Journal & Courier

High school football is back! Top 5 Preseason Big Schools and Small Schools Power Rankings

By Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier,

3 hours ago

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LAFAYETTE — Kickoff to the 2024 football season starts Aug. 23 which means its time to begin the slow build towards another memorable season of Indiana high school sports.

With just four weeks until the season, here's a ranking of the top five big and small school teams heading into Week 1.

The preseason rankings are based on things such as the volume of key returners, latest additions, strength of schedule and success from 2023.

Without further ado, here is the Journal & Courier preseason football top five big and small schools power rankings.

Big school power rankings

1. Harrison

Class: 6A
2023 record: 9-2
Conference: None — Harrison will transition to the Sagamore Athletic Conference in 2025-2026.
Major wins: Plainfield (39-13 in 5A Sectional Semifinals — first playoff win since 2019), West Lafayette (42-6), (30-13), Lafayette Jeff (32-13)
Key losses: CJ Zeltwanger (OL), Callix Dillon (QB), Carter Knoy (ATH), Ethan Popp (LB), JC Goodrich, Kasen Newton.
Heading into 2024: Leading the Harrison defense is senior All-State linebacker Jackson Mills (96 tackles, nine for loss, one interception in 2023), junior Evan Walker (20 tackles, two for loss, one sack) and 6-foot-8 Blake Jones will contribute up front as a tackle and blocker. Taking over for Dillon at quarterback is junior Lannon Nicoloff who completed 23-of-31 passes for 293 yards, two touchdowns and rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns. Emerging as a top target at receiver has been junior Quinn Cleary while senior Mike Sullivan is expected to take snaps at running back after playing free safety and made 25 tackles in 2023.
Games to watch: Aug. 23 at West Lafayette, Aug. 30 vs. Plainfield (6-6, 5A Sectional Semifinal rematch), Sept. 6 at Brebeuf Jesuit (6-5, 4A Sectional Championship Finalists), Sept. 20 vs. McCutcheon (rivalry game), Oct. 11 at Lafayette Jeff (rivalry game).

2. Lafayette Jeff

Class: 5A
2023 record: 5-5
Conference: North Central Conference
Major wins: Kokomo (34-21, 4A Sectional Champion finalists).
Key losses: DJ Young (WR), Joel Godina (OL), Lance Crowder (ATH), Riley Perkins (DE), Micah Lillard (DB), Joshua Millian (OLB).
Heading into 2024: Improvement is expected with the return of junior Omar Williams (one reception for eight yards, 28 tackles) and senior quarterback Keyen Crowder (22 of 31 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns). Williams carries offers from Ball State, Miami (OH) and Western Kentucky while Crowder is expected to pick up more offers in addition to Wabash College with 5-foot-11 250-pound lineman Daequan Viverette protecting Crowder. Returning J&C All-Area defensive team linebacker Ben Riva (team leading 119 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 QB hits, 1 forced fumble) supplements Williams along with athletic outside linebacker Aaden Aytch. Lafayette Jeff has an added advantage on special teams with kicker Joel Garrido who is expected to receive Division 1 looks. Garrido was named to the J&C All-Area team after a perfect 30-of-30 on PATs, forced touchbacks on 50% of kickoffs and hit a school record 49-yard field goal against McCutcheon.
Games to watch: Aug. 23 vs. Avon (6A opponent), Aug. 30 at Michigan City (5A Sectional Championship finalist), Oct. 11 vs. Harrison (5A Sectional Championship finalist, rivalry game), Oct. 18 at McCutcheon (rivalry game).

3. West Lafayette

Class: 3A
Conference: Hoosier Conference — Big Schools
2023 record: 9-4 (reigning IHSAA 3A Sectional Champions)
Major wins: Hanover Central 42-41 (IHSAA 3A Sectional title game), Central Catholic 37-7 (eventual IHSAA 2A Regional Champions), McCutcheon 31-17 (5A opponent).
Key losses: Carson Kitchel (QB, P), Cooper Kitchel (TE), Ben Burgett (OL), Jacob Deutsch (LB).
Heading into 2024: Replacing a leader and quarterback like Carson Kitchel won't be easy but taking his place under center is 3-sport athlete Benny Speaker. Speaker played wide receiver in 2023 (88 receptions, 968 yards, 10 touchdowns) but is more than capable of moving the football downfield with his arm and feet. Joining Speaker is the return of All Hoosier Conference and J&C All-Area running back Dawson Martin (1,235 yards, 17 touchdowns on 264 carries; 19 receptions, 265 yards and two touchdowns) while sophomore ATH Kojo Steffey (188 rushing yards, three touchdowns, 42 carries; five receptions, 62 yards, one touchdown; 17 tackles, one interception) adds big play speed to both offense and defense. Leading tackler 6-foot-2 senior linebacker David Curl Jr. (141 tackles, 11 TFL, two sacks, blocked punt and fumble recovery) returns joined by fellow linebacker Ian Szulkowski (97 tackles, five TFL, one sack) and junior linebacker J.J. Weida (85 tackles, nine TFL, one sack).
Games to watch: Aug. 23 vs. Harrison (Class 5A Sectional Finalists), Aug. 30 vs. McCutcheon (Class 5A opponent), Sept. 20 vs. Central Catholic (2A Regional Champions), Oct. 18 vs. Hamilton Heights (3A Sectional Finalists, 11-1 in 2023).

