IHSAA football Week 8 roundup: Scores, highlights, stats as teams put on upset alert

It's going to start to feel like fall tonight, just in time for Week 8 of the IHSAA football season.

IndyStar's team in the field will provide live updates, highlights, post-game interviews, recaps and loaded photo galleries from across Central Indiana.

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Center Grove 43, Lawrence North 26

Three takeaways from Class 6A second-ranked Center Grove’s 43-26 win over visiting Lawrence North Friday night.

Play of the game: It was not a play that the home crowd particularly enjoyed or agreed with, but Lawrence North quarterback Montez Jones’ 10-yard touchdown pass to Davion Chandler at the end of the first half was a beauty. Chandler caught the ball as he was falling backward in the right corner of the end zone. His right foot was down as he corralled the ball with 5.7 seconds left, putting the Wildcats ahead 19-15 going into the locker room at halftime. Great catch by Chandler, who had a great game.

Upset bid avoided. Center Grove turns on jets in final 7 minutes to beat Lawrence North.

Turning point: It was not necessarily a play, but a drive. After Lawrence North took a 26-22 lead with 8:48 left on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Dantu Gardner Jr., Center Grove took over at its own 35 and marched 65 yards in just five plays. Matthew Yoder’s 4-yard touchdown run with 7 minutes left put the Trojans ahead 29-26. On the ensuing kickoff, the Wildcats fumbled the ball back to Center Grove, which scored three plays later on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Cherry to Noah Coy to take a 10-point lead.

Standout performer: Ryan Cook went down early in the game with an injury, so Yoder was left to carry the load for Center Grove’s ground game. The senior did the job, carrying 30 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He has continued to improve throughout the season. — Kyle Neddenriep

CG – Brevin Holubar 19 pass from Tyler Cherry (Patrick Smith kick)

LN – Davion Chandler 43 pass from Montez Jones (kick failed)

LN – Jones 23 run (pass failed)

CG – Noah Coy 10 pass from Cherry (Drake McClurg pass from Cherry)

LN – Chandler 10 pass from Jones (Matt Dempsey kick)

CG – Dominick Barry 37 pass from Cherry (Smith kick)

LN – Dantu Gardner Jr. 6 pass from Jones (Dempsey kick)

CG – Matthew Yoder 4 run (Smith kick)

CG – Coy 13 pass from Cherry (Smith kick)

CG – Yoder 2 run (Smith kick)

Rushing — Lawrence North: Jones 11-73, Izayveon Moore 7-13, Damario Moore 2-11, Tanner Aspeslet 1-(-5). Center Grove: Yoder 30-143, Rylan Cook 4-27, Owen Bright 1-4, Drake McClurg 1-3, Cherry 2-(-4).

Passing — Lawrence North: Jones 14-26-0 177. Center Grove: Cherry 14-21-1 198.

Receiving — Lawrence North: Chandler 4-63, Israel Jackson 5-42, D.Moore 3-35, Gardner 1-6. Center Grove: Coy 6-72, Holubar 4-36, Barry 2-40, McClurg 1-22, Tristan Baxter 1-30.

Danville 21, Western Boone 7

Turning point: Danville's second goal-line stand of the game. It came with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, and if Western Boone scored, the Stars would've been within one score with a lot of time left on the lock. The Warriors' goal-line stand was absolutely pivotal and allowed Danville to coast to victory.

Play of the game: Western Boone special teamer Mason Tomes' 85-yard kick return for a touchdown. He twisted through multiple defenders to the house, and it ended up being the one thing that prevented a shutout for the Stars.

