Quick thoughts: IHSAA football sectional pairings
The Indiana High School Athletic Association released its sectional football pairings on Sunday evening. Sectional play begins Oct. 21 for Classes A-4A and Oct. 28 for Classes 5A and 6A.
Journal & Courier high school sports reporter Sam King gives his five quick thoughts regarding Greater Lafayette after seeing the pairings reveal.
Best opening round matchup: Benton Central vs. Delphi
This is a rematch of the season opener. Benton Central won 20-14 in overtime after tying the game with one second left in regulation on a forward fumble caught in the end zone by Seth Plummer. That jumpstarted a span of three wins in five weeks for the Bison, who've since lost three in a row against the most challenging part of their schedule. If Delphi beats a 1-7 Taylor team on Friday night, the Oracles will take a five-game winning streak into the postseason after starting 0-4.
With 1 second left in regulation the Bison tie the ball game and eventually get the W in overtime 20-14 @samueltking @WLFISports @StarCityOnline @witysports pic.twitter.com/zXJ6v4BGAo
— Benton Central Athletics (@BC_BisonAD) August 20, 2022
Darkhorse to watch: West Central
No one is talking about the Trojans, at least beyond Francesville and the surrounding areas, but West Central is having its best season in a decade. After beating Frontier last Friday, the Trojans are 7-1. The tournament path also sets up well. West Central opens against a Caston team it beat 26-8 in the season opener and then gets a likely rematch against Frontier. Win both of those and the Trojans are 48 minutes away from their first sectional title since 2005. The likely opponent will be defending sectional champion and currently unbeaten Carroll.
Most intriguing potential championship game: Lafayette Jeff vs. Crown Point
The Bronchos are in search of their first sectional championship in 20 years. Crown Point won three straight from 2016-18, but other than that, postseason success also is rare for the Bulldogs. Jeff coach Pat Shanley said when he was hired as head coach he wanted postseason championships. A first-round win over Lake Central would have Shanley in a sectional championship game with Jeff for the sixth time. He's 0-4 as a head coach with two losses to Merrillville and two to Carmel. Jeff also lost to Westfield in 2015 with Shanley on staff under Brian Moore. Crown Point hired coach Craig Buzea before last season to turn around its program. Buzea had tons of success at Portage from the mid 1990s to mid 2000s.
Storyline to watch: West Lafayette's postseason path
Right now, Class 3A, Sectional 25 has three undefeated teams in it. At least one of them will have a loss before the sectional as 8-0 Hanover Central travels to 8-0 Calumet on Friday for the final regular season game. West Lafayette has a Hoosier Conference championship game at Western on Friday. West Lafayette will be the sectional favorite, but will likely have to beat Calumet in the semifinal and Hanover Central in the championship to do so.
How many champs?: Five
I like Carroll to win its second straight sectional title. The Cougars get a good postseason primer Friday against Sheridan. And I have four Tippecanoe County teams winning championships: Central Catholic, West Lafayette, Harrison and Lafayette Jeff. If all four win, it would be the first time four schools from Tippecanoe County won a sectional football title in the same season. The only time the county had three sectional champions was 1989 (Lafayette Jeff, Harrison and Central Catholic).
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Quick thoughts: IHSAA football sectional pairings
