BOB WIRE ARCHIVE
| Place Image Here |
#21 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (5A)
After a sectional championship campaign in 2007, the Royals primed
themselves to defend their Sectional 5 title and go further. After an
undefeated regular season, the Royals went one and done in the post-
season, a 49-21 thrashing by Warren Central to finish with a 9-1 record.
Head coach Scott May (19-4 @ HSE, 22-22 overall) returns one of the top
runners in Central Indiana in senior Matt Ripp. A three-year starter at
halfback, Ripp rushed for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008.
Five other starters return on offense for the Royals including four on the
line.
Looking at the defensive side of the ball, seven starters return for the
Royals. Pat Robinson was an All-HCC performer at linebacker. Another All-
HCC performer returns in the secondary with Kevin Cook.
With the sectional realignment this year, the Royals have shifted back to
the Northern half of Class 5A. Along with fellow district school Fishers,
HSE will be competing with Carmel, who’s represented the North half of
5A in the State Finals the last three years. Other teams to compete with
include Lafayette Jeff, Noblesville and 5A newcomer Westfield.
Looking at the ‘09 schedule. The Royals play their entire slate in the
Hoosier Crossroads Conference. They’ll open the season with a home
date with Avon on 8/21, followed by the district battle at Fishers the
following week. From there, the Royals will have two tough road games
back to back, at Zionsville on 9/11 and at Lafayette Jeff on 9/18.
The Royals have been one of the best programs in the state the last few
years. They are 74-29 this decade with a State Finals appearance in 2005.
If there’s a team that could derail Carmel’s bid for another long 5A tourney
run, this could be the team. The Royals have to find a quarterback, but the
O-Line, running game and defense are in place for a big season.
#22 HARDING HAWKS (3A)
After a 2-4 start, the Harding Hawks won four out of five to get to the
Sectional 27 semi-final. There, the Hawks season ended at the hands of
Jimtown 18-8 to finish with a 6-5 record.
Head coach Sherwood Haydock (64-43 @ Harding, 122-108 overall)
welcomes back a four-year starter at running back in Ohio State recruit
Rod Smith. Smith has had a productive career for the Hawks, rushing for
over 1,500 yards as a freshman on their 2A title team in 2006. Last
season, Smith punished opposing defenses to the tune of 1,685 yards
and 15 TD’s.
Haydock’s son, Zac Haydock, will quarterback after taking over midway
though his freshman campaign in 2008. All in all, six starters are back on
offense for Harding.
On defense, Smith will look to be a key cog for the Hawks from his
secondary position. Seven starters total return on the defensive side of the
ball for Harding.
The Hawks will move up to Class 3A for the next two years. And once
again, the Hawks schedule is made up of Summit Athletic Conference.
Games of note include back to back home dates with Luers (9/11) and
Dwenger (9/18) and another home date with Snider (10/2).
The Hawks schedule has always prepared them for the second season.
With the bump up to class 3A, the Hawks no longer have to worry about the
likes of Luers or Jimtown to get out of the sectional. Now it’s teams like
FW Concordia, Eastbrook, Norwell and defending 3A champion Bellmont
to contend with. Harding has the athletes to compete and perhaps make a
sustained run in the 3A tournament, something that they did in 1995 and
1997 when the made it to the 3A Northern Semi-State.
#23 INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER RAIDERS (2A)
The 2008 edition of the Cardinal Ritter Raiders brought home the third
state title in school history to Indy’s near West Side. An exhilarating 34
-27 victory over Sheridan last November ended a perfect 15-0 season for
the Raiders and a four-peat bid by Sheridan.
One major change for the Raiders is the bump up to Class 2A for the next
two years. More on that in a bit.
Ty Hunt (38-6) begins his fourth year as head coach by returning one of
the state’s top quarterbacks. Senior Ross Hendrickson threw for nearly
3,200 yards in 2008 with a 35-11 TD-to-INT ratio. Hendrickson also
rushed for 581 yards and nine addition scores.
One big void for the Raiders will be the loss of playmaking receiver Tyrone
Walker, lost to graduation. Glen Lee is the leading receiver back for the
Raiders.
Outside of Hendrickson, sophomore Michael Timko and senior Carlos
DeLuna return in the offensive backfield.
On the line, three starters return. Nick Maled, Marcus Tucker and Jake
Henning will look to lead the way on offense.