4. McCutcheon

Class: 5A
Conference: None — McCutcheon will transition into the Sagamore Athletic Conference in 2025-2026
2023 record: 6-4
Major wins: Lafayette Jeff 34-22 (rivalry game).
Key losses: Alvaro Duran (OL), Owen Smith (QB), Brock Finney (LB), Brock Peete (LB)
Heading into 2024: McCutcheon has found its competitive grounding under the direction of Josh Strasser. McCutcheon found its rhythm midway through 2023 winning five straight games over Logansport, Kokomo, Lafayette Jeff, Indianapolis Tech and Marion and earned its first winning season since 2019. Main returners on offense include senior wide receiver Broderick Arnold (10 catches, 143 yards and three touchdowns), Shamar Ray (12 receptions, 198 yards, two touchdowns; 11 carries, 56 yards), junior Keegan Rice (35 carries, 180 yards, one touchdown) with returning senior offensive lineman Alex Lawrence-Luna up front. Braxton Leon, Lonnie Griffin and Jake Vanscoyoc are in contention to play starting quarterback. Arnold at defensive back and Griffin at linebacker star on defense.
Games to watch: Aug. 30 vs. West Lafayette (defending 3A Sectional Champion) Sept. 6 vs. Hamilton Heights (3A Sectional finalist) Sept. 20 at Harrison (rivalry game), Oct. 18 at Lafayette Jeff (rivalry game).

5. Twin Lakes

Class: 3A
Conference: Hoosier Conference — Big Schools
2023 record: 5-5
Major wins: None
Key losses: None
Heading into 2024: Twin Lakes is expected to make the next step in its program development under Indiana Football Hall of Fame coach Kevin O'Shea. Twin Lakes will start 14 freshmen and sophomores. Even with such a young roster, this program could blossom sooner than expected. Junior quarterback Ethan Need completed 144 of 256 passes for 1,666 yards, 10 touchdowns and rushed for 74 yards and four touchdowns. Need will target athletic sophomore Keaton Miller (33 receptions, 367 yards and two touchdowns) and senior Leo Dellinger (14 receptions, 158 yards and one touchdown). Senior linebacker CJ Brummett (91 tackles, seven TFL, junior linebacker Carson Wagner (99 tackles, three for loss) guide a program that hasn't won a playoff game since 2019 or captured a sectional championship since 2002.
Games to watch: Aug. 23 at Plymouth (4A opponent), Sept. 13 at Central Catholic (2A Regional Champions), Sept. 20 Logansport (4A opponent), Oct. 11 vs. West Lafayette (rivalry game).

Small school power rankings

1. Central Catholic

Class: 2A
Conference: Hoosier Conference — Small Schools
2023 record: 10-4 (2A Regional Champions)
Major wins: Seeger 33-3 (2A Sectional Championship), LaVille 22-0 (2A Regional Championship)
Key losses: Brinn Robbins (DB), Nick Page (LB) and Albert Schwartz (DL)
Heading into 2024: Central Catholic quarterback Bobby Metzger (251 of 404, 2,943 yards, 34 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) leads a talented offense that returns senior wide receiver Ray Clayton (80 catches, 1,024 yards, seven touchdowns), Hudson Gutwein (36 receptions, 407 yards, six touchdowns), AJ Delgatto (eight receptions, 108 yards and two touchdowns), junior Noah Smith (15 receptions, 234 yards and two touchdowns) and junior running back Mason Meister (118 carries, 601 yards and seven touchdowns). Senior linebacker Jackson Cain (98 tackles, three TFL) hits receivers and ball carriers with power while Delgatto (86 tackles, 16 TFL) uses his hands well to knock blockers off balance and stuff the run game.
Games to watch: Sept. 6 Logansport (4A opponent), Sept. 13 Twin Lakes (3A opponent), Sept. 20 West Lafayette (3A Sectional Champions), Guerin Catholic (3A opponent).

