What a game!

You got to hear the words "Touchdown" a lot this afternoon from Warrior Stadium at Warren Central, as Mt. Vernon beat Marion 63-44 in a wild game that, on a normal night, might have set records. We also saw a New Palestine team get better as the game went on and put the clamps on Richmond in a 29-7 victory over the Dragons on the day's first game.

In the second game, the only one that might be comparable was the Marauders' 63-49 victory over Pendleton Heights in 2004, a game in which PH's quarterback and receiver set state records and the Marauders had 600+ yards of offense. MV has broken the 60-point mark once since -- in a 67-20 win at Connersville two years ago.

MV junior Tyler Dicks had 309 yards on 28 carries at 5 TDs -- will have to do some research on whether or not that is a school record. Corey White had 90 yards, Anthony Burnett 78. And QB Jordan Miller completed 8-of-10 passes for 135 yards, as the Marauders rolled up 623 yards of total offense. MV had 30 first downs, as MV wns and scored nine touchdowns.

It all started with the opening kickoff, as MV methodically moved 54 yards in 10 plays, using a mixture of Dicks, Burnett and White and a strong push from the offensive line that kept creating lanes for the Marauders' backs before Dicks carried in from five yards out. But Marion needed just one play to answer -- a 65-yard run that made it 7-6 after the missed two-point conversion. It kept going like that -- Corey White's 22-yard run and another 5-yarder by Dicks that was set up by a 41-yard pass to Ryan Barker made it 21-6, and Marion scored on another one-play drive, this time from 69 yards out.

That made it 21-14. That was just the first quarter. And so it went -- MV scored on nine of its 10 possessions. Marion answered with lightning-fast precision -- it was 42-28 at halftime, and Marion's drives had lasted one, one, four and two plays. MV was a bit more methodical, but practically moved the ball at will in gaining 333 yards in the first half. MV broke it open when Tyler Dicks scored from 60 yards out to make it 35-22 with 9:01 left in the quarter. The big play came in the closing seconds of the first half. MV took over at midfield with 36 ticks left, and Miller hit Burnett for a 31-yard TD with three seconds left. MV led 42-28 at that point. Even a turnover that gave Marion a TD on the first drive didn't faze the Marauders, who kept answering -- another TD by Dicks, then a 3-yard run by Burnett that capped an 84-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock, and a 40-yard run by Dicks with a minute to go to provide the exclamation point.

In the opening game, NP's passing game was again solid, although Richmond and QB Chandler Miller was very impressive early. The Red Devils continually drove into NP territory, but a missed field goal and a couple of drives that stalled on downs inside the 40 kept it a 7-0 game. NP dodged a bullet when a halfback pass was overthrown past an open receiver in the end zone on fourth down, and the Dragons then went to work. They drove 70 yards in 59 seconds to tie the game on a 29-yard pass from Connor Simmons to Brandon Wiggins. Then, Richmond's attempts at being aggressive backfired as the Dragons held, got the ball back and used a 31-yard pass to Brandon Collins to set up Wes Fox's field goal just ahead of the gun to make it a 10-7 Dragon lead. NP went for the jugular early in the second half, with Josh Penley catching a 69-yard pass from Simmons on the Dragons' third snap of the half, and Matt Siergiej put it away with two more TDs.

Simmons was 15-of-24 for 295 yards. Collins caught six passes for 115 yards -- his second straight 100-yard game, while Penley also had 101 yards on three catches. NP had 416 total yards, using a running game that was led bi Siergiej (67 yards, 2 TDs) and Austin Monday (60 yards).

NP hosts Pendleton Heights in what will be our Game of the Week next week. Join Mike & Andrew at 7 p.m. for the pregame show and 7:30 p.m. for kickoff on www.hancockcountysports.com.

The rest of the county (and HHC) docket next week
Pendleton Heights at New Palestine, 7:30 p.m. (live broadcast: www.hancockcountysports.com)
Delta at Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
Eastern Hancock at Indian Creek, 7 p.m.
Yorktown at Mt. Vernon, 7 p.m. 
Rushville at Shelbyville, 7 p.m.

We'll have the HHC Saturday Morning QB (in the afternoon) in a bit!

It's sectional night

Time to look ahead at the sectionals.

