David Hughes
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Follow Todd Golden as he covers West Vigo-Brown County: @TribStarTodd.
Follow Andy Amey as he covers Terre Haute South-Vincennes Lincoln: @TribStarAndy.
Follow David Hughes as he covers Terre Haute North-Northview: @TribStarCraig.
TONIGHT: Northview at TH North, 7 p.m.; TH South at Vincennes Lincoln, 7 p.m.; Sullivan at North Knox, 7 p.m.; Fountain Central at Riverton Parke, 7 p.m.; Rockville at South Putnam, 7 p.m.; Owen Valley at South Vermillion, 7 p.m.; Robinson at Red Hill, 7 p.m.; Marshall at Cumberland, 7 p.m.; West Vigo at Brown County, 7:30 p.m.; Oakland City Wood Memorial at Linton, 7:30 p.m.; Tecumseh at North Central, 7:30 p.m.; Indiana Deaf at Union, 7:30 p.m.
A closer look at some of tonight’s games:
West Vigo at Brown County
Kickoff — 7:30 p.m.
Airwaves — None planned in the Wabash Valley.
Records — The West Vigo Vikings (1-1, 0-0 WIC) will visit the Brown County Eagles (1-1, 0-1 WIC) for a Western Indiana Conference clash.
Last meeting — On Sept. 2, 2011, West Vigo won at home over Brown County 20-14.
Coaches — Jeff Cobb is 36-39 in his eighth season at the helm for West Vigo, while Ken Wendling is 27-44 in his eighth year at Brown County and 113-127 in his 24th year overall.
Outlook — West Vigo has lost at home to Evansville Harrison 52-7 on the scoreboard before the IHSAA ruled that Harrison had to forfeit for using an ineligible player and lost at home to Greencastle 44-0.
Brown County has won at Cloverdale 22-14 and lost at Owen Valley 41-14.
Injuries, lineups — For West Vigo, senior offensive lineman/linebacker Ethan Boatman (broken leg) is out for the season and senior offensive lineman/linebacker Tyler Murlin (knee) returns this week. Key starters include junior running back/linebacker Skyler Warnock, senior offensive/defensive lineman Patrick McVey and senior wide receiver/safety Chris Nidlinger.
For Brown County, senior guard Kenny Moore (high ankle sprain), senior wide receiver Julian Ercoli (knee) and senior wide receiver/linebacker Brandon Callahan (unknown) are out for at least tonight, senior running back Dylan Quackenbush (mononucleosis) is out until late October and junior wide receiver/defensive end/linebacker Jordan Lucas (foot) is doubtful for tonight.
Coaches’ comments — Cobb on his squad: “We have faced two very athletic and experienced teams and, believe it or not, we had moments where we looked good against both. We’ve just had breakdowns in a quarter that have cost us. We’re looking to get back on the right track as we go into our WIC opener.
Cobb on playing the Eagles: “Brown County’s quarterback [Dillon Boknecht], who has started for them for about 3 1/2 years, has got a good arm. They’re kind of a team in flux right now. They lost some good, quality runners from last year. They’re still trying to find their identity … I’m sure they’re happy to get back home [after opening the season with two road games] and I’m sure they’ll give us everything they’ve got.”
Wendling on his squad: “Right now, I think we’re a team searching for who we are. We had very high expectations for this football team… Our first game, we won. Then we laid a big egg against Owen Valley. In my 40 years of coaching [including time as an assistant], it might have been one of the biggest disappointments I’ve had. Consequently, this week, we’ve really gotten back to basic fundamentals.”
Wendling on playing the Vikings: “They’ve played two pretty good teams so far. West Vigo is a team that’s always dangerous. I think they’re very well-coached. Right now, I think they’re a young ballclub, but they’re a team we have to be careful of.”
— By David Hughes
Terre Haute South at Vincennes Lincoln
Kickoff — 7 p.m.
Airwaves — The game will be broadcast on WZDM-FM 92.1 in the Vincennes area.
