One final IndyStar Super 25 for high school football season. In addition to ranking the teams, let’s take a look at how I had them predicted in the preseason:
1: Brownsburg (14-0): Ding, ding, ding. I did not get fancy on this pick. I had Brownsburg No. 1 coming into the season after last year’s state 6A state championship, which turned out to be a smart choice as coach John Hart’s team cruised through the season and the tournament without much problem, finishing with a 38-31 win over Westfield in the state finals. With plenty of talent returning, including quarterback Oscar Frye and receiver Branden Sharpe, people are already asking if Brownsburg can make it three in a row. It is a real possibility, though everyone starts over in August. End of regular season: 1. Preseason ranking: 1.
2: New Palestine (14-0): It was a little baffling to me why New Palestine did not show up on more of the national ranking lists. Alas, the Dragons passed all the tests on the way to a second consecutive state championship, completing the run in 5A this season after winning 4A last year. There were some tough challenges along the way, including wins over Cathedral (20-15 in the sectional championship), East Central (20-6 in the regional) and Merrillville (38-17 in the state championship). The Merrillville game was tied in the fourth quarter. New Palestine will start next season with a 28-game winning streak. End of regular season: 2. Preseason ranking: 3.
3: Westfield (11-3): The Shamrocks won one of the biggest games of the tournament, knocking off 6A second-ranked Carmel 23-20 in overtime in the sectional championship in a game that ultimately probably decided the north entry in the 6A state finals. The program remains the standard on that side of the bracket until proven otherwise, despite an 0-4 record in the 6A state finals since 2020. With junior-to-be Cooper Melvin returning at quarterback and several other key players, including freshman tight end Caiden Snow (IU offer), the Shamrocks will continue to be a factor under coach Josh Miracle. End of regular season: 5. Preseason ranking: 4.
4: Carmel (9-2): The Greyhounds were off and running in Kevin Wright’s first year as coach, though the finish – a 23-20 overtime loss to Westfield in the sectional championship – was a tough way to go out. Can Carmel continue that upward trajectory next year? Two of the program’s top players, quarterback Anthony Coellner (Boston College) and linebacker Dane Bathurst (Oklahoma) are gone to graduation. Despite the Westfield loss, it would be difficult to classify this season as anything but an overall positive for the Greyhounds after 5-5 and 3-7 records the previous two seasons. End of regular season: 3. Preseason ranking: 17.
5: Cathedral (7-4): This is my opinion, but I think Cathedral wins the 5A state title if the Irish would have defeated New Palestine in that 20-15 No. 1 vs. 2 tug-of-war in the sectional championship. Cathedral was right there with the team that eventually went on to win the state title. Cathedral lost four games but two were to Cincinnati St. Xavier and Covington Catholic (Ky.) and the other two were to 6A champion Brownsburg and 5A champion New Palestine. Cathedral graduates some talented pieces, but this program will be ready to compete again next year for a 5A title. End of regular season: 8. Preseason ranking: 8.
6: Warren Central (8-5): This might seem high for a team with five losses, including a 31-0 loss to Brownsburg in the semistate. Junior running back Keyon Thomas was not close to 100% in that game (though Brownsburg wins that game regardless), which changed the final score. The previous week, a 24-21 win over Center Grove, was a major step forward for a program that had not defeated the Trojans in nine consecutive tries. The Warriors have a ton of talent returning, including Thomas (1,337 rushing yards, 19 TDs), sophomore quarterback Jack Quillen (2,021 passing yards, 21 TDs) and a talented group of receivers, along with defensive standouts like Kaleb Elkins, Dexter Smith and Sean Fox. End of regular season: 16. Preseason ranking: 10.
7: Center Grove (10-2): I am looking forward to Center Grove getting back into the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference next season. The Trojans played four of those MIC teams this year, but getting back to playing Carmel will be a welcome sight. I know a lot of teams battle injuries, but Center Grove was really hit by injuries to Drake McClurg and Nolan Rees this season. Still, just two losses to Cathedral and Warren Central by a combined nine points is hardly a disappointing season. A lot of good players return, including sophomore quarterback Oscar Sloan, sophomore running back Ricky Lange and several others. End of regular season: 6. Preseason ranking: 2.
