Week 1 thoughts

It was an interesting Week 1 for the Hancock County and HHC schools ... in the county, we saw Mt. Vernon play toe-to-toe with a strong 5A program and enjoy a great opportunity at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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Kokomo 27, Mt. Vernon 14: The Marauders had a good opener in a lot of ways, and discovered a few things to work on. The difference was Kokomo junior Armon Bridgeforth, who ran for a 67-yard TD on the Wildkats' second snap of the game and finished with 234 yards and TD runs of 67, 8 and 75 yards. He also did some work on the other side, grabbing an interception in the second half. MV showed a lot of new looks, but the Marauders' defense looked strong -- especially as it adjusted to Bridgeforth and made Kokomo beat them with others. After giving up 230 yards in the first half, MV's defense held Kokomo to 94 second-half yards (all rushing) and forced five turnovers. MV's Brandon Lockart was seemingly everywhere -- grabbing an interception, blocking a punt, making things happen. MV put together a really nice drive early, mixing the run with Zach McKinney and Corey White and Austin Parker's passing -- finishing with Parker's 25-yard TD pass to White. Lockart's blocked punt set up another MV score to tie the game late in the half, but Bridgeforth answered with a 75-yard run that put Kokomo up for good. The good for MV -- the offense looked in rhythm early against a stout, speedy defense, but the Marauders' defense was *flying* to the ball. It essentially lost containment on one really fast, shifty, elusive player on two big plays, and that turned out to be the difference. Lockart, Sam Balbach, David Reimlinger and a bunch of others were names we were calling all night. The other good was being part of the PeyBack Classic. Peyton Manning was on hand, did the coin toss, watched the game from the sidelines, and saw a great night of football benefit his foundation. MV opens HHC play next week at Yorktown.
News stories: Daily Reporter, Kokomo Tribune

Greenfield-Central 42, New Castle 6: The Cougars show a nice start to the season with their third straight season-opening victory. Carl Ellison scored twice, including a 95-yard run, and threw for another TD, giving G-C had a nice start to the year. The offense, defense and special teams all scored for G-C, which opens HHC play next week against Pendleton Heights.
News coverage: Daily Reporter, stats from HighSchoolSports.net

Whiteland 23, New Palestine 0: The Dragons played a tough opening game against one of the area's stronger 5A teams. Unfortunately for NP, the Warriors avenged last year's overtime game and held the Dragons off the scoreboard. NP has one of the toughest two-game opening sequences in the state -- opening with Whiteland and Delta next week, which will be our HancockCountySports.com Game of the Week broadcast.
News coverage: Daily Reporter

Triton Central 60, Eastern Hancock 13: The Royals opened play in a new conference -- the Mid-Indiana Football Conference -- although many of its teams have been on EH's schedule for years (including TC, EH's longtime opening opponent). Six turnovers doomed the Royals in the defeat. Steven Stunda threw two TD passes to Jacob Grass in the game. EH meets South Decatur next week.
News coverage: Daily Reporter, Shelbyville News

Elsewhere in the HHC
Pendleton Heights 37, Yorktown 14: Dezmon Nunn had a big game for the Arabians, scoring three first-quarter TDs -- including the opening kickoff -- and netting more than 300 total yards. PH had an impressive Week 1 showing heading into next week's game against Greenfield-Central. Yorktown will host Mt. Vernon next week. Anderson Herald-Bulletin

Shelbyville 21, Greensburg 6: Greensburg broke a scoreless tie in the third quarter with a fumble recovery in the end zone, but Shelby quickly answered with three scores -- including Patrick Ellis' athletic touchdown reception in the nightcap of the PeyBack Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Delta 58, Jay County 7: Delta picks up where it left off last year, winning its 19th consecutive regular-season game. Delta QB Ozzie Mann threw for 101 yards and top RB Zach Overfield ran for 97. Delta scored all of its points before halftime -- an impressive performance heading into the Eagles' game next week at New Palestine -- which we will broadcast next Friday night. Muncie Star-Press

Rushville 52, Connersville 0: The State Road 44 trophy resides in Rushville again this week, as the Lions showed impressively in the opening. They play Greensburg next week before opening HHC play. Connersville travels to Mt. Vernon in two weeks in a game we will broadcast.