Mt. Vernon’s Ashton Julian (22) finds a hole behind the block of Kyler Grill (77) on Franklin’s Lance Jones (31) during their game last Friday at Franklin Community High School.
Rob Baker | For The Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — The month of September means it’s time for neighbors to shake hands and start battlin’.
The next four weeks, starting with tonight’s Week 3 Hancock County and Hoosier Heritage Conference showdown between Class 4A No. 8 Greenfield-Central and Class 4A No. 10 Mt. Vernon, fans won’t have far to drive to see which team claims local bragging rights.
At least one matchup in each of the next four Fridays pits either county vs. county opponents or a county school facing a long-time foe just on the other side of the border.
The Cougars and Marauders faced twice in 2021 with the state champions from Fortville winning both outings. In the regular-season matchup, Mt. Vernon beat Greenfield-Central 42-21. They met again in a sectional semifinal game. The Marauders won that one, too, 49-34.
The 34 points were the most the Marauders gave up after their lone loss, a 57-36 defeat in the season opener against Noblesville. The 49 was the most the Cougars gave up all season.
The county’s three Class 4A schools go head-to-head over the next four weeks.
Mt. Vernon will get to see both its county rivals on home turf.
It’ll be the biggest game in the county and one of the biggest across the state when the Marauders host No. 1 New Palestine in a Week 4 matchup on Sept. 9. One (Mt. Vernon) is the defending Class 4A state champion, the other (New Palestine) was a state champion the last time it played in Class 4A (2014).
It is one of two county rivalry games that play for a traveling trophy.
The Dragons and Marauders compete for the Boundary Rail, a small piece of track that once ran along U.S. 40 identifying the boundary of the school districts.
It’s currently in the hands of the Marauders, who have won the last two contests.
With it being in the same conference, similar in school size and in nearby Madison County, Pendleton Heights has also been considered a rival among the county’s Class 4A programs, too.
It’s just a seven-mile drive from Pendleton to Fortville and 15 miles from the Arabians’ home to Greenfield, which is the route they will take for a Week 4 matchup against the Cougars.
The Class 4A locals take a bit of a rivalry break in Week 5, but the week will not be without a Friday night tussle among neighbors.
Eastern Hancock, on Sept. 16, will head east on U.S. 40 to take on Knightstown. It’ll take Royals fans, roughly, a 10-minute drive to watch their local faves take on the Panthers for the Plowshare and Anvil trophy.
A COVID-19 quarantine kept the teams from playing in 2021.
Eastern Hancock has won the last two matchups. Knightstown last beat the Royals in 2018.
Greenfield-Central will play both of its county rivals on the road. On Sept. 23, the Cougars travel to New Palestine. The Cougars have been more competitive the last couple of seasons, but they’re looking for their first win over the Dragons since 2010.
Mt. Vernon will have a quick trip that day, also. The Marauders visit Pendleton Heights. Mt. Vernon has the advantage lately in this rivalry series, too.
They’ve met in the regular season and sectional in each of the last three years. Mt. Vernon has won all six. They’ve won seven in a row dating back to 2017.
September is full of rivalry football, and it all starts tonight at Mt. Vernon High School.
