- Indiana
Top 25 Indiana HS football teams after Week 3 of 2018 season: Warren Central sits No. 1, with No. 2 Avon, No. 3 Brownsburg set to face off
The high school football season is barrelling along as we prepare to enter Week 4 of the season and with that, we begin to get a clearer picture of the top squads throughout the state. With that in mind, here are the top 25 football teams in Indiana through three weeks:
1. Warren Central (7-4 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Warriors put a hurting on the North Central Panthers this week to the tune of a 58-27 victory. Warren Central senior quarterback Jayden George carved up the defense for 421 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. Fellow senior Romeir Elliott paced the rushing attack, racking up 96 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries.
Up Next: Friday vs. Lawrence Central
2. Avon (10-3 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — After an impressive, nail-biting victory over No. 7 Ben Davis, the Orioles extended their undefeated streak by picking up a win against Hamilton Southeastern, 29-6. Senior Sampson James could not be stopped as he rumbled his way to an even 200 rushing yards and three total touchdowns on 33 carries. James is a name to watch as he now has 533 rushing yards through three weeks.
Up Next: Friday at No. 3 Brownsburg
3. Brownsburg (8-3 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Bulldogs are a very talented team that has yet to feel pressure through the 2018 season. Week 3 saw Brownsburg sleepwalk its way to a 37-7 victory over Franklin Central. That lack of pressure should be resolved this Friday when the Bulldogs host No. 2 Avon.
Up Next: Friday vs. No. 2 Avon
4. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (7-6 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Trojans traveled to Roncalli this week and kicked the Rebels when they were down, keeping them winless in 2018 with a 21-13 victory. Bishop Chatard was able to suffocate the Roncalli passing game, holding the Rebels to under 60 yards through the air.
Up Next: Friday vs. Cathedral
5. Decatur Central (10-2 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Decatur Central Hawks continued their uncanny streak of winning by 14 points on Friday when they topped Whiteland by a score of 28-14. The Hawks used the senior-junior combination of Parker Harrington and Kenneth Tracy to amass a total of 238 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Harrington also added 96 yards through the air.
Up Next: Friday at No. 17 Martinsville
6. New Palestine (10-1 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Dragons enter Week 4 as a team that has yet to face anything remotely close to a challenge thus far. In Week 3 they traveled to Yorktown and thrashed the Tigers, 81-13. Junior Charlie Spegal ran for 252 yards and six touchdowns on 18 carries.
Up Next: Friday at Mt. Vernon
7. Ben Davis (14-0 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Giants picked up their first loss in over a year during a Week 2 matchup against No. 2 Avon in a 41-36 thriller. Week 3 saw Ben Davis rebound behind 368 yards rushing as the Giants beat Pike 40-19.
Up Next: Friday vs. No. 20 Center Grove
8. Pioneer (15-0 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — A small school with the talent and discipline to compete with the big boys, the Panthers have lost one game in two plus years, and a state championship game in 2016. Pioneer got off to an uncharacteristic slow start against LaVille this week before routing the Lancers, 66-19.
Up Next: Friday vs. Caston
9. West Lafayette (11-2 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Red Devils have continued to make short work of their opponents in 2018. Week 3 was no different as West Lafayette ran Hamilton Heights off their own field in a 76-0 laugher.
Up Next: Friday vs. Lafayette Central Catholic
10. Lafayette Jeff (10-1 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Broncos have dropped just one game this season, a loss that came at the hands of No. 9 West Lafayette. Since that defeat, Lafayette Jeff has dismantled both Western and McCutcheon in blowout wins. The Broncos topped McCutcheon by 41 points behind 358 passing yards from sophomore Maximus Grimes.
Up Next: Friday vs. Harrison
11. Michigan City (9-4 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Wolves picked up a 28-10 win over Chesterton just one week after a heart-breaking overtime loss in Week 3. The winning effort was a long one as the Wolves trailed 10-7 before the game was postponed until Saturday due to lightning. Finally, in the third quarter, Michigan City grabbed the lead before pulling away for good.
Up Next: Friday vs. Valparaiso
12. Farmersburg North Central (10-2 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — Not to be confused with the North Central of Indianapolis, North Central of Farmersburg has made a name for itself early this season. The Thunderbirds have won each of their first three by at least 30 points, beating Parke Heritage by a score of 62-32 Friday. North Central racked up a staggering 593 yards of rushing in the matchup.
