HANCOCK COUNTY — Across Central Indiana, Hancock County’s four varsity high school football teams begin their 2023 seasons tonight.
Graduation took away a lot of top players from Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine, but all four have high hopes that tonight’s openers will propel them to big things when the postseason arrives in October.
Greenfield-Central is the lone county school playing at home. The Cougars, 7-4 a year ago, welcome Madison, from southern Indiana, for an 8 p.m. start. The late start is to accommodate travel for the school located near the Indiana-Kentucky border.
New Palestine heads to Hamilton County to take on Class 6A Westfield in a matchup of teams ranked in preseason polls.
The Dragons are No. 2 in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 4A rankings. The Shamrocks are No. 7 in their class.
New Palestine was ranked No. 1 in Class 4A most of last season, but graduated a large class of 20-plus seniors. The Dragons advanced further than any team last year, winning a sectional title before being knocked off in the regional by No. 2 Roncalli. It was the lone loss in New Pal’s 12-1 season.
A lot of players graduated, but the Dragons do return two of the state’s top players in offensive lineman Ian Moore, an Ohio State commit, and junior defensive lineman Michael Thacker. Also back is top rusher, Grayson Thomas, a four-year starter.
“We’ve got some refinement to do, but even (earlier this week at practice) from the start to the end, we’ve increased phenomenally,” Moore said. “I think we’re ready and I think we’ll step up and be a tough challenge to anyone we play.”
Mt. Vernon is starting its season where it also wants to finish it.
The Marauders take on Noblesville in the second game of the Indianapolis Colts 2023 Horseshoe Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.
Lafayette Jefferson and Cathedral open the night at 6 p.m. The Marauders, 6-4 last season, and Millers are scheduled to get started at 8:30 p.m.
“It’s special,” Mt. Vernon senior wide receiver Tre Jones, one of a handful of classmates that played in and won the Class 4A state title at Lucas Oil in 2021, said of returning to the Colts’ facility. “The fact we get to start there, it gives us that goal to end there. If you can start and end at the same place … nice.”
Eastern Hancock heads to Madison County to take on Frankton, in the first meeting of the 2A schools since 1997.
The Royals finished 5-6 last season in coach Pat Echeverria’s return. He led the Royals to the Class 1A state championship game in 2013.
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Today’s Games
7 p.m. – Eastern Hancock at Frankton
7 p.m. – New Palestine at Westfield
8 p.m. – Madison at Greenfield-Central
8:30 p.m. – Mt. Vernon vs. Noblesville at Lucas Oil Stadium
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Game Capsules
Eastern Hancock (0-0) at Frankton (0-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Pat Echeverria, 28-20 in 5th year at Eastern Hancock, 60-76 in 13th year overall. Mark Luzadder, 6-14 in 3rd year at Frankton, 7-23 in 4th year overall.
Recent history: First meeting between the two since a 42-13 Frankton win in 1997.
Sagarin ratings (last season): Eastern Hancock 33.69, 221st overall, 36th in 2A. Frankton 33.9, 218th overall, 35th in 2A.
Players to watch: Eastern Hancock — QB Elijah Edon, WR/DB Dylan Bowman, NG/T Logan Hoskins, OL/DL Jacob Wickard, S/KR Garrett Shaw, WR/S Cam Volz, WR/K Aaron Redmon, TE/LB Kayden Ruble. Frankton – QB Ethan Stansberry, WR Brady Carmack, WR/DB/KR Austin Nunley, RB Nate Luzzader, LB Crew Farrell, DL Garek Ellis.
What to look for: If how both teams ended last season in the Sagarin ratings is any indication, Friday’s game at Cress Field should be a competitive matchup. The Royals will miss graduated star RB Kain Sotelo (1,645 rushing yards, 16 TDs) but QB Edon and most of his top targets (Volz, Ruble, Redmon, Bowman) return. Hoskins and Bowman were last year’s leaders in sacks and interceptions, respectively. The Eagles were 3-7 last year and are looking for their first winning season since 2017.
