Indiana

IHSAA football sectional pairings takeaways: Early showdowns, tough draws, new champs

Published

1 year ago

October 13, 2024

IHSAA football sectional pairings takeaways: Early showdowns, tough draws, new champs

The path to Lucas Oil Stadium is set.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association unveiled the football sectional draw Sunday night for the 52nd annual tournament presented by the Indianapolis Colts. The first round sectional games for Class 4A through Class A are set for Oct. 25, with 5A and 6A to begin the following week. The state finals for all six classes will be played Nov. 29 and 30 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

IHSAA football sectional draw: Check out the 2024 tournament pairings

What we learned from Week 8: On Lawrence North, Cascade, surprises

Here are 10 takeaways from the sectional draw:

Big-time matchups in 6A

There might not be the major league showdown last year like there was last year when Brownsburg played Ben Davis in the first round, but there are some good ones. Three of the best:

∎ Franklin Central at Columbus North, Sectional 8: Franklin Central (5-2) has been one of the hottest teams in the class with wins the past two weeks over Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern and a four-game winning streak overall. Coach Jayson West’s Flashes are guaranteed of having a winning season for the first time since joining the Hoosier Crossroads Conference in 2018. Can Franklin Central get through No. 9 Columbus North (7-1) and get a shot at No. 7 Center Grove (5-3)?

∎ Lawrence North at Lawrence Central, Sectional 6: Beating a rival twice is always tough. Class 6A fourth-ranked Lawrence North (8-0) has proved itself against the toughest teams on its schedule with decisive wins over Ben Davis, Warren Central and Center Grove the past three weeks. But the Wildcats had to hold on in Week 1 for a 33-26 win over Lawrence Central. The Bears (3-5) are capable of making it tough for the Wildcats.

∎ Carmel at Zionsville, Sectional 3: Hard to believe but Carmel (3-5) has not won a sectional since 2020. Zionsville (3-5) won one sectional title in 6A in 2019 with wins over Pike and Brownsburg. Carmel has been struggling in recent weeks, losing four of five. Zionsville has dropped three in a row after a promising start. These programs have never met in tournament play. Third-ranked Westfield (7-1) will likely be waiting on the other side of the bracket.

Sectional 5 could still go through Ben Davis

If top-ranked Brownsburg (8-0) can win at Avon (2-6) in the first round of Sectional 5, the Bulldogs could be headed back to defending 6A champion Ben Davis for the sectional championship game.

Ben Davis (3-5) will have to win at an improved Pike (5-3) in the first round. After a 1-5 start, Ben Davis has won two in a row over Carmel and Lawrence Central by a combined 48 points. The Giants rallied last year from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Brownsburg 28-25 in the first round of the sectional, then go on to win the state title.

Ben Davis and Brownsburg did not meet during the regular season. The Giants lost to Avon in overtime, but beat Pike 38-14. Brownsburg handled Avon 45-15 after a slow start.

A wide-open Sectional 4

Hamilton Southeastern (5-3), the two-time defending sectional champion, might still be the team to beat in Sectional 4. But it seems like a smaller margin than it has been. Despite its record, Noblesville (2-6) could be a sleeper pick. The Millers battled top-ranked Brownsburg into the fourth quarter on Friday before losing 22-18 and have lost five games by a touchdown or less, including a 28-21 loss to HSE in Week 7. Fishers (4-4) beat HSE 37-35 in Week 4.

Fishers plays at Noblesville and HSE is at Homestead (4-4).

A showdown in Class 4A

Bishop Chatard, the 3A state champion in 2022 and ’23, will attempt to win its first state title in 4A this season. The 4A third-ranked Trojans (6-1) will start with Crispus Attucks (5-1) in Sectional 22 and then play the winner of Mooresville (3-5) and Shortridge (2-5).

More of the intrigue in Sectional 22 will be on the bottom half of the bracket, where high-scoring No. 8 Brebeuf Jesuit (6-2) will host Danville (7-1) and Roncalli (3-4) hosts Northview (7-1). Chatard beat Brebeuf 58-35 in the opener and defeated Roncalli 9-3 in Week 3.

The Danville-Brebeuf game should be fun. Danville’s only loss came in Week 1 to 3A state-ranked Gibson Southern. Brebeuf, averaging more than 48 points per game, is putting up video game numbers every (non-hurricane weather) week.

A loaded local 5A sectional

The two teams to make it to the state finals the past two years from the bottom half of the 5A bracket will meet in the first round of Sectional 13.

Whiteland (3-4) is at fourth-ranked Decatur Central (5-2) in a rematch of a game the Hawks won 42-29 in Week 3. Decatur Central reached the state finals last year, losing to Fort Wayne Snider. Whiteland was the 5A entry two years ago, falling to Valparaiso.