8: Fishers (8-4): The Tigers won a sectional championship for a second consecutive season for coach Curt Funk, then lost 20-10 to Westfield in the regional. Still, a very good season for a program that had not won a sectional title since 2017 before last year. Western Illinois commit Gage Sturgill passed for 2,426 yards and 25 TDs and senior Ryan Thembulembu and Vincent Rozzi had huge seasons as seniors at the skill positions. There is a lot of talent graduating, including Emmanuel Cowherd, Carsen Eloms and Tyler Maynard on defense. End of regular season: 7. Preseason ranking: 13.
9: Decatur Central (9-3): It was hard to know what this season would look like for the Hawks, who made the jump to Class 6A via the tournament success factor after winning the program’s first state championship in 5A in 2024. This group, returning largely intact, made a good run and won the program’s first 6A sectional title with wins over North Central and Lawrence Central before running into state champion Brownsburg in the regional. There is a lot of talent graduating, including quarterback Bo Polston (Toledo) and do-it-all playmaker Kasmir Hicks (Indiana). Next year will be a rebuilding year for coach Kyle Enright, whose Hawks will still be in 6A. End of regular season: 9. Preseason ranking: 7.
10: Lawrence North (7-3): The Wildcats looked like they might be on a collision course with Brownsburg again after losing 22-21 in the regional to the Bulldogs in 2024. But Lawrence Central had other ideas, knocking off Lawrence North 26-24 in the first round of the sectional. There is an outstanding group of still position players expected back, including quarterback Darian Prather (1,678 passing yards, 19 TDs), running back Izayveon Moore (1,587 rushing yards, 30 TDs) and receiver Monshun Sales (37 catches, 794 yards, nine TDs). Lawrence North lost its three games – to Fishers, Center Grove and Lawrence Central – by a combined eight points. End of regular season: 8. Preseason ranking: 6.
11: Merrillville (11-3): The Pirates were right there against New Palestine in the 5A state championship, tied in the fourth quarter, before the wheels came off a bit in a 38-17 loss. Quarterback Michael Hill Jr., a talented junior with more than 3,000 passing yards, was injured in the first half and lost for the game in a heartbreaking scene. If they have him in the game, who knows? Hill, senior running back JQ Johnson (1,318 rushing yards), senior receiver Mikel Smoot (922 receiving yards, 13 TDs) and junior Cameron Jordan (857 receiving yards, 890 rushing yards) are seriously talented players. This team started 1-2 with losses to Loyola Academy (Ill.) and Crown Point but was playing its best football at the end of the season. End or regular season: 15. Preseason ranking: 15.
12: Fort Wayne Dwenger (13-2): I think I missed on Dwenger. The Saints looked much better in person at Lucas Oil Stadium in the 4A state finals – a 36-29 win over Roncalli – than I expected. A 37-yard fake field goal touchdown pass from kicker Lucas Nguyen to A.J. Shefferly in the fourth quarter was the difference, though quarterback Henry Jordan had 183 passing yards and a TD and ran for 74 yards and a TD. Not just a defensive team. The Saints allowed just 9.5 points per game. End of regular season: NR. Preseason ranking: NR.
13: Fort Wayne Carroll (9-4): I had Carroll in the Super 25 at different points during the season and think the Chargers belong here after beating Penn 41-30 in the regional and battling Westfield most of the game in the semistate before falling, 35-14. Junior quarterback Gabe Frisinger (3,349 passing yards, 27 TDs) returns next season, along with junior receiver Harrison Scheele (981 receiving yards, six TDs). Carroll started 1-3 with losses to Hamilton Southeastern, Center Grove and Dwenger. End of regular season: NR. Preseason ranking: 20.
14: Penn (11-1): The Kingsmen knocked off Crown Point 28-24 to win the sectional championship, then lost 41-30 to Fort Wayne Carroll in the regional. The good news is Penn will have junior quarterback Landon Hall and three starting offensive linemen returning, along with 6-4 junior receiver Brayson Hurley and flanker Braden White. The defense graduates a lot of experience and talent. End of regular season: 12. Preseason ranking: NR.
15: Crown Point (10-1): After winning back-to-back regional titles, Crown Point lost 28-24 to Penn in the sectional championship. Indiana recruit Trevor Gibbs was the defensive player of the year in the Duneland Conference. There is a lot of talent graduating. Can Crown Point remain one of the top teams in Class 6A? End of regular season: 4. Preseason ranking: 5.
