We had our eyes on a couple of big matchups heading into this week, and now, the picture in the HHC is getting clearer.
The conference really sorted itself out tonight. Two teams are 4-0 -- Delta and Shelbyville. Two teams are 3-1 and need some help to stay in the hunt for an HHC title -- Mt. Vernon and New Palestine. The rest of the conference teams have at least 3 losses.
What a night of football. It was misty, soggy, nasty, cold -- football weather. The fields were messy, the uniforms dirty. It was great.
Our game featured another impressive performance by New Palestine as the Dragons beat Yorktown 35-12. The big question this week was "Would Pat Feeney play?" The Dragons' star athlete -- he has 4 INTs on defense and averages nearly 200 yards per game on offense -- was dinged up last week, and he was essentially limited to defensive duty -- he did play a few offensive snaps, but only had one carry for six yards. He still impressed -- a flying pass break-up on a 2-point conversion, a long punt return for a TD (which was called back due to a roughing the punter foul), but with both he and Austin Cahoy largely limited to defensive duty, that meant other Dragons had the opportunity to step up.
One thing about this NP senior class -- it's got a lot of talented athletes, and that showed tonight. Michael Phelps had a 45-yard TD pass, a 45-yard TD run, 135 total yards rushing and 180 yards from scrimmage on 12 touches tonight. Bryce Pierson had 92 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. Brett Jackson had 48 yards rushing. The Dragons' defense held Yorktown scoreless for three quarters, including holding the Tigers on downs three times in NP territory. It was a really impressive performance for the Dragons, who appeared to get stronger on the ground as the game went on. Going in, it looked like NP's advantage was on the perimeter and Yorktown's was in the trenches, but the Dragons began to control both lines in the second half. Yorktown's success came through the air -- QB Kyle Weiss was 20-of-34 with 2 TDs, completing 9 passes to speedy sophomore Brendon Barnes. He's a guy we'll be hearing from a lot. Coach Mike Wilhelm did a great job of using formations and play-calling to get the ball in the right people's hands, and the halftime adjustments netted 272 second-half yards. Derek Kundenreich had 87 yards rushing, while Barnes had 117 receiving and 134 from scrimmage.
But every time Yorktown scored, the Dragons answered right back. NP led 21-0 on TD plays of 45 (pass to Phelps), 44 (run by Pierson) and 45 (run by Phelps) in the opening three quarters. Each team scored twice in the fourth, but NP always maintained a 2-3 score advantage en route to a 35-12 win. The Dragons have been explosive this season: they're averaging 35 ppg in their wins (and 7 ppg in their losses).
Tonight's win was also No. 99 for NP head coach Tim Able. He begins the quest for 100 next week against Shelbyville.
In the other game we were keeping a big eye on tonight, Shelbyville knocked off Mt. Vernon 23-7. The Marauders led 7-3 after running the second half kickoff back for a TD, but that was MV's only score. Shelbyville came in with an impressive offense -- matter of fact, both teams were scoring north of 30 ppg this season -- but the Golden Bears' defense hasn't allowed a point in two weeks. That's impressive. It also means Shelby is 6-0 (4-0) heading into the final three games of the regular season. Next week: the Dragons and Golden Bears match up. NP needs to win to stay in the conference race.
Elsewhere in the HHC
Delta 44, Pendleton Heights 20: The Eagles, like Shelbyville, remained unbeaten with another impressive performance tonight. Delta is 6-0, with a game against Rushville next week before facing HHC contenders Mt. Vernon and Shelbyville in the final two weeks.
Rushville 19, Greenfield-Central 15: The Lions move into the win column in the HHC standings with a home victory tonight. G-C remains winless, but the next two weeks are against county rivals, which usually brings out the best in the Cougars. G-C's defense has held three straight opponents to 3 TDs or less.
Elsewhere in Hancock County
North Decatur 33, Eastern Hancock 18: The Royals fall to 0-6 with the defeat. Next up? Wes-Del.
HHC standings (remaining conference games)
Delta 4-0/6-0 (W7 vs. Rushville; W8 vs. MV; W9 vs. Shelby)
Shelbyville 4-0/6-0 (W7 at NP; W8 vs. Yorktown; W9 at Delta)
Mt. Vernon 3-1/4-2 (W7 at G-C; W8 vs. Delta; W9 vs. NP)
New Palestine 3-1/4-2 (W7 vs. Shelby; W8 vs. G-C; W9 at MV)
Yorktown 2-3/3-3 (W8 vs. Shelbyville; W9 at Rushville)
Rushville 1-3/2-4 (W7 at Delta; W8 vs. PH; W9 vs. Yorktown)
Pendleton Heights 1-5/1-5 (W8 vs. Rushville)
Greenfield-Central 0-5/1-5 (W7 vs. MV; W8 vs. NP)
*-Note: All Week 8 games at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 10.
Next week in the HHC and in CCSN's home base, Hancock County
GID Game of the Week broadcast: Mt. Vernon at Greenfield-Central (broadcast 7 p.m., kickoff 7:30 p.m.
Shelbyville at New Palestine, 7:30 p.m.
Rushville at Delta, 7 p.m.
Anderson Highland at Yorktown, 7:30 p.m.
Jay County at Pendleton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Wes-Del at Eastern Hancock, 7 p.m.
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