By The Waterboy
Contributing Water
The Waterboy is a young and enthusiastic fan of both high-quality H2O and Indiana high school football who has been kind enough to share his insights with us for the upcoming 2008 season. Sound off on his thoughts and predictions via the link at the bottom of this story!
Will coach Vince Lorenzano and Indianapolis Chatard make it three Class 3A titles in a row? With all the hype surrounding legendary coach Bud Wright and 1A Sheridan (and rightly so), few people realize that Chatard also has an opportunity to win its 10th state title – and, even more amazingly, the Trojans’ eighth in 12 seasons. The 3A trophy isn’t exactly a done deal, however, as Chatard has lots of holes to fill.
Ari Pappas will run the ball aggressively on the ground, while T.J. Agnew and Kevin O’Brien will light it up through the air at the wide receiver position. Agnew and O’Brien will also lock down their opponents’ passing game from their defensive backfield spots. The big question for the northeastside Catholic powerhouse is who will command the offense at quarterback? George VanVliet and Steve Commiskey will battle for the position during two-a-days this fall.
Coach Kevin Downey and crew are anxious to get South Bend St. Joseph’s back to the state championship game. QB Joey Hecklinski will lead the offense after throwing 16 touchdowns in 2007, and Knute Knapp should be on the receiving end of many of those passes. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Ricky Taylor and linebacker Adam Arsenault will lead a unit that allowed 238 total yards per game last season.
Perennial Southern Indiana power Heritage Hills lost a lot to graduation, especially on offense. But WR Kraig Gogel should help a host of other talented seniors continue the Patriots’ dominance of the Pocket Athletic Conference.
West Lafayette won its first eight games before then-junior QB Matt Lancaster was injured. The Red Devils went on to drop their final two games – a 50-21 loss at Sheridan in the regular-season finale and a 21-14 home loss to Eastbrook in the opening round of sectionals. This year should be an exciting one in the Hoosier Conference, and 19 West Lafayette starters return (including Lancaster) to contend for a sectional crown and possibly more. Defensive lineman Kevin Jones and LB Andy Huber will lead a tough defense, and if Lancaster and other key starters can stay healthy, West Lafayette may give Sheridan a run for its money in the conference and come away with the program’s first sectional title since 1993.
Seventeen starters return to the Brebeuf Braves from their sectional runner-up campaign in 2007. One key position that must be replaced, however, is that of the QB position. As soon as head coach Ryan Gallogly can find a signal-caller for the spread offense, there will be plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball to take advantage of. Connor Costello and Austin Bruen should be the primary passing targets, and Evan Kroot is looking for another big season at running back.
Hamilton Heights is looking to get back to the top of Sectional 22. New head coach Curt Trout inherits a Huskies’ roster full of young talent. Trout will need every bit of that talent if he hopes to compete in a sectional with two-time defending state champion Chatard. RB Brandon Bentley will lead the Wing-T offense, while the strength of the defense will be along a line that returns four seniors. Brandon Wilkinson, Garrison McElroy, Zac Garrity, and Wyatt Toller will anchor the 4-3 defense for the Huskies.
Another Sectional 21 team makes the Top 10 in Danville. The Warriors are the defending sectional conquerors after a 40-20 victory over Brebeuf in the championship game. The biggest question will be how to replace Indiana All-Star QB Colton Cooper. If coach Terry Siddall can find a suitable replacement for Cooper, then Danville might be able to take advantage of a load of young offensive talent. RBs Davis Hess and Austin Chalfant and receivers Calvin Beasley and Trent Caldwell will all be highlighted in the Warriors’ spread offense.
Crawfordsville makes the list at No. 8, mostly because of the Athenians’ talent on the offensive side of the ball. All-Sagamore Conference QB Jordan Standefer, along with All-Conference RB Craig Fairley, will look to light up the scoreboard this season. DBs Brett McKinney and Brett Linn will be the focal point of the 4-4 defense this season. If head coach Rex Ryker & Co. can find a way to shore up a defense that allowed an average of 125 rushing yards per game, then C-ville may challenge Danville for the conference crown.
The Lakeland Lakers lost many players to graduation after last season. Fortunately for head coach Keith Thompson, however, talent abounds in LaGrange. DL Aaron Baker and LB Brock Bateman will again lead a defense that allowed an average of 99 passing yards per game last season. Offensively, RBs Nic Brown and Josh Fuller should help the ground attack, while Aaron Baker returns at tight end.
Mount Vernon (Posey) returns multiple talented athletes, especially at the skill positions. Eric Stemple will be throwing to several big-time targets, including Michael Clowers and Ryan Ploetz. Ploetz and Clowers will also star in the defensive secondary, while LBs Jared Schmidt and Jacob Wagner should stymie the opponents’ running game.
The Waterboy’s Class 3A Preseason Power Rankings
1. Indianapolis Chatard
2. South Bend St. Joseph’s
3. Heritage Hills
4. West Lafayette
5. Brebeuf
6. Hamilton Heights
7. Danville
8. Crawfordsville
9. Lakeland
10. Mount Vernon (Posey)
Best of the rest:
NorthWood
New Prairie
Andrean
Eastbrook
Tippecanoe Valley
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