2. Southmont

Class: 2A
Conference: Sagamore Athletic Conference
2023 record: 8-6
Major wins: Linton 36-34 OT (2A Sectional Championship), 41-34 Eastern Hancock (2A Regional Championship), Crawfordsville 48-18 (rivalry game).
Key losses: Wyatt Woodall (RB, LB) Nolan Boyer (QB), Kyler McCandless (WR, DB), Dawson Mason (WR, DB), Konner Robertson (LB), Marlin Williams (RB, DB) and Maddox Cade (RB, DB)
Heading into 2024: Southmont has plenty in reserve after capturing its first sectional and regional championships in history. Returning into the fold for the Mounties offensively is senior running back Dylan Howell (247 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 36 carries) and junior Cale Chadd (227 yards, four touchdowns and 41 carries). Howell at 5-foot-10 has been an imposing presence defensively at linebacker and racked up 138 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Games to watch: Aug. 26 at Fountain Central (rivalry game), Sept. 6 vs. North Montgomery (rivalry game), Sept. 20 at Crawfordsville (rivalry game, 3A program).

3. Carroll (Flora)

Class: 1A
Conference: Hoosier Heartland Conference
2023 record: 8-6
Major wins: Tri-Central 42-0 (Class 1A Sectional Championship)
Key losses: Keegan Ellis (RB, LB), Dominick Sobota (RB, LB), Griffin Viney (RB, DB), Trent Metzger (WR, DB) and Clark McClain (WR, DB).
Heading into 2024: Coach Blake Betzner has created a winning formula in Flora with a Double Wing offense that has pounded defensive lines into submission. Carroll rushed for 246.6 yards per game as a unit in 2023 while returning quarterback Luke Tanner completed 56 of 100 passes for 1,261 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Emery Deaton leads as both a running back (285 yards, two touchdowns and 29 carries) and linebacker (68 tackles, six TFL) with Coy Lytle up front playing offensive guard and defensive tackle (66 tackles, seven TFL).
Games to watch: Sept. 13 at Delphi (rivalry game), Sept. 27 (1A Sectional Championship rematch), Oct. 4 at Clinton Central (rivalry game), Oct. 11 vs. Clinton Prairie (rivalry game).

Class: 2A
Conference: Wabash River Conference
2023 record: 8-4 (2A Sectional Finalists)
Major wins: Benton Central 14-12 (2A Sectional first round playoffs), Lewis Cass 20-16 (2A Sectional semifinals).
Key losses: Noah Stephen (QB, DB), Landon Walker (WR, DB), Owen Smith (DL, OL), Brody Ashby (RB, DB), Ryley Nern (OL, DL), and Hunter Thomas (RB, DB).
Heading into 2024: Peyton Grimmett gets the start at quarterback after the Patriots made a run to the IHSAA 2A Sectional Championship game in 2023. Two way position players Sam Clem and Finn McClain make the bulk of experienced receivers and defensive backs from last season's run along with returning linemen juniors Jacob Duchemin, Bryce Austin and sophomores Conner Harris and Jake Sitz.
Games to watch: Aug. 23 vs. Central Catholic (defending 2A Regional Champions), Aug. 30 at Benton Central (rivalry game), Sept. 27 vs. Fountain Central (Class 1A contender), Oct. 11 at South Vermillion (defending Wabash River Conference Champions)

5. Fountain Central

Class: 1A
Conference: Wabash River Conference
2023 record: 6-4
Major wins: Crawfordsville (3A opponent), North Vermillion (1A Sectional Championship finalist),
Key losses: Isaac Gaylor (TE, DB), Owen Acton (RB, LB, P), Dawson Blue (RB, LB), Ely Thompson (DL, OL), Eli Davis (OL, DL).
Heading into 2024: Head coach Herb King is building a program in Veedersburg, helping the Mustangs complete their first winning season since 2019. Quarterback Eli Foxworthy showed advanced leadership and completed 95 of 171 passes for 1,744 yards and 23 touchdowns as a freshman. While replacing 6-foot-3 tight end Isaac Gaylor will be difficult, junior Nolan Acton (eight receptions, 122 yards, one touchdown) and sophomore Asher Davis (five receptions, 101 yards and two touchdowns) were consistent in 2023. Two way player Brandon Pigg is a top returning defensive back and made 34 tackles with an interception.
Games to watch: Aug. 23 vs. Southmont (2A Regional Champions), Aug. 30 at Crawfordsville (3A opponent), Sept. 27 at Seeger (2A Sectional Championship finalist), Oct. 4 vs South Vermillion (defending Wabash River Conference champions).

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached atehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.