TD). Ariyan Ballance moving to defense has helped, too. Brownsburg has an interesting matchup this week at home vs. Franklin Central in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener. Previous: 5.
Week 2 coverage: Jake Dunn answers Brownsburg QB questions in win over Cathedral
5. Westfield (2-0)
The Shamrocks won one of the wildest games you will ever see, taking down Lawrence Central 59-58 in overtime. Westfield surrendered 400 passing yards, but Jackson Gilbert was 21-for-31 for 270 yards and three TDs and rushed for four TDs. Kendall Garnett ran 26 times for 118 yards and a touchdown and scored on the game-winning 2-point conversion. Up next: at Zionsville. The Shamrocks have won 10 in a row in the series. Previous: 6.
Week 2 coverage: You thought the weather was hot? Westfield, LC combine for 117 points.
6. Cathedral (1-1)
The Irish are coming off a 45-31 loss to Brownsburg. The secondary struggled to contain Brownsburg’s passing game, but the Irish did the defense no favors in a disastrous third quarter (Brownsburg outscored Cathedral 17-0). It was a big game for Keith Long, who caught eight passes for 123 yards and two TDs. Cathedral hosts Penn (2-0) this week at Arlington. Previous: 4.
7. Fishers (2-0)
The Tigers have not allowed a point this season, rolling to a 40-0 Week 2 victory over Pike. The shutout streak likely ends this week at Noblesville (2-0), which is coming off a 42-0 win over Homestead. Fishers rolled up 458 yards of total offense against Pike and limited the Red Devils to 154 yards. Khobie Martin ran for 173 yards and two scores. Previous: 7.
8. Lawrence North (2-0)
The Wildcats cruised to a 35-13 win over Fort Wayne North Side as Montez Jones ran for 109 yards and two TDs, one of them from 85 yards out, and freshman Izayveon Moore ran for 91 yards and two TDs. Davion Chandler also had a big game with five receptions for 120 yards and one TD. A major test this week in the rivalry game vs. Lawrence Central, which will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium (8 p.m. kickoff). Previous: 10.
9. Lawrence Central (1-1)
How will the Bears respond from Friday’s crushing 59-58 overtime loss to Westfield? There is no time to mourn with a big game coming Friday vs. Lawrence North at Lucas Oil Stadium. Bryson Luter put up crazy numbers, passing for 386 yards and four TDs and running for 101 yards and a TD. The Bears had 607 yards of offense and still lost by a point. A bounce back win vs. Lawrence North would be big. Previous: 9.
10. Franklin Central (2-0)
The Flashes make an appearance here after a 20-6 win over Roncalli. The defense did not allow a play any longer than 14 yards. That is a recipe for success. The Flashes rushed for 240 yards, a number helped significantly by Braylen Gillard’s 99-yard TD run. A tough test awaits Franklin Central this week at Brownsburg in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener. Previous: NR.
Week 2 coverage: Franklin Central is 2-0 and just beat Roncalli. But Flashes haven't made statement — yet.
Dropped out: Carmel (8)
CLASS 5A
1. Decatur Central (2-0)
It has been a special two weeks for Decatur Central with fourth-quarter comeback wins over Columbus North and New Palestine, the latter in a 43-42 thriller. Bo Polston was 24-for-43 passing for 362 yards and two TDs and ran for 41 yards and a score. As great as those two wins were, a bigger game is coming Friday at Whiteland with major Mid-State Conference ramifications. Previous: 2.
Week 2 coverage: Decatur Central gets off the mat to throw last blow vs. New Pal.
2. Whiteland (1-1)
Kokomo limited Whiteland to 133 rushing yards and handed the Warriors a 27-13 defeat. Whiteland has completed just one pass in two games, through the good news is that it did go for a 14-yard touchdown by Gunnar Hicks vs. the Wildkats. Another tough test is upcoming with Mid-State Conference rival Decatur Central visiting this week. Previous: 1.
3. Plainfield (2-0)
The Quakers came from behind for a 15-14 win over Harrison (West Lafayette), a third win for Plainfield over the Raiders since 2022. Luke Starnes had a big game with 134 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Up next is Mooresville, a team the Quakers have not defeated since 2017. Previous: 3.
Dropped out: None
CLASS 4A
1. Greenfield-Central (2-0)
Admittedly, the Cougars have not played the best schedule to date with wins over Madison (49-0) and Greensburg (57-0). But Greenfield-Central is coming off a 7-4 season and has accomplished what it is supposed to so far. Dallas Freeman has 340 passing yards and six TDs. Friday’s home game vs. Mt. Vernon will obviously be a much tougher test. The Cougars have lost six in a row to the Marauders. Previous: 3.
2. Roncalli (1-1)
The Royals sputtered in a 20-6 loss to Franklin Central, accounting for 214 yards of total offense and no offensive touchdowns. I would expect this team to improve throughout the season with several players in new roles. But the schedule is unrelenting with a visit to Bishop Chatard up next. Previous: 1.
3. New Palestine (0-2)
New Palestine let a late lead slip away in a 43-42 loss to Decatur Central to slip to 0-2 for the second time in three seasons. But losses to 6A No. 6 Westfield and 5A No. 8 Decatur Central can benefit the Dragons moving forward. Grayson Thomas had a big game Friday, rushing for 233 yards and four TDs. Up next: vs. Yorktown. Previous: 2.
Dropped out: None
CLASS 3A
1. Bishop Chatard (2-0)
Chatard had no trouble with Tech, rolling to a 46-6 win in a game that was 46-0 at halftime. The Trojans look to break a three-game losing streak to Roncalli this week when the Royals visit. Previous: 1.
2. Guerin Catholic (2-0)
The Golden Eagles controlled Lafayette Central Catholic for a 27-3 victory as Peter Rooney ran for 194 yards and three TDs. Guerin intercepted three passes. Up next is a tough challenge at Heritage Christian. Previous: 2.
3. Hamilton Heights (2-0)
Hamilton Heights improved to 2-0 with a 28-12 win over North Montgomery as Owen VanHaaren rushed for 124 yards. The Huskies have a chance to go 3-0 for the first time since 2016 with a win Friday vs. Lafayette Central Catholic. Previous: NR.
Dropped out: Danville (3)
CLASS 2A/A
1. Lutheran (2-0)
The Saints rolled to a 49-12 win over Cardinal Ritter, leading 42-0 at halftime and playing the second half with a running clock. Jackson Willis passed for a couple of first-quarter touchdowns. Lutheran has outscored its first two opponents, 99-12, but the schedule gets much tougher this week when Triton Central visits. The Indiana Crossroads Conference title could be on the line. Previous: 1.
2. Triton Central (2-0)
Triton Central rolled to a 36-7 win over New Castle as Jace Stuckey went 16-for-24 passing for 202 yards and two TDs and Brayden Wilkins caught three passes for 86 yards and a score. The Tigers’ defense limited New Castle to 28 yards rushing and 123 yards of total offense. Triton Central has a huge game this week at Lutheran, a team the Tigers have not defeated since 2018. Previous: 2.
3. Scecina (2-0)
Scecina was tied with Speedway at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter and winning, 37-26. Quarterback D.J. Mendez passed for 193 yards two touchdowns and ran for 125 yards a touchdown. Masyn McClellan rushed for 131 yards on 26 carries. The Crusaders play Covenant Christian this week at Roncalli. Previous: 3.
Dropped out: None
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football rankings: Center Grove clings to top spot
