Week 9 roundup

New Palestine 7, Mt. Vernon 0
First-quarter score, end-of-game score. You kept expecting something offensive to happen, but the defenses just wouldn't give an inch. NP's defense has been solid all year, MV's had a real bounce-back night after struggling last week against Delta. But the Dragons -- normally a team that runs the ball and runs it and runs it some more -- scored the only points of the night by throwing it. Brandon Collins caught a 27-yard pass from Connor Simmons, and then Collins threw one himself -- a "double-pass" play that begins looking like a wide receiver screen, but Collins -- a converted QB -- caught the lateral and lobbed one to a wide-open Josh Penley in the end zone for a score.

Both teams threatened and got inside the 30 more than once, but couldn't finish. Not a single snap was made inside the red zone, as both defensive fronts were dominant. NP had 107 yards of total offense -- 61 by Austin Cahoy on the ground on 31 carries, and the rest through the air. MV had a few more -- 177 yards, including 116 on the ground from fullback Anthony Burnett, who grew up quickly in a new position as the game went on -- but had a couple of drives stall in NP territory. The defenses were incredible -- NP had four takeaways, MV two. But every yard was next-to-impossible to get due to the strong defensive play. NP's varsity defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in 4 1/2 games, and has only allowed two since Week 3.

NP wins the Boundary Rail for the sixth consecutive year, but again, this game is amazingly close. There's a chance for a rematch in three weeks -- but MV has to get through two tough games, including one against 6-3 Pendleton Heights, while NP has to do the same, facing 5A-sized Anderson in the first round (a team that came within 7 points of unbeaten Kokomo tonight).

Congrats to NP, the HHC champs, HHC Helmet owners and Boundary Rail owners for the off-season. NP (8-1/7-0) claims the title, while MV (5-4/4-3) finishes in a three-way tie for third.

Chatard 40, Greenfield-Central 0
Tough loss for the Cougars, but good in that they play a solid team for the second week in a row that will help prepare them for next week's game against Arlington. A win, and the Cougars will possess their first winning record since 1993. G-C finishes the regular season 5-4 and in a three-way tie for third in the HHC with a 4-3 mark.

Delta 35, Shelbyville 10
The Eagles keep rolling and finish 8-1/6-1 on the year, while the Golden Bears fall to 3-6/2-5. Delta has been playing very solid on both sides of the ball and should be a favorite to repeat in Sectional 12 next week. Delta is second in the HHC, Shelby finishes sixth.

Yorktown 42, Rushville 28
And seventh in the conference goes to ... Yorktown. The Tigers had such struggles early in the year, it's good to see Mike Wilhelm's team get a win over an opponent in the league (rather than a Class A charter school). Both teams finish 2-7 overall, Yorktown is 1-6 in the HHC and finishes seventh, Rushville 0-7 and finishes eighth.

Pendleton Heights 42, FW Concordia 19
Even though Concordia was winless, the Summit Conference is one of the state's best. Very impressive win for John Broughton's club, which is 6-3 on the year (and tied with G-C and MV for third in the HHC). The Arabians' win tonight cemented the second-best record in the state against non-conference foes for the HHC as a conference. PH gears up for a sectional rematch at Mt. Vernon next week.

In Hancock County: Eastern Hancock 28, Edinburgh 13: The Royals finally break into the win column with a win over Edinburgh. Congrats to Mark Reddy and his team, which plays Clinton Central next week.

Next week's broadcast:
Mt. Vernon vs. Pendleton Heights. Listen live on www.hancockcountysports.com.