First, the sectionals involving Hancock County schools:
4A Sectional 13
Pendleton Heights (6-3) at Mt. Vernon (5-4)
LISTEN LIVE HERE! (broadcast at 6:30 p.m., kickoff at 7 p.m.)
PH has won three straight to end the season after a tough skid against MV and Delta in Weeks 5-6. MV won the regular-season matchup 37-17, but it was very statistically close, and very well-played by both offenses. MV's defense was very good last week, but the offense has scored once in three weeks. Both teams feature multifaceted offensive games -- the QB/RB/WR triumvirate of Mitch Patishall-Dezmon Nunn-Brad McNeil for PH against Austin Parker-Zach McKinney/Corey White/Anthony Burnett-Jake Davis for MV. This is probably the best first-round matchup of the sectional.
Winner hosts 1-8 New Castle next week

Anderson (4-5) at New Palestine (8-1)
The Dragons haven't allowed a varsity touchdown in half a season -- 4.5 games. The Indians have a 5A enrollment and a lot of talent. This is most intriguing first-round matchup of the sectional, as these two teams don't have any familiarity with each other. Anderson fell to unbeaten Kokomo 28-21 last week and is obviously getting better. NP has just overwhelmed teams with its size and soundness on offense -- especially with throwing RB Austin Cahoy at teams, who has 21 TDs on the year.
Winner plays either 5-4 Greenfield-Central or 3-6 Arlington next week

Greenfield-Central (5-4) at Arlington (3-6)
The Cougars have put together their best season since 2002, and are looking to clinch their first plus-.500 season since then. G-C hasn't scored in two weeks, but it has also played two of the area's top defenses in New Palestine and Chatard. Arlington can score -- 30 ppg -- but is also giving up 38 ppg and has given up 56+ three times. G-C has been playing phenomenal defense this season, giving up 6 points to an explosive Mt. Vernon team and 6 to an 8-1 Delta squad.
Winner plays either 4-5 Anderson or 8-1 New Palestine next week

The full draw:
Class 4A, Sectional 13
New Castle (1-8) - BYE
Pendleton Heights (6-3) @ Mt. Vernon (5-4)
Anderson (4-5) @ #7 New Palestine (8-1)
Greenfield-Central (5-4) @ Indianapolis Arlington (3-6)

1A Sectional 37
Clinton Central (2-7) at Eastern Hancock (1-8)
EH used to play CC in Week 9, so this is a deja vu game, just one week later. The Royals notched their first victory of the year last season when they beat Edinburgh 28-13. That snapped a two-week scoreless streak. EH's offense had scored eight times the first eight weeks before breaking out against the Lancers. QB Steven Stunda is a run-pass threat. The Bulldogs of third-year coach Mike Quick have had some good games -- beating Tri-Central and former CC coach George Gilbert 57-20, scoring 20 on a good Tipton team in a loss -- but they've been shut out twice and held to one score four other times. Looks like it could be an even matchup. Winner gets either Tri-Central (3-6) or Gridiron Digest No. 10 Clinton Prairie (8-1) next week. EH would be on the road in both situations.
Full sectional pairings
Lapel (2-7) @ #3 Sheridan (7-2)
Guerin Catholic (4-5) @ Indiana Deaf (0-8)
Clinton Central (2-7) @ Eastern Hancock (1-8)
Tri-Central (3-6) @ #10 Clinton Prairie (8-1)

Elsewhere in the HHC
4A Sectional 12
Delta (8-1) at FW Wayne (5-4)
Delta has been playing amazingly well the last half of the season -- especially since the last-minute rally against PH. The Eagles have outscored their last three opponents 103-17 and have won seven straight. Wayne's record is deceptive, as it plays in the tough SAC and hung tough with FW Snider before losing 16-7 last week.
Winner plays 6-3 Marion or 7-2 Muncie South next week
Full sectional pairings
#9 Delta (8-1) at Fort Wayne Wayne (5-4)
Marion (6-3) at Muncie South (7-2)
Fort Wayne South (2-7) at Muncie Central (0-9)
New Haven (6-3) at Jay County (2-7)

4A Sectional 15
Shelbyville (3-6) at South Dearborn (5-4)
Shelbyville has struggled this season, but this team does have Patrick Ellis. The tough HHC schedule should also prepare the Golden Bears to face the Knights, who finished with a 2-3 mark in the EIAC.
Winner plays either 0-9 Madison or 5-4 Franklin County next week
Full sectional pairings
Shelbyville (3-6) at South Dearborn (5-4)
Madison (0-9) at Franklin County (5-4)
Greenwood (3-6) at Connersville (0-9)
Franklin (3-6) at #6 East Central (8-1)

3A Sectional 22
Howe (2-7) at Yorktown (2-7)
Yorktown struggled early in the year, but posted a very nice victory last week against Rushville to give it a nice bounce going into the tournament. Kundenreich and Barnes are a solid 1-2 punch. Howe also won last week, beating upstart 1A program Monroe Central 49-6 (and also knocking off Arlington earlier in the year)
Winner plays either 9-0 Hamilton Heights or 1-8 Beech Grove next week
Bye: Rushville (2-7) (plays Greensburg/Batesville next week)
Full sectional pairings
Rushville (2-7), bye
Greensburg (4-5) at Batesville (5-4)
Howe (2-7) at Yorktown (2-7)
#2 Hamilton Heights (9-0) at Beech Grove (1-8)