Records — Terre Haute South’s Braves are 1-1, Vincennes Lincoln’s Alices 2-0. South beat Indian Creek 34-24 before losing to Terre Haute North 27-10, while the Alices’ wins have come over Sullivan (19-14) and Boonville (23-20).
Last meeting — South won 42-8 in Terre Haute last fall.
Last time Vincennes Lincoln beat Terre Haute South — Although the last three scores in this long series have been very similar — 42-8, 41-8, 41-7 — South needed overtime to pull out a 14-7 win in 2008 and Vincennes won the 2006 game 42-6.
Coaches — Mark Raetz is 13-39 in his sixth season at South. Jon Heiden is 16-39 in his sixth season at Vincennes Lincoln.
Outlook — The Braves may never have been so vulnerable to an upset as they are tonight, a road game with as many as seven starters out with injuries. The Alices also have a weapon in three-year starting running back Patrick Toole, a mighty mite (5-foot-4, 155) who is a threat to go all the way on any run, pass or kick return. Even banged up, however, the Braves should have some weapons the Alices can’t stop too.
Injuries, lineup changes — For the Braves, center Zac Harper and receiver Logan Steward are out for the season with knee injuries; linebacker Derik Whalen, strong safety Logan Deady and safety/receiver Jacob Johnson will miss this week; and defensive end Howie Lawson and cornerback Kane Wilford are questionable for tonight. Vincennes will be without sophomore quarterback Zane Bechman, so defensive back/receiver Conner Barmes, another sophomore — and a cousin of ISU graduate and Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes — will probably fill in there.
Words from Raetz — “We were faced with a lot of adversity (in last Friday’s 27-10 loss to Terre Haute North), stuff that was out of our control, but I still thought the kids competed hard. We didn’t capitalize on our first-half opportunities, but it was still a game at 14-10 and third-and-19 [for the Patriots, who completed a long pass at that point]. We need to rebound [from that game].
“[Toole] is a little thicker version of [South running back] Ian Newton, and he’s already had one kickoff return for a touchdown and another one he took to the 1-yard line. [The Alices] have a lot of seniors up front and some good young skill guys, but [Toole’s] the key to their offense.”
Words from Heiden — “We’re playing fairly well, but we’ve got a long ways to go and plenty of room for improvement. We’ve been able to make big third-down conversions and we’ve run the ball well, so our time of possession has been big. And our defense has been pretty consistent.
“Every year it never changes [when we play Terre Haute South]. Size-wise, physically and athletically they’re better than us. The last two years they’ve put points on the us just about at will, so we’ve got our hands full as we do every game [with them]. We know we’ll get a team that’s hungry to get back on the field [after the loss to North], so we’ll have to match the intensity we know they’re going to bring.”
— By Andy Amey
Northview at Terre Haute North
Kickoff — 7 p.m.
Airwaves — None planned in the Wabash Valley.
Records — The Northview Knights (1-1) and Terre Haute North Patriots (1-1) are each looking for a second straight victory.
Last meeting — Terre Haute North won 19-16 last season.
Coaches — Chris Barrett is 39-1 in his 11th year at North and 67-103 in his 18th year overall. George Gettle coaches Northview.
Outlook — Northview has lost to Indianapolis Broad Ripple 18-9 and won 20-13 at Edgewood. Terre Haute North lost at Castle, 35-24, and defeated Terre Haute South 2710 last week at Memorial Stadium.
Injuries, lineups — For Terre Haute North, linebacker Wyatt Stolting (broken finger) is out. Northview information was unavailable.
Coaches’ comments — Barrett on playing after the North-South game: “It’s a mental and physical battle that you go through to have to respond the next week and try not to have a let down.
“We had miscues in the first half like our first week. We’ve been blown out in the first half and blown out our opponents in the second half. What we’ve got to do is get four good quarters of football. If we do that, we can be a pretty good football.”
Barrett on Northview: “Northview’s always competitive and plays very well against us. We expect the same type of battle [tonight]. We have to come out and execute with great effort and enthusiasm.”
Gettle could not be reached for comment.
— By Craig Pearson
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