Sitting on the other side of the four-team sectional is No. 5 Plainfield (7-1), which will play winless Anderson.

A great route for Martinsville

One of the stories of the season has been 4A second-ranked Martinsville (8-0), which ran into the freight train of East Central in the sectional each of the past three seasons. But East Central is now playing up in 5A and Martinsville has a much more favorable sectional this season in Sectional 23.

The Artesians will open at home against Charlestown (1-7) and then play the winner of Silver Creek (3-5) and Connersville (2-6) in the semifinal. The next-best team in the eight-team field is probably Greenwood (2-6). This is a good year for Martinsville to break a sectional title drought that dates to 1996. The Artesians can really sling with quarterback A.J. Reynolds and receiver Hunter Stroud.

I like Martinsville to make the semistate.

A murderer’s row in 3A sectional

How about Class 3A Sectional 32. Wow.

No matter how you slice it, Sectional 32 was going have some heavyweight matchups in the first round with four top-10 teams in the field. No. 1 Evansville Memorial (8-0) will play at seventh-ranked Evansville Mater Dei (7-1) in a rematch of a game Memorial won 41-13 in Week 4. Also, No. 2 Heritage Hills (7-1) will play at No. 6 Gibson Southern (6-2) in the bottom half of the bracket.

Southridge (6-2) is another team to watch in the sectional.

The path for Lutheran

Coach Dave Pasch’s Lutheran team, the three-time defending champion in Class A, is playing in Class 2A for the first time and will be one of the favorites to compete for a state championship. The 7-1 Saints, who saw their 45-game winning streak snapped by Triton Central earlier this season, will host sixth-ranked Heritage Christian (6-2), arguably the next-best team in the seven-team sectional, in the first round of Sectional 37.

The other top contender in Sectional 37 is Monrovia (6-2), which is hosting Scecina (3-5) on the top half of the bracket. Lutheran is 4-0 against the sectional field, including a 49-14 win over Monrovia. The Saints have not played Heritage Christian.

Tough draw for Western Boone

Western Boone, the Class 2A state champion three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020, is playing in 2A again after three years of playing up in 3A. The fourth-ranked Stars (7-1) are a contender to make a deep run but did not receive a favorable draw in Sectional 34. The first-round matchup is against North Putnam (7-1) with top-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic (7-1) awaiting in the sectional semifinal.

Lafayette Central Catholic, an eight-time state champion in Class A, won a regional for the first time last year in 2A before falling to Fort Wayne Luers in the semistate. This is a sectional with not a lot of familiarity; LCC, Western Boone and North Putnam have not played one another.

Odds and ends

There are guaranteed to be at least five new state champions this season with Fort Wayne Snider (moving up from 5A to 6A), East Central (4A to 5A), Bishop Chatard (3A to 4A), Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (2A to 3A) and Lutheran (A to 2A) all moving up after winning state championships via the tournament success factor. … There are 312 teams entered in the tournament. … Chatard has the most state championships in tournament history with 17, followed by Cathedral (14) and Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (12). … In addition to the five teams listed above playing up through the tourney success factor, Adams Central (2A), Cathedral (6A) and Lafayette Central Catholic (2A) are also playing up. … Lutheran has the longest active tournament winning streak with 17. … No. 1 New Palestine (7-0) will open Class 4A Sectional 21 at home against Mt. Vernon (4-4). Greenfield-Central (6-2) is on the other side of the bracket.

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

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Indiana

Indiana’s first underground cheese cave in St. Joseph County

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

Indiana’s first underground cheese cave in St. Joseph County

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY (WSBT) — A unique way to age cheese is happening in St. Joseph county, where Indiana’s first underground cheese cave is located.

A family-owned business called J2K Capraio handcrafts and ages varieties of both goat and cow milk cheese in the underground cave.

Each year, they age thousands of pounds of cheese, Joe Klinedinst is one of the owners overseeing the process.

In Walkerton, the family, we were fortunate enough to build through the help of different mentors throughout the country, but built Indiana’s first underground cheese cave. There we age between 20 and 25 thousand pounds of cheese per year in some years more, said Klinedinst.

The cave is naturally cooled, developing the rind and flavors of the cheese as it ages.

This process can take months or even years.

“In this underground cave it’s naturally cooled you’re getting the flavors of the earth and the natural terrar of our area and we’re able to do cheeses that are aged anywhere from 90 days all the way up to two to three years,” said Klinedinst.

It’s a slightly different process than how cheese is normally aged or made.

So this cave allows you to not have air being blown as in it’s not a walk-in cooler kind of situation, it’s just the natural temperature of the earth which is perfect for the cheese so it ages up more consistent a little bit slower, said Klinedinst.

The method creates a distinct taste in the cave-aged cheeses, retaining flavors from the natural terrain of the area, which is one of the reasons the family chose to build the cave.

