IHSAA football predictions: Which Central Indiana teams will lift regional trophies?

Just 48 high school football teams are still practicing this week, enjoying unseasonably nice weather leading up to regional games. I was 18-1 on sectional championship predictions last week to improve to 352-80 (81.5%) on the season. Here is a look at predictions on the 12 games involving Central Indiana teams (kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday unless noted):

Class 6A

Hamilton Southeastern (9-2) at Westfield (10-1): Why does it feel like No. 5 Westfield is the underdog? The Shamrocks won in regular season, 30-28, over the No. 6 Royals on the final play the game on Jackson Gilbert’s touchdown pass to Kendall Garnett. Westfield won the regional in 2020 and ’21 on the way to the state finals, but lost last year to HSE in this round, 20-0. The Royals can definitely see their own path to Lucas Oil Stadium with a win here. HSE has not been to the state finals since 2005. The key here, to me, is the Westfield defense against the HSE offense. Westfield might not put up 428 yards and 30 points again, but I think the Shamrocks will have some success on offense. Can they force a couple turnovers like they did in the last meeting? Senior running back Jalen Alexander (1,324 rushing yards, 16 TDs) and junior Azariah Wallace (595 rushing yards, nine TDs) carried the load against Fishers last week in a 38-21 win. HSE 31, Westfield 24.

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Ben Davis (10-1) vs. Cathedral (8-3), at UIndy: These programs have met sporadically over the years with Ben Davis holding a 15-6 overall advantage but have won 14 in a row dating to Cathedral’s 7-6 win in the season opener in 1987. I guarantee there will be more than 13 points scored in this game. No. 7 Cathedral is coming off a fantastic defensive performance last week in a 20-3 win over Lawrence North. The offense can present Ben Davis some problems with junior Jalen Bonds (1,124 rushing yards, eight TDs) coming off a 262-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Wildcats. Colorado commit Danny O’Neil (1,931 passing yards, 30 TDs; 621 rushing yards, eight TDs) will do everything he can to extend his high school career another game. The Ben Davis offense is a different deal, though. Quarterback Thomas Gotkowski (2,135 passing yards, 27 TDs) has three receivers — Mark Zackery (38 catches, 597 yards, seven TDs), Nate Williams (46 catches, 518 yards, four TDs) and Tyler McClain (30 catches, 277 yards, two TDs) — with at least 30 receptions. Ben Davis 34, Cathedral 26.

Warren Central (5-6) at Center Grove (10-1): There is oddly a little unfamiliarity here as these programs did not meet in the regular season for the first time since 1996. But they did play twice last season, including a 42-32 Center Grove regional win. The three-time defending 6A champion Trojans take a 17-game tournament winning streak into this matchup, led by Duke recruit Tyler Cherry at quarterback (2,555 passing yards, 29 TDs), Matthew Yoder at running back (870 yards, eight TDs) and Noah Coy at receiver (83 catches, 1,171 yards, 17 TDs). Warren Central’s strength is its defense, which is led by juniors Damien Shanklin (54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss) and Tyrone Burrus (34 tackles, 15 tackles for loss). Jaylan McMoore (846 rushing yards, eight TDs in eight games) has given the Warriors’ rushing attack a boost. Center Grove 30, Warren Central 20.

Class 5A

Whiteland (7-4) at Decatur Central (9-2): It is a little odd these Mid-State Conference rivals have not met in the tournament, though they did play in different classes for many years. Whiteland won the regular-season meeting, 31-15, in Week 3. But that was a long time ago and Decatur Central quarterback Bo Polston (1,409 passing yards, 16 TDs; 304 rushing yards, three TDs) was knocked out of that game with an injury. The Hawks are riding a seven-game winning streak and coming off an impressive 34-17 win over fifth-ranked Harrison. Whiteland is two wins from making a repeat visit to Lucas Oil Stadium. The Warriors are averaging 256 rushing yards with junior Slate Valentine (1,823 yards, 19 TDs) accounting for about 60% of the team’s total. Sophomore Jordan Palmer (95 tackles, three interceptions) is a name to know at linebacker for the Whiteland. Decatur Central 27, Whiteland 23.

Class 4A

Mooresville (7-5) at New Palestine (10-2): No. 3 New Palestine started the season with losses to 6A Westfield and 5A Decatur Central (both sectional champions) before ripping off a 10-game winning streak and strolling to a sectional title with three wins by a combined score of 140-6. In six games since returning from injury, junior Michael Thacker has 40 tackles, including 14 ½ for loss, and five sacks for the Dragons. Mooresville is coming off a last-second 40-39 victory over Brebeuf Jesuit. Senior Hogan Denny (2,103 passing yards, 21 TDs; 1,160 rushing yards, 14 TDs) is a playmaker. The Pioneers’ record is a little misleading with four of those losses coming by a touchdown or less. New Palestine 38, Mooresville 24.

Class 3A

Bishop Chatard (12-0) at Delta (8-4): Class 3A top-ranked and defending state champion Chatard could not have had a much more difficult route to the regional, knocking off three top-5 teams in Guerin Catholic, Tippecanoe Valley and Hamilton Heights. The Trojans are allowing just 8.8 points per game, which includes wins over high-powered offenses like Brebeuf (49-23) and Cathedral (24-21). Senior lineman Matthew Woods starred last week with six tackles and two sacks in Chatard’s 28-8 win over Hamilton Heights. Junior quarterback Bronson Edwards (1,653 passing yards, 16 TDs) leads the Delta offense. Bishop Chatard 34, Delta 16.