For subscribers: Two goal-line stands propel Danville past Western Boone, but possible rematch looms

Player of the game: I might as well make it the entire Danville defense. They allowed 0 points from the Western Boone offense, including two successful and pivotal goal-line stands — one in the second quarter and another one in the fourth. They also had an interception in the third quarter, and a pivotal fumble recovery with two minutes left in the game to seal the victory for the Warriors. — Chloe Peterson

Westfield 28, Fishers 14

PLAY OF THE GAME: Westfield had two explosive touchdown plays in the contest, with the last being a 70-yard pass from quarterback Jackson Gilbert to tight end Maximus Nosler. Nosler caught a pass on a short crossing pattern, made it to the sideline and broke several tackles on his way to the end zone. Nosler then caught a two-point conversion pass to give the Shamrocks a 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

For subscribers: Westfield beats Fishers in top-10 matchup that will help prepare both teams for tournament

TURNING POINT: On the Fishers possession before Nosler’s touchdown catch, the Tigers drove deep into Westfield territory, getting a first down at the 17 and looked poised to take the lead.

On third down, Fishers receiver JonAnthony Hall was caught for a 2-yard loss after a catch, setting up 4th-and-6 at the 13. On the play, it appeared Tigers quarterback, sophomore Gage Sturgill – who was making his first start in place of injured senior Bennett Gorak – could have run for the first down, but kept looking for a receiver as a ferocious pass rush closed in. His subsequent pass fell incomplete.

Four plays later, Gilbert and Nosler connected for the back-breaking score.

STANDOUT PERFORMER: To pick one from this contest wouldn’t do justice to the all-round efforts both teams gave. For Westfield, Gilbert completed 6-of-11 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns, while not turning the ball over. The Westfield defense, however, came up with big plays of its own, including an interception by junior defensive back Drew Law that stopped a Fishers drive that reached the Shamrock 37 midway through the third quarter, while the pass rush stymied the Tigers when they reached the Westfield 17 in the fourth quarter.

It would be fitting to mention Sturgill as a standout, playing in his first varsity game. He completed 13-of-27 passes (several into a brisk wind) for 129 yards – including a 29-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter. — Lewis Bagley

W — Gabe Aramboles 72 pass from Jackson Gilbert (Brody Boehm kick)

W — Mikeah Webster 1 run (Boehm kick)

F — Khobie Martin 7 run (Jonathan Tangara kick)

W — Max Nosler 70 pass from Gilbert (Boehm kick)

F — Millen McCartney 29 pass from Gage Sturgill (Tangara kick)

W — Kendall Garnett 1 run (Boehm kick)

Rushing — Westfield: Garnett 17-80, Gilbert 8-3, Webster 1-1, team 1-0. Fishers: Martin 27-122, Ryan Thembulembu 12-75, Sturgill 3-2, JonAnthony Hall 1-1, Brady Griffits 2-(minus-2).

Passing — Westfield: Gilbert 7-13-0, 200. Fishers: Sturgill 13-27-1, 129.

Receiving — Westfield: Aramboles 3-91, Nosler 1-70, Beau Braun 2-37, Garnett 1-2. Fishers: McCartney 3-56, Joel Gates 2-26, Hall 5-19, Noah McPeek 2-16, Martin 1-5.

Brownsburg 27, Noblesville 22

Hamilton SE 19, Franklin Central 3

For subscribers: HSE digs deep to beat Franklin Central, sets up HCC title showdown for next week

HSE – Hugo Belmonte 28 FG

FC – Zachary Naessens 34 FG

HSE – Belmonte 32 FG

HSE – Chandler Weston 8 run (2pt failed)

HSE – Jalen Alexander 10 run (Belmonte kick)

Franklin 35, Greenwood 21

Alex Leugers scored a career-high four touchdowns and quarterback Clay Pinnick added a fifth on a career-long 79 scoring run to lead the Grizzly Cubs (5-3, 4-2) to a pivotal Mid-State Conference win that kept alive Franklin’s hopes of a share of the league championship. Leugers rushed for 228 yards and Pinnick another 128 for the victors. The Woodmen (4-4, 2-4) lost for the fourth time in five starts, as quarterback Brock Riddle was held to a season-low 172 yards.

