Look who’s back. Bishop Chatard, Class 3A state champion in 2019 and ’20, is back in the field after a brief jump up to 4A. Also moving up to 3A is Speedway and Monrovia. Tri-West, after making a run to the 3A semistate a year ago, will have a tough Sectional 29 to navigate.
Three regular-season games that will shape 3A:
Tri-West at Danville, Sept. 16: Two years ago, Danville beat Tri-West in the sectional championship on the way to the state finals. Last year, Tri-West returned the favor and reached the semistate. It seems likely this will be the first of two meetings between the teams.
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Monrovia at Speedway, Sept. 16: Both of these teams moved from 2A to 3A this season and could meet again in Sectional 29. The Sparkplugs lost 28-22 during the regular season last year before winning 12-6 in the sectional.
Bishop Chatard at Guerin Catholic, Sept. 23: Guerin has not defeated Chatard since 2016, but will get a chance to measure itself against the sectional favorite — and possibly state favorite in 3A. Guerin has a brutal early schedule as this game follows matchups with Brebeuf Jesuit and Roncalli.
(In order of projected finish; records from 2021)
Bishop Chatard (7-5): Sixth-year coach Rob Doyle has a talented and deep roster, but will be counting on several first-year starters. Senior quarterback Drew Van Vleet was a two-year starter at Richmond and will have a couple of experienced tight ends in seniors Jeff Waugh (20 catches, 229 yards) and Wade McCallister (10 catches, 104 yards) and up front with junior center Matthew Woods and senior tackles Danny Woodcock and Trystan Aspeslet. Juniors Luke Purichia and Riley Kinnett are two options at running back. On defense, senior lineman Isaac Fischer is a two-year starter and seniors Jakob Moore and Aspeslet also have experience. Purichia and McCallister are returning at linebacker and senior strong safety Jack Feeney was a starter last season.
Guerin Catholic (3-8): Ninth-year coach Tom Dilley is excited his program can turn it around this season with several key starters returning, including 6-6 junior quarterback Ryan Zimmerman (1,280 passing yards, 10 TDs; 143 rushing yards, three TDs), senior running back Justin Zdobylak (803 rushing yards, seven TDs), junior running back Cooper Navarro (160 yards, three TDs) and three-starters on the offensive line in senior Brendan McIlvenna and junior Josh Holba. The receivers will be a strength with senior Will Fremion (24 catches, 392 yards, five TDs) and juniors Alex Gibbs (18 catches, 382 yards, three TDs) and Jack Cherry (20 catches, 300 yards, two TDs). The defense brings back senior linebackers Anthony Ferrucci (66 tackles, four tackles for loss), Jonathan Gonzalez (51 tackles) and Joe Youngman (24 tackles), junior linebacker Gavin Stella (18 tackles), junior defensive ends Elijah Taylor (27 tackles, three sacks) and Chase Reed and senior defensive back Luke Moody (23 tackles).
Hamilton Heights (6-4): The Huskies posted their first winning season last year since 2016. Coach Jon Kirschner returns several key players, including senior running back Trey Ehman (936 yards, four TDs) and senior defensive back Vincent Harley (61 tackles).
Tri-West (11-3): The Bruins won a regional title last year under coach Jason Ward, but graduated a lot of talent, especially on the defensive side. There is quite a bit of talent returning on offense, including three starters on the line, senior quarterback Ty Owens (2,290 passing yards, 30 TDs), senior running back Davon Brown (968 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and senior receiver Jeff Marsh (560 receiving yards, eight TDs). Seniors Karan Deep and Amari McIntosh lead the line. The defense will be led by junior defensive end Ethan Elzey (48 tackles, seven sacks), junior defensive end Griffen Cole (19 tackles, two sacks), senior linebacker Damon Catt (44 tackles, three interceptions), junior linebacker Coen Smith (24 tackles) and senior cornerback Alex Ziats (40 tackles).