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Class 4A No. 2 New Palestine (0-0) at Class 6A No. 7 Westfield (0-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Kyle Ralph, 116-11 in 11th year at New Palestine. Jake Gilbert, 92-52 in 13th year at Westfield, 122-88 in 19th year overall.
Recent history: New Palestine won last year’s season-opener at Kelso Stadium 42-28 and has won the last three meetings.
Sagarin ratings (last season): New Palestine 89.03, 14th overall, third in 4A. Westfield 93.23, sixth overall, fifth in 6A.
Players to watch: New Palestine — RB/LS Grayson Thomas, OL/DL Ian Moore, OL/DL Michael Thacker, RB/WR Kyler Kropp, WR/DB Mason Hiatt, QB Gavin Neal, KR/DB Micah Clark. Westfield – RB Kendall Garrett, WR Gabe Aramboles, TE Max Nosler, S Andrew Lieskie, LB Anthony Feltrinelli, DE Coleton Vondersaar.
What to look for: As it did in 2022, New Palestine will play above its class with a matchup against the state-ranked 6A Shamrocks. A year ago, with a senior-dominated roster, the Dragons won 42-28 at Kelso Stadium. Many of those players are gone, but RB Thomas is back. He had three TDs in last year’s game and rushed for 187 yards on 24 carries. The Dragons are really young but boast two of the state’s and country’s top linemen. Moore, a senior, is a 6-6, 311-pound OL commit to Ohio State. Thacker, a 6-0, 271 junior, already has offers from Tennessee and West Virginia and is coming of a season where he recorded 34.5 tackles for loss from his spot on the Dragons defensive line.
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Madison (0-0) at Greenfield-Central (0-0)
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
Coaches: LeRoy Wilson, 11-29 in 5th year at Madison. Travis Nolting, 19-22 in 5th year at Greenfield-Central, 79-50 in 13th year overall.
Recent history: Tonight’s game is the first meeting between the two programs.
Sagarin ratings (last season): Madison 41.18, 187th overall, 41st in 3A. Greenfield-Central 71.49, 51st overall, 12th in 4A.
Players to watch: Greenfield-Central – TE Lane Wadle, QB Dallas Freeman, RB/LB Cooper Hinton, RB/LB Jake Hinton, FB Braylen Benavente, WR/KR Kirk Knecht, FB/DL Payton Foley, OL Brayden Flener, RB/DB Cash Looper.
What to look for: The Cougars were beset by injuries much of last season, but they continue to grow the program under fifth-year head coach Nolting. Last year’s team went 7-4, with two of the losses coming to No. 1 New Palestine and another to then-defending state champion Mt. Vernon. G-C lost key guys, but they have a lot of talent returning led by Georgia Tech commit Wadle. Madison is new to the Cougars schedule and a Class 3A school. The Cubs went 4-6 last year, recording the program’s most wins since going 6-5 in 2014.
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Noblesville (0-0) vs. Mt. Vernon (0-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m.
Coaches: Dave Sharpe, 8-23 in 4th year at Noblesville, 47-49 in 10th year overall. Vince Lidy, 20-5 in 3rd year at Mt. Vernon.
Recent history: Noblesville has won the last two meetings and lead the series 2-1.
Sagarin ratings (last season): Noblesville 78.68, 34th overall, 17th in 6A. Mt. Vernon 75.84 38th overall, 7th in 4A.
Players to watch: Mt. Vernon — QB Luke Ertel, WR Tre Jones, OL/DL Roland Trimble, LB Aidan Lindstrom, RB Joliba Brogan, RB/DB DJ Johnson, TE/DL Tyler Etherington, WR/DB Domanic Barnett, OL Tyler Kempers.
What to look for: It’s a highlight for both programs to open the season in an NFL facility. In 2021, Mt. Vernon ended its season at Lucas Oil Stadium by winning the Class 4A state title. The Marauders were 14-1 that year, winning 14 straight after opening the season with a loss against the Millers. The Class 6A Millers handed the Marauders a 43-35 loss to start last year. MV looks to end that stretch of wins for the Hamilton County team and come in with a healthy Trimble up front and a sophomore QB in Ertel who improved game-by-game last season. His top targets (George Burhenn and Eli Bridenthal) have graduated, but Jones is the top returning receiver (by yards) in Hancock County.