F — Alex Leugers 67 run (J.D. Sever kick)

F — Leugers 3 run (Sever kick)

F — Leugers 48 run (Sever kick)

F — Leugers 39 run (Sever kick)

G — Gunner Ruppert 9 run (Kyrin York kick)

F — Clay Pinnick 79 run (Sever kick)

G — Alan Burnett 3 run (York kick)

G — Burnett 7 run (York kick)

Rushing — Greenwood: Ruppert 13-73, Burnett 16-47, Jackson Haessig 3-9, Brock Riddle 7-0. Franklin: Leugers 21-228, Pinnick 12-128, Kaleb Owens 3-23, Luke Bechert 1-0.

Passing — Greenwood: Riddle 17-36-0, 172. Franklin: Pinnick 1-4-0, 28.

Receiving — Greenwood: Tanner Crouch 4-58, Chase Monroe 4-48, Amare Middleton 6-40, Burnett 1-18, Ben Hommell 1-5, Josh Carroll 1-3. Franklin: Leuger 1-28.

Carmel 17, Warren Central 14

WC – J. Barlow 15 interception return (Jeremy Ramirez kick)

C – Anthony Coellner 59 run (Josh Placzek kick)

WC – James Clark 9 run (Ramirez kick)

C – Christian Peterson 20 pass from Coellner (Placzek kick)

C – Placzek 37 FG

Rushing – Warren Central: Jaylan McMoore 11-96, Clark 17-45, J. McCullough 5-42, Jordan Williams 2-5, Cyron Williams 1-1, Ant. Dennison 1-(minus-1); Carmel: Coellner 8-96, Colin Johnson 16-25, Norvil Tucker 8-18, H. Mumau 2-(minus-2).

Passing – Warren Central: Dennison 14-31-0 122; Carmel: Coellner 4-17-1 38.

Receiving – Warren Central: Chazz Corley 5-45, C. Williams 3-41, Clark 3-18, Aric Hester 1-7, Jay Morris 1-6, J. Williams 1-5; Carmel: Nate Rogers 2-8, 1-20, Colin Johnson 1-10.

Cathedral 42, Roncalli 0

Quarterback Danny O’Neil completed a season-low two passes, one for a touchdown, but ran for three scores as the visiting Irish (6-2) won their fourth straight and knocked off the rival Royals (3-5) for the first time since 2018 with a dominating shutout performance. Cathedral yielded just 87 yards in 50 plays.

C — Danny O’Neil 7 run (Van Krisiloff kick)

C — Hosia Smith recovered blocked punt in end zone (Krisiloff kick)

C — O’Neil 1 run (Krisiloff kick)

C — Devaughn Slaughter 27 pass from O’Neil (Krisiloff kick)

C — O’Neil 1 run (Krisiloff kick)

C — Jimmy Pappas 34 run (Sam Pinnamaner kick)

Rushing — Cathedral: Jalen Bonds 19-142, O’Neil 11-84, Pappas 6-66, Colin Ayers 4-13, Isaiah Rollins 1-11, Zion Crowe 1-(minus-1), team 1-(minus-8). Roncalli: Zach Dozier 20-37, Ben Brandenburg 5-7, Rudy Schoettle 2-(minus-2), Collin Ash 5-(minus-9).

Passing — Cathedral: O’Neil 2-9-0, 29; Jack Gause 1-1-0, (minus-3). Roncalli: Ash 7-18-2, 54.

Receiving — Cathedral: Slaughter 3-26. Roncalli: Schoettle 2-29, Dozier 1-9, Charlie Elsener 2-8, James Guthrie 1-8, J.J. Prendergast 1-0.

Whiteland 22, Plainfield 8

The banged-up Warriors (4-4, 3-3) threw the Mid-State Conference title chase into a tizzy with a second-half rally fueled by hard-running Slate Valentine and his 201 rushing yards to knock off the Class 5A No. 6 Quakers (6-2, 4-2). Plainfield led by a point at the half, but Valentine ran for a touchdown, a two-point conversion and set up a field goal try that kept Plainfield on its heels. Whiteland rushed for 370 yards in dominating the time of possession.