16: Lawrence Central (5-6): The Bears were a handful, especially late in the season. Following a 36-33 loss to second-ranked Carmel in the regular season finale, the Bears upset Lawrence North 26-24 in the first round of the sectional on the final play of the game. The Bears led Decatur Central in the second half of the sectional championship before falling, 17-14. The offense will graduate a lot of offensive talent, including quarterback Santana Allen (1,762 passing yards, 27 TDs) and running back Albert Gooden III (1,165 rushing yards, nine TDs). End of regular season: 20. Preseason ranking: NR.
17: Roncalli (11-4): The Royals had an impressive run in the tournament, including wins over Bishop Chatard (26-6) in the sectional championship and Heritage Hills (42-14) in the semistate. It ended with a 36-29 loss to Fort Wayne Dwenger in the Class 4A state championship. Roncalli will graduate quarterback Collin Ash (1,993 passing yards, 18 TDs; 1,070 rushing yards, 25 TDs) but will bring back some key players like Alex Jarvis and Luke Roeder. End of regular season: 22. Preseason ranking: 21.
18: East Central (9-3): The Trojans battled Class 5A state champion New Palestine into the fourth quarter in the regional, falling 20-6. Also, an impressive 35-0 win over Whiteland in the sectional championship. The only regular season losses came to Lawrence North and Roncalli. Leading rusher Colton Bellman (1,589 rushing yards, 13 TDs) will be among those returning next year. End of regular season: 24. Preseason ranking: 16.
19: Bishop Chatard (9-3): One of the big surprises of the tournament was Chatard’s 26-6 loss to Roncalli in the 4A sectional championship. There is a solid group returning again next season, including running back Daniel Adams, quarterback Harrison Odom and receiver Julio Graves. There are some key juniors coming back on the defensive side, too. Last week: 10. Preseason ranking: 12.
20: Avon (6-5): The Orioles had some big wins during the season, including over Decatur Central, Ben Davis (twice) and Franklin Central. The problem is two-time state champion Brownsburg is in the same sectional and ended the Orioles’ season, 53-29. Avon has a lot of juniors coming back, including leading rusher Andre Warfield (1,254 rushing yards) and leading tackler Makyi Hines (110 tackles). Last week: 13. Preseason ranking: 23.
21: Hamilton Southeastern (6-5): The Royals won three, lost three, then won three of four before falling to rival Fishers 28-20 in the sectional championship for the second year in a row. A knee injury to Duke recruit and senior quarterback Terry Walker III in the first Fishers’ game was disappointing. Freshman Deaken Johnson (1,415 passing yards, 11 TDs) played well in relief. Leading rusher Carter Reed (673 yards) returns. Last week: 18. Preseason ranking: 11.
22: Bloomington South (11-2): The Panthers had a great run with losses coming to Center Grove (33-12) during the regular season and New Palestine (42-0) in the Class 5A semistate. Bloomington South. Junior quarterback Duncan Combs (2,276 passing yards, 26 TDs) is among those returning next year. Last week: 14. Preseason ranking: 24.
23: Cascade (15-0): The Cadets completed a run to their first regional, semistate and state championship with a 29-14 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the 3A title game. Impressive run that included wins over Lawrenceburg (37-33) in the regional and Gibson Southern (49-34) in the semistate. It was a special senior class but there is talent coming back, including junior Luke Farmer (944 rushing yards) and sophomore lineman T.J. Turner (129 tackles, 30½ TFLs). Previous: NR. Preseason ranking: NR.
24: Gibson Southern (12-2): Gibson Southern was dealt a cruel hand with the injury to senior quarterback Zach Foster in the regional against Indian Creek. The Titans had to play without him in a 49-34 loss to Cascade in the 3A semistate. Great season, though, including wins over Heritage Hills during the season and No. 1 Evansville Memorial in the sectional. Last week: 17.
25: Heritage Hills (12-2): After winning the Class 3A state championship in 2024, the Patriots fell a little short of a repeat visit in 4A with a 42-14 loss to Roncalli in the semistate. Jett Goldsberry (Ole Miss) and Tyler Ruxer (Oklahoma) will be among those graduating going into next year. Last week: 23. Preseason ranking: 9.
Dropped out: Lafayette Jeff (19), East Noble (21), Whiteland (25)
Preseason teams not in final Super 25: Ben Davis (14), Pike (18), Franklin Central (19), Columbus North (22), Lafayette Jeff (25)
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar Super 25 high school football state power rankings
