LUTHERAN DOMINATES AGAIN
Lutheran claimed the Indiana Crossroads Conference championship Friday as the undefeated Class A No. 1 Saints dominated host Speedway by putting up 47 points. The Saints offense is averaging 49 points per game, topping the 70-point mark once and 50 points four times this season. At Speedway, the Saints scored first on a 9-yard run by sophomore quarterback Jackson Willis. One of the state’s youngest standouts, Willis threw TD passes of 63, 40, 24, and 16 yards. Receiver Micah Mackey caught Willis’ two longest passes for scores. The last quarter was played with a running clock.
WHITELAND ATOP MID-STATE
Whiteland journeyed west to Plainfield and gained sole possession of first place in the Mid-State Conference chase. The 5A No. 3 Warriors scored early in the first minute on Maalik Perkins’ 57-yard TD romp and never looked back. Whiteland’s ground game chewed up 240 yards. Peyton Emberton scored twice. The Warriors were part of a four-way deadlock for the title two weeks ago, but broke on top alone as Mooresville toppled Martinsville Friday. The Artesians handed Whiteland its only loss on Sept. 23.
When two opposing lines collide, something has to give. Whiteland’s defensive line with junior lineman Scott Harden (56) met Plainfield’s offensive line Friday in Mid-State game at Plainfield. The Warriors defense gave up two touchdowns and only 71 yards on the ground. Whiteland won, 45-14.
TROJANS 1-2 GROUND ATTACK
Center Grove relied on the 1-2 ground attack of Micah Coyle, 26 carries for 189 yards and one TD, and Jalen Thomeson, 14 carries for 144 yards and one TD, against host Lawrence North. Quarterback Tyler Cherry kept the Wildcats defense honest with two TD passes to Noah Coy. The Trojans offense put up 472 yards total offense in stretching its winning streak to 35 wins against Hoosierland teams.
SLOW START PLAGUES ROYALS
Roncalli rallied from a 17-0 deficit against visiting Cincinnati Elder, scored unanswered on three TDs and a safety, only to fall behind on a fourth quarter TD and extra point with eight minutes left. Roncalli, 4A No. 2, then drove to the Panthers’ 45 before the drive stalled. Elder was able to grind it out and run out the clock. Royals running back Luke Hansen gained 221 yards on 34 carries and scored in the second half on a 4-yard run and 10-yard pass from Arik Moyers.