Japanese’s soccer crew got here into the season with a main purpose of breaking by to win a sectional championship for the primary time in class historical past.
The hunt begins tonight when Japanese (7-2) hosts Elwood (1-8) within the opening spherical of Sectional 36 in Class 2A.
Japanese coach Josh Edwards mentioned his crew is able to go.
“We’re as wholesome as we’ve been for the reason that first week of August,” he mentioned. “We like the place we’re at bodily and we like the place we’re at personnel-wise. We’re fairly enthusiastic about our alternatives.”
The Comets acquired a good sectional draw. No. 6-ranked Alexandria (8-1), No. 8 Bluffton (7-2) and Eastbrook (6-3) are within the different half of the bracket. If Japanese beats Elwood, it will face the winner of Tipton (1-8) vs. Blackford (0-9) within the second spherical. If it’s Japanese vs. Tipton, the Comets would host.
“We like the truth that we are able to play probably a number of dwelling video games within the first two rounds,” Edwards mentioned. “I feel that’s the large factor for our seniors, they’re going to get to play no less than yet another dwelling sport and if we play properly [tonight], we are able to probably get one other dwelling sport.”
That mentioned, Edwards and the Comets usually are not overlooking Elwood within the first matchup between the groups in no less than 35 years.
“Each week goes to be a brand new problem and that’s what we’ve got this week with Elwood,” Edwards mentioned. “We don’t know a lot about them. We solely have a little bit little bit of movie of them. We all know they’ve a gifted quarterback [Jayden Mullins] and gifted offensive and defensive linemen.”
Elwood’s lone win got here towards winless Blackford. The Panthers have been shut out in six completely different video games, together with their final 4 video games.
Japanese has gained 4 in a row since a midseason loss to Class A No. 3 Carroll. The Comets rating 36.8 factors per sport. Quarterback Eli Edwards passes for 211.6 yards per sport and Jayden Eagle rushes for 160.8 yards.
“We have now to proceed what our massive purpose has been for the reason that Carroll sport — to concentrate on us, ensuring we’re enhancing day-after-day,” Josh Edwards mentioned. “No matter protection our opponent performs, we as crew need to be able to execute towards that on offense, and no matter they put us towards us on their offensive facet, we’ve got to be ready to cease it.”
BLACKFORD AT TIPTON
Tipton (1-8) hosts Blackford (0-9) in a matchup of groups which have endured lengthy common seasons.
Tipton beat Elwood in Week 2 for its lone win whereas Blackford is winless. The Bruins are mired in a 14-game shedding streak.
The groups are assembly in a sectional opener for the second time in three years. The Blue Devils beat the Bruins 42-6 in 2021.
DELPHI AT CASS
In a Sectional 34 sport, Cass (5-4) hosts Delphi (4-5) in a matchup of groups that closed the common season with momentum.
Cass beat Manchester and Southwood the final two weeks, giving the Kings their first two-game profitable streak.
Delphi has gained 4 of its final 5 following an 0-4 begin.
The groups are assembly in a sectional opener for the second time in three years. The Oracles beat the Kings 28-20 in 2021.
The Delphi-Cass winner will face the Benton Central-Seeger winner in spherical two.
CLASS A
CARROLL AT TRI-COUNTY
Following its first undefeated common season since 2016, No. 3-ranked Carroll (9-0) visits Tri-County (5-3) within the opening spherical of Sectional 43. The Cougars are the defending sectional champions.
Carroll has been dominant on each side of the ball all season. The Cougars common 49.1 factors per sport and maintain opponents to three.0. They rank No. 3 within the state in scoring offense and No. 1 in scoring protection.
Tri-County enters the sectional on a four-game profitable streak.
The groups are assembly for the primary time since Week 1 of the 2022 season. Carroll rolled to a 51-0 win for its eleventh straight victory over the Cavaliers.
The Carroll-TC winner will face the Caston-North White winner in spherical two. North White is 9-0 and ranked No. 7.
WEST CENTRAL AT TAYLOR
Taylor (1-8) hosts West Central (7-2) in a Sectional 43 sport.
West Central opened the season 6-0 earlier than shedding two of its final three. Taylor hasn’t gained since beating Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian in Week 2.
The groups are assembly within the sectional for the second straight 12 months. The Trojans beat the Titans 40-0 in a semifinal sport final 12 months.
The winner will face the Tri-Central vs. Frontier winner in spherical two.
TRI-CENTRAL AT FRONTIER
Tri-Central (3-6) travels to Frontier (5-4) in a Sectional 43 sport.
TC closed the common season on a excessive notice by beating Taylor and Clinton Central. Frontier was 4-2 earlier than dropping two of its final three video games.
The groups are assembly for the primary time since 1991, when Frontier beat TC 22-16 in a regional.
The winner will meet the West Central-Taylor winner in spherical two.
