[
](http://www.embarque.com/)
THE INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST'S 2014 HONOR ROLL – WEEK FOUR PLAYOFFS
BY PAUL CONDRY AND MATT KOPSEA
TOP PERFORMERS
Purdue bound running back Markell Jones became the state's single season rushing leader by romping 31 times for 307 yards and six touchdowns as defending state champion Columbus East (13-0) rolled to a 42-14 win over Evansville Reitz (11-2) for a Class 4A regional crown. Jones now has 3,379 yards for the season, breaking the previous mark of 3,366 established New Haven's Cory Jacquay in 2001. Evan Deig threw for 140 yards and two scores for Reitz.
Chris Evans scampered 74 yards for a touchdown with 1:46 remaining vaulted Ben Davis (11-2) to a 49-45 come-from-behind win over Center Grove (9-4) for the Class 6A southern semistate crown. The two teams combined for more than 1,100 yards of offense as Ben Davis rallied from a 45-28 deficit late in the third quarter to make their first state finals appearance since 2002. Evans finished with 28 carries for 261 yards and three scores, and Kyle Castner tossed for 263 yards and four scores, two going to Brennan Gillis, for the Giants, who had 525 total yards. Max Norris rambled for 194 yards and one touchdown before leaving with an injury late in the first half, and Calvin Daggett added 142 yards on the ground and two scores for the Trojans, who accumulated 582 yards. Joey Siderewicz added 135 yards passing and one score and another tally on the ground for Center Grove.
Shakir Paschall and Isaac James both ran for over 100 yards, leading top-ranked Carmel (13-0) to a 14-13 win over No. 2 Penn (12-1) in the Class 6A northern semistate. Paschall tallied 129 yards and one score and James added 108 yards and a touchdown for the Greyhounds. Camden Bohn accumulated 182 yards of offense and two scores on the ground for the Kingsmen, who missed an extra-point and field goal.
Charles Salary exploded for 305 yards on the ground and four touchdowns on 24 attempts, leading LaPorte (7-5) to a 55-21 win over Elkhart Central (5-7) for a Class 5A regional championship. Drake Sanders added five carries for 119 yards and two scores, and Matt Otwinowski recorded 10 tackles for the Slicers, who raced to a 28-0 first-quarter lead to capture their first regional title since 2006. Joe Phillips ran for 133 yards and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and Antwaan Allen tossed for 141 yards and two scores for the Blazers.
C.J. McCarter scored a pair of touchdowns, including a three-yard run early in the fourth quarter, helping Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (11-2) rally for a 26-25 win over Yorktown (11-2) in a Class 3A regional final. Austin Mack added two scores, including a 71-yard kickoff return, and Noah Wezensky passed for 130 yards for the Knights, who came back from a 19-0 deficit. Ball State recruit Riley Neal threw for 246 yards and one score and ran for 190 yards and three more tallies, and Riley Miller added 13 catches for 127 yards and one touchdown for the Tigers.
Nick Brassell scampered for 204 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 34 yards and another tally, lifting New Prairie (12-1) to a 28-27 win over Lowell (8-5) for a Class 4A regional crown. Ike James rushed 32 times for 225 yards and three touchdowns, and Zach Bobos added 104 total yards with a touchdown pass and nine tackles for Lowell, which missed a potential two-point conversion in the closing seconds.
Cam Ridenour's two-yard touchdown midway through fourth quarter propelled Northridge (11-2) to its first regional championship with a 17-10 win over Norwell (6-7) in Class 4A action. Ridenour finished with 67 yards rushing, and Payton Carson completed 7-of-11 passes for 163 yards and one score for the Raiders, who battled back from a 10-0 first half deficit. Piercen Harnish recorded 177 yards of offense and one score for the Knights.
Jake Paliga accounted for more than 300 yards of offense as defending state champion Andrean (13-0) cruised to a 38-7 win over Jimtown (9-4) in a Class 3A regional final. Paliga was 17-of-25 through the air for 225 yards and two touchdowns to Jamie Johnson and ran 13 times for 100 yards and one score. Trevor Berg added 24 rushes for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the 59ers. Nik Olson rushed for 81 yards and one score, and Dylan Guldager tallied an interception and fumble recovery for the Jimmies.
Jake Hendershot completed 14-of-19 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown, guiding Tri-West (12-1) to a 23-15 win over Guerin Catholic (9-4) in Class 3A regional action. Wesley Cook recorded 108 total yards with a scoring catch and run, and Colton Jobe added 108 yards of offense and one score for the Bruins. Matt Labus threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, Brian Matthews added 11 receptions for 166 yards and two scores, and Brady McGinnis recorded 15 tackles for the Golden Eagles.
