How SBLive Indiana's Power 25 teams fared in Week 9: Top two both fall in big-time matchups

No. 1 Brownsburg and No. 2 Center Grove both lost nailbiters in Week 9

By Kevin Messenger

Here’s a look at the Week 9 results for the teams in the SBLive Indiana Power 25.

1. Brownsburg (8-1) lost to No. 4 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers) 31-28

Leading 28-14 at intermission, but without quarterback Jayden Whitaker in the second half, the Bulldogs were shut out in consecutive quarters for the first time this season. Brownsburg scored three touchdowns in a three-minute span before halftime, staking the ‘Dogs to a halftime lead on reserve QB Jake Dunn’s TD pass before the break. But the Bulldogs botched the first snap of the second half to set up an HSE score just moments into the third quarter.

2. Center Grove (Greenwood) (7-2) lost to Cathedral (Indianapolis) 40-29

The Trojans led 29-13 after a dominant third quarter, getting scores from Micah Coyle and Jalen Thompson. But they were stopped on fourth-and-goal early in the fourth and surrendered a 99-yard scoring drive to allow the Irish within 29-19. The Cathedral flurry gained steam with a blocked punt and score, and a late interception sealed the Trojan defeat in the final minute.

3. Cathedral (Indianapolis) (7-1) defeated Center Grove 40-29

Wow! The Irish scored 21 unanswered points in the game’s last four minutes to upset defending champion Center Grove on its home field. Cathedral trailed 29-19 and scored when Hosia Smith blocked a Trojans punt and Stu Smith recovered the carom for a score. When the Irish got the ball back, QB Danny O’Neil connected with David Ayers for a 35-yard strike and a 33-29 lead. After Mike Jones’ interception gave Cathedral the ball again with only 40 second to play, O’Neill put the game on ice with a 60-yard pass play to Brennan Wooten.

4. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers) (9-0) defeated No. 1 Brownsburg 31-28

HSE capped off an unbeaten regular season by downing the top-ranked Bulldogs and staking their claim to the Hoosier Crossroads title. The Royals trailed at halftime, but outscored Brownsburg 17-0 in the second half behind the big-play duo of quarterback Ty Bradle and receiver Donovan Hamilton. Azariah Wallace scored on a one-yard dive with 6:26 remaining to put HSE in the lead for good.

5. New Palestine (9-0) defeated Delta 47-7

The Dragons led 47-7 in the third period and coasted the rest of the way to secure their 12th unbeaten regular season in school history. Grayson Thomas led the onslaught with 173 rushing yards on just 17 carries, with a career-high five TDs. The Dragons defense limited Delta to just 99 total yards and only 9 in the second half.

6. Carroll (Fort Wayne) (9-0) defeated Fort Wayne Wayne 45-8

The Summit Conference champs won big again, this time surrendering an early score before scoring 45 unanswered points to finish the game and a perfect regular season. The Chargers outgained Fort Wayne Wayne 314 to 149 and got four touchdowns through the air.

7. Carmel (6-3) defeated No. 25 Lawrence Central 27-7

Quarterback Jack Kazmierczak accounted for two touchdowns and Kyle Fedorcha’s pick-six accented a stout defensive effort to lead the Greyhounds past the Bears. Fedorcha’s 63-yard interception return staked Carmel to a 21-0 lead in the third quarter and Kazmierczak scored on a 1-yard plunge to make it 27-0. Kazmierczak completed 17 of 23 passes for 153 yards and a TD, but the Greyhounds defense set the tone as LC finished just 8-of-24 passing and managed only 44 yards total offense in the first half.

8. Westfield (6-3) defeated Franklin Central 24-13

The Shamrocks scored three first-quarter touchdowns and then held on for the win on Friday against the Flashes. Westfield QB Cole Ballard threw a pair of touchdown passes.

9. Ben Davis (6-3) defeated North Central 42-6

Thomas Gotkowski threw for 214 yards and a touchdown, and Alijah Price ran for 143 yards and two scores to lead the Giants past North Central. Ben Davis scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters to win handily.

10. Crown Point (9-0) defeated Michigan City 38-3

Crowns Point finished the regular season 9-0 and unbeaten in the Duneland Conference for its first outright league title since 2006. Senior quarterback J.J. Johnson passed for 62 yards and a score, ran for 74 yards and three scores, and even caught a 24-yard pass on a trick play.

