One step left before Lucas Oil Stadium

Tonight's Central Indiana Semistate Championships (Games scheduled to start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise specified. Rankings based on final AP/Coaches' polls - UR: unranked) Class 5A UR/No. 11 Penn (10-3) at No. 3/2 Carmel (12-1), 7:30 p.m. NOTE: It's been 12 years since these two football powers clashed in the postseason. In their last meeting, Penn conquered Carmel at Greyhound Stadium, 28-7, before knocking off Ben Davis for the program's third state title. With momentum on their side after claiming victory in a tooth-and-nail battle against No. 5 Fort Wayne Snider, 24-21, last week, the defending Class 5A state champion Greyhounds have one more hurdle to clear to have a chance at back-to-back. Enter Carmel senior quarterback Morgan Newton (1,741 passing yards, 18 TDs, 1,377 rushing yards, 23 TDs) and senior Kurt Freytag (1,169 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 30 TD receptions). No. 10/8 Ben Davis (10-3) at No. 1/1 Center Grove (12-1) NOTE: The Trojans' 44-22 win against Ben Davis in early October gave top-ranked Center Grove a two-game cushion following a five-game losing streak at the hands of the Giants. But nothing is that elementary when pertaining to these two teams, especially at this point in November. In a similar situation six years ago, Ben Davis used home field to eliminate the Trojans, 21-3, and advance to state. The win, of course, avenged a Center Grove semistate win in 2000, the last time the Class 5A Trojans advance to the state finals. In the last 15 meetings, Ben Davis owns the edge, 9-5. Expect a trench war tonight as Ben Davis' offense runs through senior quarterback Greg Rice (14 rushing TDs) and senior Miles Wright (1,241 yards rushing, 19 TDs). Center Grove sports a two-headed backfield with seniors Luke Swift (1,667 yards, 20 TDs) and Tanner Riley (1.521 yards, 21 TDs). But don't forget about senior quarterback Jordan Luallen (827 yards passing, 13 TDs, 15 rushing TDs). Class 4A No. 4/5 Indianapolis Cathedral (10-2) at No. 1/1 Columbus East (13-0) NOTE: The Irish have seven semistate titles to their credit. Oddly enough, the Olympians don't have a single one. But they do have one state title (1979) and appear equip with the arsenal to challenge for their first semistate tonight at Columbus East Field. Cathedral survived their mistakes last week against Zionsville, but also lost a key receiving threat in senior Barry Flynn with a broken ankle. The Olympians, however, have more than a handful of NCAA Division I recruits and can score in bunches, averaging 44.6 points per game. The Irish's stout defense must hold the line; otherwise the Olympians will open it up. Columbus East senior quarterback Dusty Kiel, who has verbally committed to Indiana University, has thrown 34 touchdowns compared to four interceptions for 2,954 yards passing. On the ground, he has 14 touchdowns and 1,078 yards. His primary target, senior Duwyce Wilson has 1,126 yards receiving and a reported 48 touchdowns. Senior Joumeel McLaurine has amassed 1,070 yards rushing and 16 TDs. Class 3A No. 1/1 Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (11-1) at No.5/5 Evansville Memorial (11-2), 7:30 p.m. at Bosse H.S. NOTE: The defending state champions defeated a red-hot North Montgomery team last week, and face their second ranked opponent tonight on the road where the Trojans are a perfect 7-0 this season. But this deep in November, the only thing that matters is victory whether ugly, slim or lopsided. Evansville Memorial has won nine straight games to reach tonight's title game. Chatard is eyeing a third straight state title and a seventh semistate championship in eight years. Class 2A No. 13/11 Brownstown Central (11-1) at No. 4/5 Heritage Christian (12-1), 7:30 p.m. NOTE: Tonight marks the first meeting between these two programs in over a decade. And though, fate has never drawn them together, they do share a few similarities. One, last week marked both teams' first back-to-back regional championship runs. And two, these teams can score. Heritage Christian averages 40-plus a game while Brownstown Central lags slightly at nearly 37. However, that's where the resemblances end. As the statistics will show, these are two teams have very distinct offensive philosophies. The Brownstown Central Braves will grind it out with two strong rushers in Teddy Stucker (1,536 rushing yards, 18 TDs) and Blaze Hurley (868 rushing yards, 15 TDs). They can also throw with quarterback Cam Cockerham (1,336 yards, 10 TDs) under center. The Eagles love to soar with quarterback Jackson Kirtley (3,195 yards, 42 TDs) hitting Morgan Cook (941 yards, 16 TDs) or Tommy Eggleston (941 yards, 16 TDs) a majority of the time. But don't overlook running back Austin Olvey (887 yards, 7 TDs). His role has expanded with the weather's recent shift. Class A No. 7/9 Southern Wells (13-0) at No. 3/2 Sheridan (12-1), 7:30 p.m. NOTE: This is it for the Blackhawks --- meaning it's the Sheridan seniors' last home game at Bud Wright Stadium, of course. Why, what did you think I meant? With one step left standing between a potential fourth state title bid and the Sheridan Blackhawks, everything is on the line as undefeated Southern Wells, which has blanked its last two opponents, ventures to western Hamilton County. As usual, Sheridan senior quarterback Nick Zachary remains the key. As the school's all-time leading rusher with 6,968 yards, surpassing legendary player Brett Law (6,864) this postseason, Zachary will be called upon and won't back away from the challenge. He is fifth on the IHSAA career rushing list. Coach Bud Wright has 350 career wins in 44 seasons overall. No.1/1 Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter (13-0) at No. 4/5 Linton-Stockton (13-0), 7:30 p.m. NOTE: For those of you traveling to Linton-Stockton for tonight's game, if you hit a sign that says "Welcome to Illinois," you've gone too far. All kidding aside, this game will be worth the drive as both teams put their perfect records on the line. For the top-ranked Raiders, their 13 wins match a single-season best, which was the same number totaled two years ago before Sheridan handed them loss No. 2 at the RCA Dome. Determined to get back to state - and a potential rematch with Sheridan - Ritter has used defense to go with offense, logging three shutouts this season and allowing less than 10 points in each of its four playoff games. On three occasions, the Raiders have broken the 40-point margin on offense with junior quarterback Ross Hendrickson (2,573 passing yards, 27 TDs) and senior Tyrone Walker (1,499 receiving yards, 18 TDs) doing most of the damage. On defense, senior Ethan Buckles paces the team with 11 sacks. The Miners have followed a similar path to victory, scoring 40 or more points six times and allowing only 96 points. Something has to give tonight. As to who, it's anyone's guess.