Eagles, Cougars set to play for sectional football crowns tonight

South Putnam and North Putnam will be playing for football sectional titles tonight against two very different programs.

The 5-6 Eagles will host 10-1 Traders Point Christian, which is participating in its first-ever IHSAA state football tournament.

The Knights’ program is only in its sixth year of existence, and they had their first-ever winning season last year.

North Putnam, meanwhile, will take its 8-3 record to play at undefeated and No. 1-ranked Western Boone.

The Stars are the defending sectional champions, although last year’s victory snapped a 16-year tourney drought.

For South Putnam, a win tonight would allow this year’s senior class to achieve something which has slipped through its grasps twice already in their career.

The Eagles will be making their third appearance in the sectional finals in four years, and are still looking for their first win in that time.

“We are very excited to play the sectional championship at home again this year,” fifth-year head coach Nathan Aker said. “The seniors are hungry to win it this year. It’s been our number one goal since walking off the field last year after the Arlington game.”

Aker credits his team’s aggressive schedule with playing a huge role in its tourney success.

“Playing the toughest 1A schedule in the state continues to pay off,” Aker said, noting that his team and Lafayette Central Catholic are the only two 1A schools to not play another 1A team in the regular season and South Putnam is the only 1A school to play multiple 4A schools. “Our players and coaches have done a great job buying in to the fact that those obstacles have made us stronger and able to take it out on schools our own size.

“That’s a tough task for all involved and this group of young men have made that journey quite special,” Aker added.

The Knights upset undefeated Covenant Christian to open the sectional, and are led by junior quarterback David Hart — who has passed for 948 yards and 12 touchdowns this year.

“Traders Point is a talented outfit,” Aker said. “Their quarterback has a strong arm and can scramble very effectively. Containing him and getting him on the ground is key for us this week.”

Stepping to the forefront in tourney for the Eagles has been senior Dalton Scott, one of the school’s best defensive players ever who has been a force carrying the ball as well.

Scott has rushed 53 times for 388 yards (7.3 yards per carry) with eight touchdowns in his team’s wins over Indianapolis Shortridge and Indianapolis Howe.

“Establishing the run game on offense is very important for us, as keeping the ball and gaining first downs will keep their offense off the field,” Aker said. “I expect our depth to come into play as well. We’ve been able to use that to our advantage the past three weeks.”

Carnes noted that Western Boone, which is third in Class 2A in average scoring per game and 12th overall, runs different offenses based on different situations.

“When they want to run it, they have a physical triple option look,” said Carnes, who will be coaching in his first sectional final as a head coach. “When they want to pass, they run a spread look. In order to be successful on defense we have to be able to play assignment football and have each player stop each phase of the option.”

Carnes indicated after Friday’s 15-6 win over Cascade that his team would not be intimidated by the highly-ranked Stars.

“We also have to communicate formations quickly and make sure we are properly aligned, which is a challenge against an offense that can run so many different looks,” he said. “On defense, they are pretty quick. We will rely on our linemen, as always, to win the battle in the trenches.”

Sectional football championship games

CLASS 6A

1: Crown Point [4-6] at Merrillville [7-3]

2: Valparaiso [8-2] at Penn [8-2]

3: Fort Wayne Snider [8-2] at Homestead [7-3]

4: Carmel [8-2] at Lafayette Jeff [9-1]

5: North Central (Indianapolis) [8-2] at Fishers [4-6]

6: Lawrence Central [4-6] at Warren Central [10-0]

7: Brownsburg [10-0] at Avon [8-2]

8: Center Grove [7-3] at Franklin Central [3-7]

CLASS 5A

9: Michigan City [8-2] at LaPorte [4-6]

10: Elkhart Central [6-5] at Concord [5-5]

11: Harrison (West Lafayette) [5-5] at Kokomo [5-5]

12: Anderson [3-7] at New Palestine [10-0]

13: Indianapolis Cathedral [6-5] at Decatur Central [9-1]

14: Martinsville [8-2] at Bloomington South [5-5]

15: Columbus East [9-2] at Bedford North Lawrence [8-2]

16: Terre Haute South [4-6] at Castle [6-4]

CLASS 4A

17: Hammond Morton [9-2] at Lowell [9-2]

18: South Bend St. Joseph [7-4] at Mishawaka [10-1]

19: NorthWood [11-0] at Angola [11-0]

20: Fort Wayne Dwenger [10-1] at Fort Wayne Wayne [9-2]

21: Marion [11-0] at Mississinewa [10-1]

22: Greenwood [4-7] at Mooresville [10-1]

23: East Central [10-1] at Edgewood [8-3]

24: Boonville [11-0] at Evansville Central [10-1]

CLASS 3A

25: Andrean [10-1] at West Lafayette [11-0]

26: Blackford [8-3] at Brebeuf Jesuit [9-2]

27: Maconaquah [9-2] at Mishawaka Marian [7-4]

28: Fort Wayne Luers [7-4] at Bellmont [2-9]

29: Indianapolis Chatard [9-2] at Indian Creek [7-4]

30: Tri-West [7-4] at Sullivan [9-2]

31: Batesville [9-2] at Brownstown Central [10-1] []

32: Evansville Memorial [11-0] at Gibson Southern [9-2] []

CLASS 2A

33: Boone Grove [9-2] at Whiting [11-0]

34: Bremen [9-2] at Bluffton [7-4]

35: Lewis Cass [7-4] at Eastbrook [10-1]

36: Lapel [7-4] at Shenandoah [10-1]

37: Indianapolis Scecina [10-1] at Triton Central [10-1]

38: North Putnam [8-3] at Western Boone [11-0]

39: Providence [9-2] at Paoli [11-0]

40: Evansville Mater Dei [6-5] at Southridge [8-3]

CLASS 1A

41: Triton [8-3] at North Judson [6-5] []

42: Pioneer [11-0] at Lafayette Central Catholic [5-6]

43: Southwood [11-0] at Adams Central [11-0]

44: Monroe Central [9-2] at Union City [5-6]

45: Traders Point Christian [10-1] at South Putnam [5-6]

46: Hagerstown [9-2] at Indianapolis Lutheran [8-3]

47: North Vermillion [10-1] at Attica [8-3]

48: North Central (Farmersburg) [8-1] at West Washington [9-2]