FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Class 2A Football

Some of the toughest football in the state is played in Class 2A. And there are several teams in Central Indiana that will threaten to finish what Heritage Christian started in 2007 - a team from around Indy in the state championship. Heritage Christian took its fans on a wild ride in 2007 before falling to Ft. Wayne Luers in the RCA Dome at state finals. As the new season approaches, the Eagles will be looking for someone to fill the shoes of standout quarterback Garrett Meador, one of the state's top passers a season ago. Wide receivers Morgan Cook and Tommy Eggleston, as well as running back Drew Butterworth and linebacker Eric Burke are set to return. The Eagles biggest rival, Triton Central, returns a majority of starters from a team that went 10-1 in 2007, its only loss to Heritage Christian in sectionals. In fact, the Tigers have won 18-straight regular season games dating back to 2006. Head coach Kevin Kling, from defending Class 4A champion Evansville Reitz, has brought the option offense to a team that will thrive from the switch Chalked full of strong offensive talent, Triton Central is led by senior quarterback Jordan Martin, who passed for 1,717 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall. Running back Garrett Pritt, who averaged 8.6 yards per carry in 2007, also returns. Kling says he likes the way the team has looked so far this preseason. "We've got players that will capitalize on the skills that each one of them brings." And the difference maker in the postseason could be junior kicker - yes, kicker - Bryan Sullivan. "That [ball] is like a cannon coming off his foot," says Kling. Sullivan booted 46 PATs and hit 8-of-10 field goals last year. Another team that could make a run to state is Speedway. The Sparkplugs return 16 starters from an 8-3 club last fall. Two of those losses came against WCC and Sectional 30 rival North Putnam. Coach Denny Pelley's team returns running backs Jaron Avance and Eric Law, while quarterback Kyle Linville takes over for graduated QB Ethan Bartel. Looking for a surprise team to threaten a run to regionals, semistate and beyond? Look no further than Tri-West, which is coming off a 6-4 record in 2007. Chris Coll's Bruins have 15 starters back, including quarterback Jake Allen and running back Caleb Ross. Tri-West will have to get past Sectional 30 foes Speedway and North Putnam. PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THIS FALL JORDAN MARTIN (Triton Central) - 1,717 yards, 22 pass TDs. JAKE ALLEN (Tri-West) - quarterback is dangerous and shifty. JARON AVANCE (Speedway) - Dangerous runner with lots of experience. TOMMY EGGLESTON (Heritage Christian) MORGAN COOK (Heritage Christian) ERIC BURKE (Heritage Christian) ZAC THARPE (Indian Creek) - At 6-foot, Tharpe is Indian Creek's biggest receiving threat in a pass happy offense.