FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Class 5A Football

It doesn't get much more competitive than Class 5A football here in Central Indiana. Oh, right...you're probably looking for some proof to back that statement up, right? Well, try this on for size: the last five 5A state champions have come from the area (Warren Central 2003-06, Carmel 2007) - and the state finalists (runners-up) in 2006 (Carmel) and 2007 (Pike) also came from local schools. Then it should come, with little surprise, that area teams are again at the forefront of state championship discussion this fall. Defending state champion Carmel and head coach Mo Moriarity should be more than capable of defending their title, returning several key components this fall, namely quarterback Morgan Newton. A highly touted senior recruit, Newton has a strong arm and much experience in big games. Linemen Brooks Michel and Matt Steele return to protect Newton, while fullback Kurt Freytag returns as well. The defense should be just as strong as it was in 2007, with the return of junior linebacker Brian East, safety Joe Rippe and defensive back Chase Varndell. It may be that the biggest threat to the Greyhounds crown comes in the form of MIC rival Center Grove, who upset Carmel on its home turf in a double-overtime thriller last year and finished with a 9-2 mark (and a share of the MIC crown.) The Trojans return a slew of talent and feature a loaded senior class: quarterback Jordan Luallen, wingback Luke Swift, tailback Kyle Jones, offensive lineman Jeff Ponder and All-State linebacker Anthony Elias. Keep an eye on Warren Central (back again in contention with new coach John Hart and returning running backs George Cheesborough and Eric Williams), as well as Pike. Last year's state runner-up, Pike lost several skill players, such as quarterback Josh Carpenter, but return several key defensive players - like safety Dakotah Tyler. Don't be surprised if Derrick Moyers' Red Devils make another run at state this fall after their 14-1 campaign in 2007. Avon will more than likely have one of the stingiest defenses in the area, anchored by linebacker Pat Serak and defensive end Montez Robinson. Ben Davis may have lost star quarterback MarQueis Gray, but return a ton of talent on the defense, including Jordan Stepp and Zach Bruce, making the Giants a tough opponent to score on for any team. PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS FALL: MORGAN NEWTON (Carmel) - Greyhounds quarterback has drawn interest from Miami (Fl.), Clemson, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana and Purdue. Ranked No. 7 nationally at his position. Rumor has it, Newton threw the ball in the air 80 yards over the summer. MATT STEELE (Carmel) - Another offensive lineman with great skill and size (6-foot-4, 295 lbs.), Steele was AP All-State last season for the Class 5A champs. BROOKS MICHEL (Carmel) - You guessed it, another massive offensive lineman with limitless potential. Michel, 6-7 and 280 lbs., has committed to Minnesota. KURT FREYTAG (Carmel) - 6-2, 230-lb. fullback has an offer from Ball State - a bulldozer with speed. ALEX PIERCE (Carmel) - 6-6, 300-lb. offensive lineman will fill void left by the graduated Ryan Barnes on the o-line. Extremely athletic for a player his size. JORDAN LUALLEN (Center Grove) - Trojans quarterback has great arm strength, has committed to Georgia Tech. Very intelligent and runs the vaunted Wing-T for coach Eric Moore. Hit on 60 percent of his passes as a junior. ANTHONY ELIAS (Center Grove) KYLE JONES (Center Grove) JEFF PONDER (Center Grove) - Just a junior, Ponder anchors the Trojans offensive line from the guard position and is a key cog to coach Eric Moore's Wing-T offense. GEOFF SISSOM (Center Grove) - Linebacker hits the books just as hard as he does opponents, drawing interest from Stanford and Princeton. TANNER RILEY (Center Grove) - Riley is a speedy and shifty wide out, running a 4.59 40-yard dash. PAT SERAK (Avon) - Serak has started since his sophomore season and last fall had 118 tackles (80 solo), which earned him All-State Honorable Mention. Fielding interest from Ball State, Central Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Cincinnati, Northwestern and Purdue. MONTEZ ROBINSON (Avon) - The No. 10 ranked defensive end in the country, this senior has blazing quickness (ran the 400 meter dash during spring track) - he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash. Auburn, Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia, Indiana and Iowa all like what they see. So will you. Maybe not opposing quarterbacks. ED HAZELETT (Warren Central) - At 6-9, Hazelett is easy to find on the field and has drawn interest from Arkansas, Boston College, Cincinnati, Ohio State and Kentucky. ERIC WILLIAMS (Warren Central) - 815 total yards, 6 TDs. GEORGE CHEESEBOROUGH (Warren Central) - 750 rushing yards, 7 TDs while backing up Iowa commit Jewel Hampton. DEMORY LAWSHE (Lawrence North) - Last season, Lawshe caught 25 passed for 322 yards and three scores. He was named First-Team Junior All-State in 2007. Plays the slot receiver position well and uses his speed nicely. TYLER MCGUIGAN (Lawrence North) - Senior offensive guard has an offer from Toledo. JORDAN STEPP (Ben Davis) - Headed to Cincinnati, you may think that a 260 lb. defensive tackle may be a little on the slow side. Not so. Stepp runs a 4.62 40 and has a vertical jump of 33 inches. EVAN STEGER (Noblesville) - A talented kicker, Steger has a smooth kick with good height coming off the ground. Steger has drawn some interest from Indiana. MILES WRIGHT (Ben Davis) MICHAEL MALONE (Ben Davis) ZACH BRUCE (Ben Davis) - Defensive end (6-2, 240-lbs.) has drawn some interest from Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati, Southern Illinois and Toledo. CHRIS JONES (Brownsburg) - 6-foot-2, 270 pound defensive lineman has committed to Bowling Green. ANDRE CURETON (Pike) - 6-6 offensive tackle has committed to Cincinnati and has been a two-year starter for the Red Devils. DAKOTAH TYLER (Pike) - Safety has speed, great awareness, good blitzing skills from the safety position. Committed to Cincinnati. DYJUAN LEWIS (Pike) - As just a sophomore in 2007, Lewis caught 30 passes for 500 yards and six TDs. PARRIS SHIVELY (Pike) - Running back has drawn interest from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Purdue and Northwestern. WELLS LANGE (North Central) - Not often do you find a punter at the high school level with a leg like Lange's. Hopefully, the Panthers won't have to use him much this season. PATRICK BADE (Franklin Central) - At 6-8, Bade is a quarterback's dream at tight end: an easy find on the field.