Week 3 Football Preview

All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Beech Grove (1-1) @ Speedway (2-0) Carmel (2-0) @ Center Grove (2-0) Danville @ Western Boone Franklin Central (1-1) @ Bloomington South (2-0) Greenfield-Central (2-0) @ Delta (2-0) Guerin Catholic (1-1) @ Lutheran (2-0) Hamilton Southeastern (2-0) @ Brownsburg (1-1) Harrison (West Lafayette, 1-1) @ Avon (1-1) Indian Creek (1-1) @ Eastern Hancock (0-2) Indiana School for the Deaf (1-1) @ Union (2-0) Cathedral (1-1) @ St. X (Cincinnati) Chatard (2-0) @ Roncalli (2-0) Howe (0-2) @ Arlington (1-1) Manual (0-2) @ Broad Ripple (0-2) Northwest (1-1) @ Tech (1-1) Ritter (2-0) @ Brebeuf (2-0) Lapel (2-0) @ Heritage Christian (2-0) Lawrence North (1-1) vs. Warren Central (2-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium North Central (0-2) vs. Ben Davis (2-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium Lebanon (0-2) @ Tri-West (2-0) Martinsville (1-1) @ Greenwood (1-1) Mooresville 2-0) @ Decatur Central (0-2) New Palestine (0-2) @ Pendleton Heights (0-2) North Decatur (2-0) @ Triton Central (1-1) Perry Meridian (0-2) @ Lawrence Central (2-0) Pike (2-0) @ Southport (1-1) Shelbyville (2-0) @ Franklin (2-0) Twin Lakes (1-1) @ Sheridan (2-0) Westfield (0-2) @ Fishers (1-1) Whiteland (2-0) @ Plainfield (1-1) Zionsville (1-1) @ Noblesville (1-1) Let there be no mistake. One game sticks out above all others this Friday: Class 5A No. 1 Carmel at No. 3 Center Grove. Last year, the Trojans upset then-No. 1 Carmel at home, in double overtime. The Trojans went on to a 9-1 regular season. The Greyhounds went 12-3 and won the state title in 5A. They are perhaps the two premier teams in the area - and they'll battle tonight for early supremacy in the MIC. Keep an eye on the Carmel defense - Chase Varndell, Joe Rippe and Brian East led a Greyhounds unit that hasn't surrendered a point in its last six quarters. Last week, Carmel held Lebanon to just four first downs and negative rushing yards. While quarterback Morgan Newton and running back Kurt Freytag are a part of the high-powered offense, the defense is key tonight as it faces the vaunted Wing-T of Center Grove. Center Grove, with a standout defense in its own right, will count on quarterback Jordan Luallen to led this unique offense. Luallen had five touchdowns last week in a 55-14 win against Perry Meridian - three passing, while racking up 173 yards passing on just six completions. Luke Swift, filling in for injured back Kyle Jones, has been great as well, as he can run and catch the ball equally well. Tanner Riley is Luallen's main target and last week he had 119 yards and two touchdowns on just two catches. Watch out for senior linebacker Anthony Elias, who leads a very aggressive and swarming defense. VYPE will be on hand, tailgating with fans and passing out free magazines. Be sure to stop by and sign up for a chance to win a Peyton Manning autographed football. And remember that you can tune in to 1260-AM (WNDE) and hear more about high school sports at 4:10 p.m. every Friday on "The Drive w/ JMV." Plus, VYPE and WNDE will be at the Marsh grocery store at Stone's Crossing and State Rd. 135 today, passing out free goodies. Elsewhere: Warren Central, Lawrence North, North Central and Ben Davis will do battle this Friday in Lucas Oil Stadium. VYPE will be on hand to present academic awards, in conjunction with Sallie Mae, to a member of each team before kickoff. Warren Central should be able to bounce back from its inconsistency in the first two weeks, while Ben Davis should be able to handle North Central. Interesting game between Class 5A No. 6 Hamilton Southeastern and Brownsburg. The Royals have defeated two opponents (Fishers and Avon) with solid game plans, good defense and a healthy dose of junior running back Matt Ripp. Ripp sliced Fishers last week for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns. Could be a long night for the host Bulldogs if they can't contain him. Great ready for a rivalry renewed. Class 3A No. 1 Chatard visits Class 4A No. 7 Roncalli for a key early season battle. The defending 3A champions have yet to be tested as Chatard has won its first two games by a combined score of 76-13. Roncalli, on the other hand, has won its first two games by a combined score of 57-14, and both Southport and Franklin Central are 5A football schools. Watch the battle of the running backs in this one, as Roncalli's Ben Polizzi has been on a tear, rushing for 137 yards and three touchdowns last week, while Ari Pappas of Chatard is the Trojans key runner. In Class 2A, No. 7 Speedway is turning heads with running back Jaron Avance, who rushed for 75 yards and two scores on just eight carries. Speedway topped Greencastle 42-6 last week and this team has been slowing gaining attention at the start of the season. Beech Grove rushed for 187 yards last week, led by Kyle Cruz' 109 yards and one touchdown. Speedway will have to stop Beech Grove's running game, while maintain their own ground attack. 2A Ritter meets 3A Brebeuf, and both undefeated teams have something to prove. Class 3A No. 10 Brebeuf wants to be taken as a serious 3A contender, while Class A No. 3 Ritter wants to steal a little thunder from No. 1 Sheridan with a big win against a bigger school. Brebeuf won this matchup last year, 29-14, but it's a new season and Ritter handled Northwest last week, 48-12.