W — Dane Kunz 2 run (Noah Pope kick)

P — Caden Vanderbush 27 pass from Hunter Newell (Brandon Hendry pass from Marcos Rivera)

W — Jordan Palmer 19 run (Slate Valentine run)

W — Valentine 6 run (Pope kick)

Rushing — Plainfield: Luke Starnes 11-46, Newell 1-15, team 1-(minus-2). Whiteland: Valentine 27-201, Palmer 8-62, Kaiden Davidson 10-48, Kunz 11-33.

Passing — Plainfield: Newell 16-26-1, 157. Whiteland: Oliver Taylor 4-5-0, 57; Davidson 0-1-0, 0.

Receiving — Plainfield: Isaiah Miller 5-47, Ja’mir Bouie 5-47, Vanderbush 3-36, Rivera 2-25. Whiteland: Andrian Kolleigbo 2-41, Davidson 2-16.

Tri-West 41, Crawfordsville 0

TW – Malachi Walden 58 run (Cortland Williams kick)

TW – Thad Brown 4 pass from Walden (Williams kick)

TW – Nolan Cooper 6 run (Williams kick)

TW – Max Robertson 88 kickoff return (Williams kick)

TW – Cooper 23 run (kick no good)

TW – Kelan Dakin 42 interception return (Williams kick)

Rushing – Tri-West: Walden 3-62, Brady Hamstra 8-84, Cooper 4-41, Nick Johnson 2-16, Eli Morgan 4-22, Wanson Hall 1-1, Nate Hiland 1-0; Crawfordsville: N/A.

Passing – Tri-West: Walden 11-13-0 87; Crawfordsville: N/A

Receiving – Tri-West: Cole Morgan 3-27, Noah Lien 2-14, Brown 4-16, Jimmy Sorgi 2-30; Crawfordsville: N/A.

Pendleton Heights 31, Yorktown 7

PH — Dresden Roberts 53 run (Dominic Apo kick)

PH — Nolan Bourders blocked punt recovered in end zone (Apo kick)

Y — Ayden Ewing 2 run (Henry Weaver kick)

PH — Apo 33 FG

PH — Roberts 1 run (Apo kick)

PH — Reese Reddington 14 pass from Colton Frank (Apo kick)

Rushing — Pendleton Heights: Roberts 12-112, Isaac Wilson 10-53, Nick Trout 2-10, Bo Durfans 2-7, Frank 2-6, Ayden Forsha 1-6, Eli Arthur 5-4, Clint Miller 1-3. Yorktown: Ewing 18-51, Mason Moulton 9-1.

Passing — Pendleton Heights: Wilson 6-8-1, 39; Frank 2-4-0, 21. Yorktown: Moulton 6-17-1, 68.

Receiving — Pendleton Heights: Reddington 3-35, Nate Derolf 2-11, Caden Sims 2-7, Drake Stevens 1-7. Yorktown: Ephraim Daugherty 2-32, Cole Perdue 2-25, Ewing 1-9, Jayce Key 1-2.

Guerin Catholic 42, Terre Haute North 0

GC – Peter Rooney 25 run (Peyton Butts kick)

GC – Jack Linden 27 run (Butts kick)

GC – Rooney 3 run (Butts kick)

GC – Luke Baldwin 26 pass from Ryan Zimmerman (Butts kick)

GC – Linden 9 run (Butts kick)

GC – Hayden Cler 3 pass from Zimmerman (James Hokanson kick)

Rushing – Guerin Catholic: Linden 16-110, Rooney 9-68, Deklyn Frazier 3-7; Terre Haute North: Kam Baker 8-16, Josiah Bennett 4-8, Samuel Weihert 3-(minus-6), Team 1-(minus-9).

Passing – Guerin Catholic: Zimmerman 8-11-0 133, Quentin Klee 1-6-1 5; Terre Haute North: Baker 6-18-0 61.