11. Roncalli (Indianapolis) (8-1) defeated No. 12 East Central (St. Leon) 21-19

The Royals were the beneficiaries of four turnovers on Friday, including a 25-yard fumble return for TD by J.J. Prendergast, and used them to edge East Central 21-19 in a battle of 4A powers. Arik Moyers tossed for two touchdowns and Luke Hansen rambled for 118 out of Roncalli’s 190 total yards.

12. East Central (St. Leon) (7-2) lost to No. 11 Roncalli (Indianapolis) 21-19

East Central shot itself in the foot repeatedly against Roncalli, including a late fumble that thwarted a potential winning score. East Central had advanced deep in Royals territory with time running down but coughed up its third fumble, and fourth turnover, of the night. The Trojans outgained Roncalli 327-190 and kept Indiana rushing leader Luke Hansen out of the end zone for the first time this season.

13. West Lafayette (9-0) defeated Western 43-6

The Red Devils scored on their first two possessions, led 15-0, and were never challenged. West Lafayette led 36-6 at halftime. Dawson Martin paced the Red Devils with three TDs and QB Max Mullis scored on two touchdown runs of his own.

14. Evansville Reitz (9-0) defeated Evansville Mater Dei 14-7

Reitz won its Westside War with Mater Dei. Roland Vera and Levi Oxley scored on first-half runs to stake the Panthers to a 14-0 lead. Mater Dei got its only score in the third period.

15. NorthWood (9-0) defeated Goshen 42-6

NorthWood claimed its first Northern Lakes Conference championship since 2018, leading 42-0 at halftime and coasting to the win. NorthWood scored on all four possessions in the second quarter to assume the big halftime advantage. Junior quarterback Owen Roeder started the game 7-of-17 passing, but completed 11 of his last 13 throws to finish with four touchdowns, 289 yards and 19-of-30 passing overall.

16. Merrillville (7-2) lost to Chesterton 35-10

Merrillville fell to Chesterton decisively on Friday in the week’s biggest upset. The Pirates never got their offense untracked, knotting the score at 7 on a long pass just before halftime. Merrillville took advantage of a fumble to take its only lead of the contest at 10-7, with 8:47 left in the third, but Chesterton regrouped and scored 28 unanswered points to run away with the upset.

17. Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis) (5-4) lost to Cincinnati Elder 21-16

Elder got past Indianapolis Roncalli, 24-23, last week, and on Friday outlasted Indianapolis’ Bishop Chatard, 21-16. In a see-saw battle, Chatard took a 10-7 lead into the locker room but the Panthers led 14-10 headed to the fourth quarter and stretched their lead to 21-10.

18. Fort Wayne Snider (8-1) defeated Fort Wayne Luers 52-7

Snider won its seventh straight as the 5A Panthers rolled up 509 yards with Luke Haupert throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns on 12 completions.

19. Fishers (6-3) defeated Zionsville 37-7

The Tigers roared back from last week’s defeat to Westfield, racing to a 37-0 lead against the Eagles. Khobe Martin ran for three touchdowns and Carson Dunn ran for a pair as the duo racked up 327 rushing yards between them.

20. Whiteland (8-1) defeated Greenwood 42-14

The Woodmen scored first and last, but Whiteland scored 42 consecutive points in between to capture the Mid-State Conference title outright for the first time since 2015. Senior running back Jonathan Crowley scored three touchdowns on the ground.

21. Mishawaka (8-1) defeated Wawasee 54-21

Rebounding from a two-week scoring drought, the Cavemen lit up the scoreboard with eight touchdowns to finish the regular season. Mishawaka led 27-7 at intermission.

22. Gibson Southern (9-0) defeated Boonville 39-21

Gibson Southern capped its fifth undefeated regular season behind an offensive production totaling 551 yards. Devan Roberts ran for 222 yards and a pair of scores. Sean DeLong scored three times with 124 scrimmage yards on 13 touches.

23. Kokomo (8-1) lost 32-30 to Lafayette Jeff

Lafayette Jeff beat Kokomo for the sixth straight season, but this time it needed a late comeback to upend the previously unbeaten Wildkats. Kokomo led 30-14 late in the third but fumbled twice as the comeback began. Lafayette Jeff orchestrated a 60-yard drive in the last two minutes, scoring the winning touchdown with 25.6 seconds to play.

24. Penn (7-2) defeated South Bend Adams 35-7.

The Kingsmen led 14-0 three minutes into the game, with the help of two Adams’ fumbles. QB Nolan McCullough ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for three more in the lopsided win.

25. Lawrence Central (4-5) lost to No. 7 Carmel 27-7

Ahmaad Duff pulled down five passes for 113 yards including a 63-yard score in the fourth quarter, but that was virtually all the offense the Bears could muster in a 27-7 defeat.