And then you also pull the flavors, I know it sounds odd but from the walls in the earth, and as soon as you bite into a cheese that’s been aged in a cave or a different type of facility you know it as soon as you do, and that’s what led us to the cave, said Klinedinst.

The local family owned business has been selling their products in the South Bend area for 20-years.

They started at the South Bend Farmer’s market, but now operate the Artesian deli and cheese stop Oh Mamma’s on the Avenue where they sell these cave-aged cheeses in wheels, half wheels, or small blocks or wedges.

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Indiana

Alabama defense gets big boost, has thoughts on facing Indiana’s Heisman winner

Published

7 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Alabama defense gets big boost, has thoughts on facing Indiana’s Heisman winner

Alabama’s defense has a lot on its plate.

There aren’t many weaknesses that pop off the page when studying the Indiana offense they will face in Thursday’s Rose Bowl.

The Crimson Tide will get a boost with the return of a key piece of its front seven, who has been missing the last few weeks. Starting defensive end LT Overton is back at practice after missing the last two games with an undisclosed illness.

“I think it’s a tremendous blessing for our team,” defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Sunday. “It’s awesome for us. He obviously needs to have a good couple of days here, but he’s certainly on track. To have him in this game, his experience and his excitement of wanting to get back on the field … he’s an ultimate competitor.”

Overton has four sacks — second most on the team — among his 35 tackles this season.

Wommack said Overton’s ability to stay in shape while missing the SEC title game and CFP opener was crucial in his ability to return.

“He looks great now,” Wommack said.

Alabama found success getting to the quarterback in the CFP first-round win over Oklahoma with a season-high five sacks, but Indiana will be a whole different beast. The Hoosiers allow just 1.39 sacks a game in an offense that’s balanced and explosive.

It has Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the nation’s No. 10 rushing offense, averaging 221.2 yards per game.

Wommack, previously a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at Indiana from 2019-20, said this Hoosier offense is as disciplined and as detailed as any offense Alabama’s seen.

“Offensively, I think they’re highly efficient, very explosive,” Wommack said. “That starts with their quarterback. He knows where to go with the ball. He’s very decisive, makes great decisions with the ball and can. Can make all the throws and can make the explosive plays when it matters most … I think their physicality shows up on tape. They play the game physically from an offensive line standpoint.”

The efficiency is clear on paper.

Indiana’s No. 4 nationally in points per play (0.578), No. 6 in yards per play (6.7) and No. 1 in third-down conversions (55.8%).

Cornerback Zabien Brown noted the care Indiana takes with preserving possession.

“Facing an opponent that does a great job of taking care of the ball really puts more stress reading our keys,” Brown said, “and trusting being able to pull the trigger and make plays in that smaller margin when opportunities pop up.

The Hoosiers’ eight turnovers in 13 games are tied for the third fewest in the nation. That includes just one lost fumble that occurred in the season opener, Aug. 30, in a win over Old Dominion.

Alabama has 20 takeaways, the 32nd most, with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.

Facing Mendoza in the first game since winning the Heisman Trophy sounds like a motivating factor in Tuscaloosa.

“He’s a man, just like me,” defensive lineman Tim Keenan said. “But he’s a great Heisman winner. He put himself in the position to get the accolades, so we’re going to make sure we do what we need to do to play our game.”

Brown, who intercepted a pass at Oklahoma and returned it for a touchdown, said Mendoza “is definitely the best quarterback we’ve faced all year.”

And Keon Sabb, an Alabama safety, was brief in his remarks when asked about Mendoza.

“He’s a really good player, whether he won the Heisman or not,” Sabb said. “Congrats to him for winning that, but we’re going to play our game.”

Alabama and Indiana kick off in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal at 3 p.m. CT Thursday in Pasadena. The winner advances to the Peach Bowl semifinal on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.

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Indiana

Indiana visits Houston on 4-game road skid

Published

1 week ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Indiana Pacers (6-26, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (19-10, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Monday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana visits Houston looking to stop its four-game road skid.

The Rockets are 9-2 on their home court. Houston is 8-1 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 15.1 turnovers per game.

The Pacers are 1-14 in road games. Indiana gives up 119.2 points to opponents and has been outscored by 9.4 points per game.

The Rockets are shooting 48.9% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points higher than the 48.0% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers’ 43.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Rockets have given up to their opponents (46.2%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Alperen Sengun is averaging 22.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Kevin Durant is averaging 30 points and seven assists over the past 10 games.

Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers. Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 25.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 5-5, averaging 117.7 points, 46.7 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.

Pacers: 2-8, averaging 107.9 points, 41.3 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Alperen Sengun: day to day (calf), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl).

Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ben Sheppard: day to day (calf), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (concussion), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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