Receiving – Guerin Catholic: Malcolm Houze 2-65, Rooney 2-23, Baldwin 1-26, Aiden Ferry 1-16, Trevor Macey 1-5, Cler 1-3; Terre Haute North: Weihert 2-45, Bennett 2-(minus-1), Asiah Menke 1-11, Dalton Hersman 1-6.

Scecina 41, Cardinal Ritter 28

Sc – Luke McDonald 31 pass from DJ Mendez (Owen Weinzierl kick)

Sc – Eric Montgomery 15 run (Weinzierl kick)

Sc – Clifford Brown 4 pass from Mendez (kick failed)

CR – Santana Allen 6 run (Michael Agboola kick)

Sc – Mendez 4 run (Weinzierl kick)

Sc – Montgomery 25 run (Weinzierl kick)

CR – Adrion Gregory 36 pass from Allen (Agboola kick)

CR – Martin Walker 19 pass from Allen (Agboola kick)

Sc – Mendez 1 run (Weinzierl kick)

CR – Marshawnn Henderson 8 pass from Allen (Agboola kick)

Rushing – Ritter: Santana Allen 20-71, Marshawnn Henderson 5-24, Trey Cole 3-1, Ben Paul 1-(minus-1); Scecina: Eric Montgomery 32-186, DJ Mendez 8-52, Ty Walker 2-30, Clifford Brown 8-27

Passing – Ritter: Allen 27-38-1 267; Scecina: Mendez 11-19-0 125.

Receiving – Ritter: Henderson 9-86, Gregory 9-75, M. Walker 7-73, Chase Guthrie 2-33; Scecina: Luke McDonald 4-59, Ty Walker 2-30, Keegan Ray 2-23, Clifford Brown 2-15, Tristan Brown 1-(minus-2)

Martinsville 38, Mooresville 35

Brayden Shrake rushed for 205 yards and a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown to help the host Artesians (5-3, 4-2) survive a wild offensive shootout and stay in contention for the Mid-State Conference championship with a narrow win over the Pioneers (3-5, 2-4). Mooresville quarterback Hogan Denny rushed for four TDs and threw for a fifth in leading the visitors to a near-comeback victory.

Mo — Hogan Denny 4 run (kick failed)

Ma — Jace LaFary 5 pass from A.J. Reynolds (kick failed)

Ma — Reynolds 3 run (Charlie Rawlins kick)

Ma — Trey Barner 10 blocked punt return (Rawlins kick)

Ma — Cameron Willison 3 pass from Reynolds (kick failed)

Mo — H. Denny 1 run (Tyler Church kick)

Ma — Hunter Stroud 96 kickoff return (kick failed)

Mo — H. Denny 10 run (Church kick)

Mo — H. Denny 1 run (Church kick)

Ma — Brayden Shrake 25 run (run failed)

Mo — Kaden Bruhn 8 pass from H. Denny (Levi Dorn run)

Rushing — Mooresville: H. Denny 19-117, Landon Clements 13-73, team 2-0. Martinsville: Shrake 33-205, Stroud 1-5, Reynolds 5-1, team 2-12.

Passing — Mooresville: H. Denny 23-39-0, 247; Bruhn 1-1-0, 32. Martinsville: Reynolds 10-15-0, 118.

Receiving — Mooresville: Dorn 8-115, Bruhn 8-66, Trey Bennett 4-41, Tyler Denny 1-33, J.J. Knight 2-16, Clements 1-8. Martinsville: Stroud 4-53, LaFary 4-50, Willison 2-15.

Hamilton Heights 51, South Bend Washington 6

HH – Eric Balcom 7 run (Teigan Scoles kick)

HH – Dean Mason tackle for safety

HH – Balcom 3 run (Balcom run)

HH – Balcom 9 run (Scoles kick)

HH – Jaylyn Pugh 63 punt return (Scoles kick)

SBW – TD

HH – Nathan Flanders 16 run (Scoles kick)

HH – Logan Hickman 21 run (Scoles kick)

HH – Bodie Derrer 6 run (kick blocked)

Rushing – Hamilton Heights: Balcom 15-156, Derrer 9-28, Flanders 6-30, Hickman 6-40, Blake Blackhurst 1-5, Drew Woodruff 1-(minus-1); South Bend Washington: Ja’Quan Patton 6-(minus-30), Jaydon Lindeberry 1-18, Mekhi Wilson 2-1, Torrey Wilson 1-(minus-7), Keltin Verse 1-(minus-2), Gabe Weber 2-3, Bryce Verse 2-(minus-3).