Max Bortenschlager was 13-of-19 for 277 yards and three touchdowns in defending state champion Indianapolis Cathedral's 48-14 thrashing of Whiteland for a Class 5A regional crown. Evan Whigham added three catches for 109 yards and two scores, Evan Christopher chipped in seven rushes for 123 yards and one score, and Caleb Cross had 79 yards on the ground and two tallies for the Irish (7-5), who amassed 551 total yards. Shaw Cloud paced the Warriors (8-4) with 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Jesse Bates' ninth interception of the season with around two minutes left helped Fort Wayne Snider (10-2) hold on for a 32-24 win over Westfield (7-5) in Class 5A regional action. Neandre Billingsley tallied a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, and Isaac Stiebeling threw for 253 yards for the Panthers, who battled back from a 24-13 deficit. Elvin Caldwell rushed for 106 yards and two scores for the Shamrocks.
Rylan Arihood ran 22 times for 125 yards and four touchdowns, leading Rensselaer Central (13-0) to a 48-13 win over Bremen (7-6) for a Class 2A regional title. Dylan Wright completed 9-of-11 passes for 125 yards and one score, Trevor Hill added nine carries for 106 yards and one touchdown and three catches for 55 yards and one tally, and Garett Eldridge recorded 12 tackles for the Bombers. Matt Box tossed for 185 yards and two scores for the Lions.
Derek Wanner threw for 140 yards and two touchdowns in South Adams' 14-6 upset of defending state champion Tri-Central in a Class 1A regional final. Drew LeFever added 68 yards on the ground and 10 tackles for the Starfires (7-6), who celebrated their first regional crown since 1992. Cody Howell tossed for 144 yards, and Riley Smeltzer and Colten Leininger added 11 and 10 tackles respectively for the Trojans (11-2).
James Young scampered for 192 yards and five touchdowns as New Palestine snapped a five-game losing streak to Indianapolis Roncalli with a 44-13 victory in a Class 4A regional final. Alex Neligh threw for 166 yards and ran for 67 yards and one score, and Nick Brickens added two interceptions for the Dragons (13-0). Nick Boehle had a pair of touchdowns for the Rebels (7-6), who were limited to 67 yards rushing.
Bryce Stancombe passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns, helping Bloomington South (12-1) earn its first regional crown since 1999 with a 36-22 win over Terre Haute South (11-2) in Class 5A regional action. Richard Williams added 212 yards rushing and one score, Keenan Frantz added two scoring catches, and Sam helm recorded 18 tackles for the Panthers. Timmy Herrin tallied 380 total yards and one touchdown, and Dante Johnson added 110 yards of offense and two scores for the Braves.
Kenton Crews scored three touchdowns, lifting Heritage Hills (12-1) to a 28-7 win over Charlestown (10-3) in Class 3A regional action. Logan Wilkerson was 6-of-9 through the air for 122 yards and one score, and Jacob Wilson added 13 tackles for the Patriots, who return to the semistate for the first time since 2007. Antonyo Gaddie rushed for 132 yards, and Tristan Chester tossed for 101 yards for the Pirates.
Jackson Anthrop romped for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, helping Lafayette Central Catholic (10-3) to a 54-12 win over Lapel (6-7) in a Class 2A regional final. Brandon Yeagy added three scores on the ground, and Avery Denhart chipped in 123 yards passing and one score for the Knights. Joe Hart raced for 126 yards and one score for the Bulldogs.
Sam Kizer completed all five of his passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns to Caleb Kindley, helping Pioneer to a 28-6 win over top-ranked Winamac for a Class 1A regional championship. Justin Mersch added 179 yards rushing and one score, and Nick Price recorded 10 tackles as the Panthers (12-1) rolled 401 yards of offense. Parker Fox tallied 140 total yards, and Maverick Schultz racked up 14 tackles for the Warriors (12-1), who were guilty of seven penalties for 95 yards.
Drayke Richardt ran for 247 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, leading Evansville Mater Dei (13-0) to a 28-14 win over Triton Central (11-2) in a Class 2A regional title clash. Jonah Thacker became Triton Central's single-season touchdown and scoring leader with a one-yard romp in the fourth quarter.
Jacob Earl rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns and came up with two interceptions, returning one for another score, as North Vermillion (13-0) claimed its first regional title with a 31-8 win over three-time defending champion Linton-Stockton (11-2) in Class 1A regional action. Cody Wright passed for 195 yards and one score, and Evan Weir racked up 13 tackles for the Falcons. Chad Trent threw for 102 yards, and Mitch Eberhardt recorded 99 total yards and one score for the Miners.
Jaden Rhea carried the ball 24 times for 242 yards, helping Monrovia (11-2) post a 24-14 victory over Shenandoah (10-3) for a Class 2A regional championship. Trevor Ellis added 10 rushes for 11 yards with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion, and Brady Hale recorded 12 tackles for the Bulldogs. Adam Lovan racked up 124 total yards and a touchdown pass, Hunter Hess added 110 yards on the ground, and Cody Rudy tallied 15 tackles for the Raiders.
Dalton Goddard recorded 14 tackles, a quarterback sack, and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown as Indianapolis Lutheran (10-3) earned its first regional championship with a 21-19 win over Eastern Hancock (10-3) in Class 1A action. Dylen Goddard added nine carries for 136 yards for the Saints. Cooper Henderson had 112 yards of offense and one touchdown, Austin Lacy added 106 total yards and a touchdown, and Logan Splatter recorded 12 tackles and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score for the Royals.