Gibson Southern (10-2) at Tri-West (11-1), 3 p.m. Saturday: This was a semistate matchup two years ago on a Saturday evening at Tri-West. Gibson Southern had the cheat code, Mr. Football Brady Allen, and rolled to a 44-7 win over the Bruins. It should be much be closer this time around. No. 6 Gibson Southern senior Sean DeLong was the starting running back in that game two years ago and is the school’s the all-purpose yardage leader with 4,115. DeLong is over 1,000 yards rushing this season and senior Tanner Boyd is a dual-threat quarterback with more than 2,000 passing yards. No. 8 Tri-West, a 10-time regional champion, is led on offense by junior quarterback Malachi Walden (1,516 passing yards, 17 TDs; 1,577 rushing yards, 21 TDs) and senior receiver Noah Lien (41 catches, 515 yards, six TDs). The Bruins’ defense has forced 33 turnovers. Tri-West 21, Gibson Southern 17.

Class 2A

Eastern Hancock (8-4) at Southmont (7-5): Southmont is a newcomer as a first-time sectional winner and riding high after last week’s 36-34 overtime win over No. 2 Linton-Stockton. The Mounties are a running team led by senior Wyatt Woodall (1,118 yards, 20 TDs) and quarterback Nolan Boyer (634 rushing yards, five TDs), but Boyer also has 1,447 passing yards and 14 passing TDs and senior Kyler McCandless (36 catches, 672 yards, seven TDs) is a big-play receiver. Eastern Hancock counters with a young group led by sophomore quarterback Elijah Edon (1,830 passing yards, 17 TDs; 585 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and sophomore running back Mark Kube (1,610 rushing yards, 24 TDs). The Royals are in the regional for the first time since 2014. Eastern Hancock 35, Southmont 32.

North Posey (11-1) at Triton Central (11-1), 8 p.m.: Can top-ranked Triton Central break through? This is the round the Tigers have not been able to push through each of the past three years, though all of those losses came to Evansville Mater Dei, which went to win a state title in 2022. Fourth-ranked North Posey knocked Mater Dei out, 35-34 in overtime, in the second round of the sectional. Triton Central coach Tim Able said he is impressed with how physical the Vikings play. The rushing attack is led by junior Jed Galvin (1,134 yards, 22 TDs), quarterback Liam Stone (828 yards, 17 TDs) and senior Colton Gardner (819 yards, 12 TDs). Mater Dei did have some success passing against North Posey, which could bode well for Triton Central quarterback Jace Stuckey (2,544 passing yards, 29 TDs; 726 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and receiver Brayden Wilkins (58 catches, 1,063 yards, 10 TDs). Triton Central 23, North Posey 21.

Class A

Park Tudor (12-0) at North Judson (8-4), 7:30 p.m.: No. 5 Park Tudor is looking to win its first regional championship, but will have to avenge a 49-13 loss to North Judson in last year’s regional. Junior Brock Benson (1,317 yards, 19 TDs) is the leading rusher for a North Judson team that averages 291 rushing yards per game. The Bluejays rolled to a 33-7 win the sectional championship over No. 9 Triton, which defeated North Judson 40-7 during the regular season. Can Harvard commit D.J. Gordon lead the Panthers again? Gordon (2,273 passing yards, 27 TDs; 1,526 rushing yards, 27 TDs) has a couple of senior targets in Cason Ritz (29 catches, 714 yards, five TDs) and Hayden Souza (29 catches, 570 yards, six TDs). Park Tudor 41, North Judson 38.

North Decatur (9-3) at Sheridan (9-3): North Decatur defeated Sheridan 29-14 in last year’s regional, but that was a 13-0 Chargers team. This version started 3-3 before going on a six-game winning streak that included a 31-28 thriller last week in the sectional championship over Milan. Sheridan, which last won a regional title in 2012, relies on a running game with seniors Eli Kolb (1,063 rushing yards, 16 TDs) and Zach Bales (578 yards, 11 TDs), but also can throw it some with quarterback Owen Bell (689 passing yards, nine TDs) and receiver Trent Decraene (22 catches, 406 yards, six TDs). Sheridan 23, North Decatur 20.

Providence (12-0) at Lutheran (10-0), 7:30 p.m.: Top-ranked and back-to-back defending state champion Lutheran has won 40 consecutive games following last week’s 57-14 sectional championship over Covenant Christian. Braydon Hall ran for 246 yards and five TDs in the win for the Saints. This is a rematch of last year’s 49-7 Lutheran win but expect a closer game from the fourth-ranked Pioneers, who are led on offense by senior quarterback Carter Lannan (1,478 passing yards, 26 TDs) and senior receivers Brian Wall (15 catches, 483 yards, eight TDs) and Cade Unruh (24 catches, 421 yards, eight TDs). The Pioneers’ closest game was a 49-22 win over Eastern Greene in the first round of the sectional. Lutheran 34, Providence 21.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football playoffs predictions 2023 regional finals