Danville (10-2): Third-year coach Jayme Comer has led the program to a 21-3 record over two seasons and will have more than 20 seniors and a large roster going into this season. Junior quarterback Trey Thompson is a first-year starter and has talent around him in senior receiver BJ Wuest (39 catches, 610 yards, seven TDs), senior lineman Parker McIntyre-Craig, 6-7 junior tight end Evan Lawrence and 6-6 sophomore receiver Jace Scrafton. The defense will be led by senior safety Wyatt Gentry (35 tackles, two interceptions), senior linebacker Derin Sharp (56 tackles, 5 ½ tackles for loss), junior linebacker Andrew Smith (21 tackles), junior defensive end Brayden Hahn (28 tackles) and junior safety Caden Collins (14 tackles, four interceptions).
Western Boone (7-5): After winning three consecutive state championships in Class 2A, the Stars moved up to 3A last year and reached the sectional final before falling to 3A state finalist Brebeuf Jesuit. Coach Justin Pelley has 20 seniors returning, including senior running back Trevor Weakley (836 rushing yards, eight TDs), senior linemen Andrew Foster and Korbin Smith and junior lineman Clayton Unroe. On defense, junior linebacker Cannon Brunes (106 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 8 ½ sacks) returns, along with senior linebacker Ryan Taylor (99 tackles, nine tackles for loss), senior linebacker Jake Johnson (66 tackles, 4 ½ tackles for loss), senior cornerback Ethan Bayles (58 tackles, two interceptions) and senior linemen Luke Barta (28 tackles, 5 ½ tackles for loss) and Zayne Sturgis (59 tackles, 13 tackles for loss).
Speedway (9-3): Second-year coach Shane Clampitt leads the program into a transition this year from 2A to 3A after the Sparkplugs posted their highest win total since going 11-2 in 2010. A veteran roster is highlighted by junior running back Deejay McFerson (1,042 rushing yards, 12 TDs; 31 catches, 368 yards, five TDs), junior quarterback Carter Watson (2,111 passing yards, 29 TDs), senior tight end Carmell Perry (15 catches, 146 yards, two TDs), junior running back/receiver Tyreese Johnson (112 rushing yards, one TD), junior offensive lineman Adedamola Ajani and junior receiver Landon Short (24 receptions, 367 yards). McFerson, a linebacker/safety, had 96 tackles, three sacks and five interceptions last season. Linebacker Perry (108 tackles, nine tackles for loss), senior lineman Marvin Germany (54 tackles, 13 tackles for loss), senior linebacker Kerym Campos (74 tackles, five tackles for loss), senior defensive end Karson Patterson, freshman Jazz Coleman and Johnson (74 tackles), an outside linebacker, lead the defense.
Monrovia (7-4): Monrovia improved by five wins in Andy Olson’s second season as coach. The Bulldogs will go into this year with a small senior class, but with a chance to compete in the Indiana Crossroads Conference and a tough sectional. The offense will be led by senior quarterback Eli Wagner (929 passing yards, eight TDs), junior running back Brayton Belcher (970 rushing yards), senior running back Dustin Kostrzewski (813 rushing yards; 240 receiving yards), senior tight end Corbin Byrnes (217 receiving yards) and senior center Adam Bales. On defense, leaders will be junior defensive back Eli Welch (40 tackles), senior defensive lineman Byrnes (36 tackles, eight tackles for loss), junior linebacker Dominic Kindle (32 tackles) and senior defensive back Kostrzewski (24 tackles, three sacks).
Purdue Poly (1-7): Purdue Poly is not eligible for sectional play until next season, but first-year coach Chris Chang will look to build the program with a young and athletic roster. Gabe Story, a defensive linemen/linebacker, is expected to be an impact player.
Indian Creek (3-8): Casey Gillin returns to his alma mater in his first year as coach. He expects his program to surprise some good teams along the way, led by senior quarterback Arj Lothe, junior running back Jalen Sauer, sophomore running back Malachi Mink, senior receiver Gerson Coroa, junior receiver Lance Butler and senior offensive lineman Daniel Foster. The defense will be led by junior linebacker Kohlton Scoggan (55 tackles), senior linemen Ethan Thacker and Wyatt Reason (58 tackles), junior safety Butler (62 tackles), junior cornerback Jalen Sauer, sophomore cornerback Malachi Mink and junior linebacker Garrett Johnson.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.