Central, Yorktown take center stage in Week 2
About two to three months after last season ended, Central coach Adam Morris received some surprising news.
The Bearcats’ 35-29 loss to Yorktown in Week 2 of last season was reversed because the Tigers used an ineligible player. Instead of finishing the 2015 season 5-5, Central was suddenly 6-4.
As the Bearcats (1-0) and Tigers (1-0) square off again Friday night, the win means little to Morris and the Bearcats.
“I was surprised (to find out), but to be honest, here in our building we don’t look at it like we won,” Morris said. “They beat us. They played harder, made fewer mistakes and won the game.”
In addition to the game against Central, Yorktown had to forfeit last season’s opener against Anderson, originally a 34-21 win. Yorktown coach Mike Wilhelm said that a senior player, whom he declined to name, transferred from another school but did not have paperwork filed with the Indiana High School Athletic Association as an athletic transfer. He only played on extra-point situations against Anderson and Central before getting injured and leaving the team.
Wilhelm was notified after the regular season about the ineligible player.
“It was an unfortunate situation overall, but you live and learn,” Wilhelm said.
As for this season’s matchup, both teams are coming off impressive openers. Central rode the arm of Trenton Hatfield, who completed 28 of 41 passes for 382 yards and five touchdowns (three to Daiton Hood and two to Eliseus Young), to a 41-14 victory over Pendleton Heights.
Hatfield was so good that the Bearcats hardly used starting running back Xavier Cleaves, who ran for 58 yards on nine carries in addition to his three catches for 52 yards. Central did not call a designed run until its 13th play from scrimmage, and Cleaves didn’t get a carry until Central’s 27th offensive play. By that time, the Bearcats led 28-0.
“We thought that last week, it was a better option to throw the ball,” Morris said. “That’s something that can change. We didn’t not run because we didn’t think we could; our passing game was working so we stuck with it.
“Cleaves is a talented athlete. As season goes on, he’ll get more chances to prove himself.”
Bearcats make it look easy in 'fulfilling' opener
The Tigers escaped Anderson with a 35-33 victory behind three touchdown passes from Brogan Miller — one each to Cole Barr, Kevin McNamara and Christian Hunt. Inside linebackers Caleb Mixell and Kelly Watson combined for 22 tackles and defensive lineman Brody Mariotti had 11.
"I’m excited for the big challenge in front of us tomorrow to play a 5A school," said Wilhelm, whose team opens with three 5A schools and will not play a 3A school until the postseason. "In my opinion, Central is much improved 365 days later."
Contact sports features writer Ryan O’Gara at (765) 213-5829. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGaraTSP.
Friday's Week 2 ECI football games
• Central (1-0) at Yorktown (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
• Shenandoah (1-0) at Delta (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
• Rushville (0-1) at New Castle (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
• Wes-Del (1-0) at Lincoln (0-1), 7 p.m.
• Northeastern (1-0) at Winchester (1-0), 7 p.m.
• Union County (1-0) at Monroe Central (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
• Jay County (0-1) at Blackford (0-1), 7 p.m.