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2022 Hancock County Football Statistical Leaders
PASSING
Name,School;G;C;A;YDS;PCT;Y/G;TD;INT;RAT
Daniel Tippit, New Palestine;13;159;252;2546;.631;195.8;33;1;134.7
Eli Bridenthal, Mt. Vernon;10;20;39;422;.513;42.2;5;1;118.8
Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon;10;107;187;1659;.572;165.9;16;8;97.4
Elijah Edon, Eastern Hancock;11;129;243;1525;.531;138.6;19;9;83.1
Dallas Freeman, Greenfield-Central;9;72;126;898;.571;99.8;8;6;80.7
RUSHING
Name, School;G;CAR;YDS;AVG;Y/G;TD
Kain Sotelo, Eastern Hancock;11;187;1645;8.8;149.5;15
Grayson Thomas, New Palestine;11;189;1509;8.0;137.2;26
Andrew Zellers, Greenfield-Central;8;162;1065;6.6;133.1;15
Brayden Herrell, Greenfield-Central;8;112;643;5.7;80.4;4
Drew Martin, Mt. Vernon;7;73;424;5.8;60.6;6
RECEIVING
Name, School;G;REC;YDS;AVG;Y/G;TD
George Burhenn, Mt. Vernon;10;38;784;20.6;78.4;9
Isaiah Thacker, New Palestine;13;55;917;16.7;70.5;9
Eli Bridenthal, Mt. Vernon;10;41;622;15.2;62.2;6
Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine;13;43;705;16.4;54.2;12
Tre Jones, Mt. Vernon;9;29;481;16.6;53.4;4
TACKLES
Name, School;G;S;A;T;T/G;TFL
Jacob Hinton, Greenfield-Central;11;63;52;115;10.5;8.0
Eli Hook, New Palestine;12;54;62;116;9.7;9.0
Brayden Tincher, Eastern Hancock;11;58;42;100;9.1;5.0
Michael Thacker, New Palestine;12;74;29;103;8.6;34.5
Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine;13;72;40;112;8.6;6.0
SACKS
Name, School;G;S;S/G
Michael Thacker, New Palestine;12;13.0;1.1
Brock Brownfield, New Palestine;12;4.5;0.4
Brad Allen, Greenfield-Central;11;4.0;0.4
Payton Foley, Greenfield-Central;11;4.0;0.4
Eian Roudebush, New Palestine;13;4.0;0.3
INTERCEPTIONS
Name, School;G;I;I/G
Dylan Bowman, Eastern Hancock;11;7;0.6
Daniel Thacker, New Palestine;12;5;0.5
Kirk Knecht, Greenfield-Central;10;4;0.4
Owen Anderson, Greenfield-Central;7;3;0.4
Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine;13;4;0.3
PUNTING
Name, School;P;YDS;AVE
Aaron Redmon, Eastern Hancock;22;819;37.2
Aaron Lee, Greenfield-Central;8;264;33.0
Daniel Tippit, New Palestine;10;328;32.8
Jake Wells, New Palestine;4;123;30.8
Eli Bridenthal, Mt. Vernon;7;208;29.7
RETURN YARDS
Name, School;K;P;T
Kirk Knecht, Greenfield-Central;438;28;466
Isaiah Thacker, New Palestine;219;75;294
Daniel Thacker, New Palestine;284;0;284
Garrett Shaw, Eastern Hancock;274;0;274
George Burhenn, Mt. Vernon;151;117;268
SCORING
Name, School;G;TD;CONV;S;K;TP;P/G
Grayson Thomas, New Palestine;11;26;0;0;0;156;14.2
Eli Bridenthal, Mt. Vernon;10;19;6;0;0;120;12.0
Andrew Zellers, Greenfield-Central;8;15;0;0;0;90;11.3
Kain Sotelo, Eastern Hancock;11;16;8;0;0;104;9.5
Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine;13;14;2;0;0;86;6.6
Returnees in bold