On defense, five starters return for the Raiders. DeLuna will look to take a
lead role at linebacker while Hendrickson will continue to see double-duty
for the Raiders by anchoring the secondary.
Key games on the 2009 schedule for the Raiders include a date with
Brebeuf on 9/4 that will be played at Marian College. The annual West Side
Super Bowl with Speedway happens the following week (9/11). With the
move to 2A, the Raiders final regular season contest with defending 2A
champ Heritage Christian (10/16) takes on added importance with last
year’s 1A and 2A champions now part of the same sectional (2A-29).
The Raiders will look to find some skill kids, but return in Hendrickson
one of the top playmakers in Indiana. The big question mark for Ritter, I
believe will come at tournament time. After a 1/2 decade of dominance in
1A, can they make the adjustment to handle 2A teams as far as more
depth and more physicality? If they can, the Raiders will be in the hunt for a
2A title in 2009
#24 SHELBYVILLE GOLDEN BEARS (4A)
The last two years, the Shelbyville Golden Bears have amassed a record
of 20-3. Despite that impressive won-loss record, the Bears have fallen
short…28-7 to Columbus East in the 2007 sectional final, and a 38-28
loss to perennial contender East Central in the sectional semi-final in
2008.
Head coach Patrick Parks (74-75) begins his 15th season at the helm of
the Golden Bears. No longer will Shelbyville have to worry about
Columbus East…or at least for the next two years with the Olympians
moving up to 5A. East Central is still in Sectional 15 as it appears the
Bears and Trojans will be the top dogs entering the season.
As with our #25 team, defense will look to be a major factor for Shelbyville.
Nine…count ‘em, nine starters are back for the Bears.
On offense, four starters return for Shelbyville. Again, the skill positions will
be filled with some newcomers, so look for the offense to take some time
to gel.
Key Games - Looking at the schedule, Shelbyville opens up with a trip to
Greensburg. In Hoosier Heritage Conference action, the big match up will
be at the end of the regular season as the Bears travel up to Muncie to
face Delta on 10/16. Another highlight of the season will be on 10/10 when
Shelbyville will face Yorktown at Lucas Oil Stadium.
20 wins in the last two years, but no post-season trophy for Shelbyville. If
the defense carries the load early, to allow the offense to develop, this
team can be a very tough out, come tournament time.
#25 CONCORD MINUTEMEN (4A)
The Concord Minutemen had a solid 2008 campaign. Going 8-2, both
losses were to conference foe Plymouth by a combined three points, 27-
25 in the regular season and 25-24 in the Sectional 10 opener.
Head coach Tim Dawson (126-93) looks to have the Minutemen again in
the picture in the Northern Lakes Conference, and will be a tough team to
face in the meat grinder known as Sectional 10 in 4A.
On offense, the Minutemen will look to replace the skill positions, but four
returning starters on the line should ease the transition. Adam Cantwell
and Eddie Warr give Concord two veteran tackles to anchor the line. Again..
finding some skill players will be a key for the Minutemen in 2008. Senior
receiver Kyle Gavin earned All-NLC laurels for his 37-reception, six-TD
campaign last year.
On defense, seven starters are back for the Minutemen. Look for Warr and
Cantwell to be key components in the defensive trenches. The Minutemen
will be playing a base 3-4 position.
Looking at the schedule, the Minutemen will open up at East Noble. Key
games in conference play will be a home date with NorthWood on 9/4 and
the grudge match at the Rockpile against Plymouth on 10/2. Thrown in the
annual Elkhart battle with Jimtown on 9/25 and the Minutemen will be well-
tested.
The key will be the development of the offensive skill positions. In a
dynamite sectional with the likes of Plymouth, Lowell, and a surprising
South Bend Washington team a year ago, the Minutemen will be in the
thick of it come October.
As always, your questions and comments are welcome at
bpotosky@midamericabroadcasting.com.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16) PIKE
17) WEST LAFAYETTE
18) PLYMOUTH
19) COLUMBUS EAST
20) HERITAGE HILLS
21) HAMILTON SE
22) HARDING
23) RITTER
24) SHELBYVILLE
25) CONCORD
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16) PIKE
17) WEST LAFAYETTE
18) PLYMOUTH
19) COLUMBUS EAST
20) HERITAGE HILLS
21) HAMILTON SE
22) HARDING
23) RITTER
24) SHELBYVILLE
25) CONCORD