2023-10-09 00:45:27
Columbus North will get at least one home game and has an excellent shot at a second in the football sectional.
The Republic file photo
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Columbus North will get at least one home game and has an excellent shot at a second in the football sectional.
The Republic file photo
Given the opportunity, Logan Haston and Eddie Vogel couldn’t have drawn up their sectional brackets any more favorable than what the IHSAA’s blind draw gave them Sunday night.
With highly-ranked teams in Class 6A and 5A in their respective four-team football sectionals, Columbus North and Columbus East avoided first-round games against those squads. Following a bye week, the Bull Dogs and Olympians will host semifinal games on Oct. 27, then would host those top-ranked teams in the sectional finals on Nov. 3.
“I’d by lying if I said we weren’t excited about not seeing (three-time defending 6A state champion Center Grove) right away,” North coach Logan Haston said. “We have a lot of respect for them. Getting the opportunity to have a home game in Round 1 and then possibly go up against them for the title is very exciting for us.”
The Bull Dogs (3-5) will host Jeffersonville (0-8) on Oct. 27. Center Grove (7-1), ranked No. 2 in 6A, will host Franklin Central (4-4) in the other semifinal. If North wins, it would travel to Franklin Central or host Center Grove in the final.
“We’re excited for it,” Haston said. “We respect everybody in our sectional. The opportunity to have a home game to start and the opportunity, if things go well, for another home game, we’re excited to do that in front of our home crowd.”
Columbus East (3-5), meanwhile, will host Seymour (5-3) on Oct. 27. The Owls beat the Olympians 41-25 at Seymour in Week 3.
“We’re happy to get another shot,” Vogel said. “We’re happy to see Seymour and get a chance to play at home. This has kind of been a weird year. We’ve kind of been road warriors. Including our scrimmage, six of our nine games have been on the road, so we’re happy to get a playoff game at home.”
Class 5A No. 1 Bloomington North (8-0) will host 5A No. 3 Bloomington South (7-1) in the other semifinal. If East can get past Seymour, it would host Bloomington North or visit Bloomington South.
“I think we have a tough sectional,” Vogel said. “No. 1 and No. 3, and then Seymour creates a lot of challenges for folks with their offense.”
Kyson Villarreal and Columbus East will get another shot at Seymour, this time at home.
The Tribune file photo
While 5A and 6A are off on Oct. 20, Classes A through 4A will begin that week. Jennings County (3-5) will host Edgewood (1-7) in a first-round 4A matchup Oct. 20. If the Panthers win, they would visit the winner between Greenwood (4-4) and Connersville (2-6) in the semifinals on Oct. 27. Class 4A No. 1 East Central (8-0) is on the other side of the eight-team bracket.
In Class A, South Decatur (6-2) will visit North Decatur (5-3) in a rematch of the season opener, won 41-14 by the Chargers. The winner will host Edinburgh (1-7), which received a first-round bye.
Brown County (1-7) will visit Switzerland County (5-3) in a first-round Class 2A matchup. If the Eagles win, they would visit Eastern (Pekin) (4-5) or host Christel House Manual (2-5).
The regional round is Nov. 10, followed by the semistate games on Nov. 17. State finals are Nov. 24-25 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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