Up Next: Friday at North Decatur
13. Carmel (8-5 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Greyhounds started the season strong before dropping their last matchup against No. 20 Center Grove, 17-7. Carmel could not stop the run game as they fell behind by 17 and could never muster anything close to a resistance.
Up Next: Friday vs. Pike
14. Columbus North (9-2 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Bulldogs stayed undefeated and picked up a victory against Southport, 41-36. The victory marked the second in as many weeks by five points or less for Columbus North. Sophomore Blake Huffman did the heavy lifting for the Bulldogs, rushing for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Up Next: Friday vs. Roncalli
15. Western Boone (9-4 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Stars have shone brightly through the early weeks of the season. In Week 3, Western Boone put the smackdown on Crawfordsville, routing them in 69-0 fashion. Junior Spencer Wright completed nine of his 10 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns.
Up Next: Friday at Tri-West Hendricks
16. Penn (12-2 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Kingsmen dropped their first matchup of the year in Week 3 to Brother Rice from Michigan, 13-7. Penn does have a favorable schedule ahead of themselves with their next ranked opponent not coming until Oct. 12.
Up next: Friday at Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s
17. Martinsville (6-5 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Artesians come into Week 4 with an unblemished record after taking care of Greenwood, 29-8. Senior Isaac Osborne put Martinsville on his back as he ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns, helping to control the pace of the game. Things get much harder for Osborne and company this week however as No. 5 Decatur Central comes to town.
Up Next: Friday vs. No. 5 Decatur Central
18. Evansville Memorial (14-1 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Tigers defeated Evansville North last week in a 56-10 beatdown. The defense helped set the pace as the Tigers tallied three sacks, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Junior Finn McCool also returned a kick for 95 yards for a touchdown.
Up Next: Friday vs. Evansville Mater Dei
19. Triton Central (8-4 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Tigers have spent the first three weeks of the season looking like a team that could easily run the table. Week 3 saw Triton Central hold Indianapolis Lutheran scoreless in a 31-0 victory, keeping their points against total for 2018 at zero. The offense was powered by a rugged running game throughout the night that continuously punished Indianapolis Lutheran.
Up Next: Friday at Monrovia
20. Center Grove (6-6 last season, 1-2 in 2018) — The Trojans picked up their first victory of the year in Week 3, jumping out to a 17-point lead against No. 13 Carmel and never looking back. Despite its record, Center Grove should not be taken lightly with their two losses coming in narrow defeats against No. 1 Warren Central and No. 6 New Palestine.
Up Next: Friday at No. 7 Ben Davis
21. Westfield (4-6 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Shamrocks rebounded with a 41-28 victory over Zionsville a week after falling to No. 5 Decatur Central. Westfield leaned on their running game as they totaled 343 yards on the ground compared to 147 through the air.
Up Next: Friday at Noblesville
22. Mishawaka (6-5 last season, 2-1 in 2018) — The Cavemen dropped a close matchup to perennial powerhouse Marist in Week 3 by a score of 27-24. The loss is nothing to be ashamed of as Mishawaka put forth a strong effort behind the running back tandem of seniors Chris Harness and Sam Shively.
Up Next: Friday at South Bend Adams
23. Marion (7-4 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Giants may not be on the same level as a few of the higher ranked schools but they are still extremely talented. Marion roughed up Kokomo in Week 3 by a score of 46-7. The win helped Marion improve the 3-0 on the season.
Up Next: Friday at Anderson
24. Evansville Central (11-2 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Bears join Evansville Memorial as the second Evansville squad to make the list and for good reason. Week 3 showed off just how explosive the Bears can be, as they held Evansville Bosse to just six points while lighting up the scoreboard for 42.
Up Next: Friday at Evansville Reitz
25. NorthWood (7-4 last season, 3-0 in 2018) — The Panthers are a team that seems to always be good despite the typical turnover of high school sports. This season is no different as they have raced out to a 3-0 start, picking up a 29-20 victory over Concord in Week 3. Senior Bronson Yoder carried the load for his team, rushing 29 times for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Up Next: Friday at Goshen
Ten others to keep an eye on: Indianapolis Cathedral (1-2), Gibson Southern (3-0), Lawrence North (2-1), Culver Academy (2-1), Southport (2-1), Western (2-1), Columbus East (1-2), Evansville Reitz (2-1), East Central (2-1), Whiteland (2-1)