Passing – Hamilton Heights: Derrer 7-14-1 36; South Bend Washington: Weber 7-26-1 107.

Receiving – Hamilton Heights: Tyler Champion 3-21, Flanders 1-5, Conor Baumann 2-(minus-3), Balcom 1-13; South Bend Washington: Naesean Ward 1-(minus-1), Lindeberry 4-95, Patton 1-(minus-4_, Dallonte Smith 1-17.

South Putnam 26, Heritage Christian 19

SP — Kolby Harcourt 4 run (Wyatt Sweitzer kick)

SP — Logan Sillery 72 interception return (Sweitzer kick)

HC — Daniel Pallekonda 3 pass from Eli Nix (Noah Hamm kick)

SP — Wyatt Mullin 1 run (kick failed)

SP — Zach Dorsett 27 pass from Mullin (kick failed)

HC — Andrew Sloan 38 pass from Nix (kick failed)

SP — Sweitzer 20 FG

HS — Noah Dearman 19 pass from Nix (kick failed)

SP — Harcourt 2 run (Sweitzer kick)

Rushing — Heritage Christian: Elijah Pimental 21-110, Pallekonda 2-20, Vaughn Johnson 10-14, Nix 6-8, Isaac Nelson 1-4. S. Putnam: N/A.

Passing — Heritage Christian: Nix 18-32-2, 205. S. Putnam: N/A.

Receiving — Heritage Christian: Sloan 7-104, Dearman 4-48, Pallekonda 2-33, Isaac Jones 3-18, Nelson 1-4, Johnson 1-(minus-2). S. Putnam: N/A.

IHSAA football Central Indiana Week 8 scores

Avon 20, Zionsville 17

Ben Davis 26, Lawrence Central 23

Bishop Chatard 42, Shortridge 6

Bloomington South 51, Brebeuf Jesuit 26

Brownsburg 27, Noblesville 22

Carmel 17, Warren Central 14

Cathedral 42, Roncalli 0

Center Grove 43, Lawrence North 26

Crispus Attucks 48, Washington 6

Danville 21, Western Boone 7

Decatur Central 14, Perry Meridian 7

Eastern (Greentown) 19, Sheridan 14

Eastern Hancock 26, Shenandoah 14

Franklin 35, Greenwood 21

Greenfield-Central 28, Delta 9

Greenwood Christian 35, FW Blackhawk Christian 0

Guerin Catholic 42, Terre Haute North 0

Hamilton Heights 51, South Bend Washington 6

Hamilton Southeastern 19, Franklin Central 3

Indian Creek 21, Sullivan 7

Lapel 28, Jay County 7

Lebanon 41, Southmont 28

Lutheran 28, Speedway 9

Martinsville 38, Mooresville 35

McCutcheon 44, Tech 7

Monrovia 42, Cascade 35

Mt. Vernon 28, Shelbyville 14

New Palestine 35, New Castle 7

North Decatur 69, Edinburgh 0

Park Tudor 58, South Newton 18

Pendleton Heights 31, Yorktown 7

Pike 34, North Central 15

Purdue Poly 54, Phalen Academy 8

Scecina 41, Cardinal Ritter 28

South Putnam 36, Heritage Christian 19

Terre Haute South 34, Southport 0

Tindley 20, Christel House Manual 13

Tri-West 41, Crawfordsville 0

Triton Central 31, Beech Grove 6

Westfield 28, Fishers 14

Whiteland 22, Plainfield 8

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school football scores: Week 8 live updates, highlights