Columbus North’s Jordan Briner runs upfield after catching the ball during a game against Roncalli Friday at Max Andress Field at Columbus North High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
For Columbus North, it will be about moving forward without at least a couple of key players.
For Columbus East, it’s about maintaining momentum and pushing toward a possible Hoosier Hills Conference title.
The Class 6A No. 8 Bull Dogs will receive their toughest test this season when they visit 4A No. 5 Bishop Chatard, the defending 3A state champions. North is 4-0 following last week’s 14-0 shutout of Roncalli, while Chatard is 3-1 after taking its first loss of the season, a 31-7 setback against archrival Cathedral.
A week earlier, Chatard and Roncalli squared off, with the Trojans prevailing 9-3.
North, however, has lost arguably their two best players in the past two weeks. Senior wide receiver Braylon Thoman injured an elbow in a Week 3 win at Southport and will be out a couple more weeks. Senior tight end-linebacker Garrett Long sprained an ankle against Roncalli and likely will miss this week and next week. The Bull Dogs’ top lineman, junior Drew Schiefer, has not yet played this season because of a back injury.
Senior Jordan Briner and junior Morgan Knapp stepped up with some big catches in Thoman’s absence against Roncalli. Junior Jerry Likens likely will fill in Long’s spot as the tight end opposite senior Eli Smith on Friday.
“It’s going to be tough,” North coach Logan Haston said. “We’re going to have to rely on some guys to step up into roles that they didn’t anticipate and be ready to go. It will force us as a staff to get creative and getting different personal packages on the field where we’re putting our best guys out there. We are thankful that we have a very strong running game with our two running backs (Gino Prescott and Sam Mormino), as well as our quarterback (Asher Ratliff) that can run the ball, so we’ll have to lean on that a little bit more. But obviously, we’re going to have to throw a little to stay on the field. We’ll figure it out, and I’m confident in our staff.”
Columbus East’s Thomas Houpey, left, dives to score a touchdown while pursued by Jennings County’s Brandan McCory during a football game Friday at Columbus East High School.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
East, meanwhile, will make its first road trip of the season when it visits New Albany. The Olympians (2-2) have played three home games and a road contest at North.
“It’s tough to get on the bus and travel,” East coach Eddie Vogel said. “It’s our first trip out of Columbus, and that’s a long trip, and we have two of them back-to-back. That’s something that is a challenge for our guys, and we’re going to have to prepare for that.”
The Olympians are 2-2 following Friday’s 62-7 win against Jennings County. New Albany (3-1) has won three in a row, the latest being a 22-12 victory against Bedford North Lawrence.
East has hopes of winning the HHC title, and so far, the Olympians are on the right track.
“Our goal the last two weeks has been just to go 1-0,” Vogel said. “We have to do that again this week.”
