The wait is over. Week 1 of Indiana high school football delivered blowouts, upsets, and a few eyebrow-raising performances across all six classes. From Brownsburg holding strong at No. 1 to Avon crashing into the rankings with a statement win, here’s how the state stacks up heading into Week 2.
Top 25 Statewide Rankings
1. Brownsburg Bulldogs (1-0)
Previous: 1
The Bulldogs opened their season with a 36-23 win over Archbishop Spalding (Md.). Quarterback Oscar Frye passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns. A huge test looms Friday against Cathedral.
2. Westfield Shamrocks (1-0)
Previous: 2
The Deacon King show was in full swing. The junior running back gashed Homestead for 160 yards and two scores in a 35-0 rout.
3. New Palestine Dragons (1-0)
Previous: 3
The Dragons overwhelmed Kokomo 52-0, with four different players finding the end zone. Their showdown with Decatur Central is one of Week 2’s marquee games.
4. Center Grove Trojans (1-0)
Previous: 6
Nolan Rees carried the load with 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-6 win over Warren Central. A big bump for the defending 6A champs.
5. Lawrence North Wildcats (1-0)
Previous: 4
The Wildcats survived a scare against Lawrence Central, winning 34-27 behind a balanced offensive attack.
6. Heritage Hills Patriots (1-0)
Previous: 7
Quarterback Jett Goldsberry accounted for 263 total yards in a 66-0 demolition of South Spencer.
7. Crown Point Bulldogs (1-0)
Previous: 8
Crown Point looked sharp in a 38-7 win over Lowell. They’ll travel to Pike this week.
8. Mishawaka Cavemen (1-0)
Previous: 10
The Cavemen handled Mishawaka Marian 35-7 and now get Penn in the annual “Backyard Brawl.”
9. Cathedral Fighting Irish (1-0)
Previous: 11
A defensive slugfest ended with Cathedral topping Ben Davis 8-0. Their ground game churned out 173 yards.
10. Decatur Central Hawks (0-1)
Previous: 5
A heartbreaker in overtime drops the Hawks after Avon stunned them 30-28. They don’t have long to lick their wounds—No. 3 New Pal is next.
11. East Noble Knights (1-0)
Shut out Fort Wayne Wayne 42-0 behind QB Rylee Biddle’s 181 passing yards.
12. Hamilton Southeastern Royals (1-0)
New QB Terry Walker III led the Royals to a 14-7 win over Carroll.
13. Columbus North Bulldogs (1-0)
Rolled past Whiteland 49-7, setting up a crosstown rivalry game with Columbus East.
14. Fishers Tigers (0-1)
Fell hard to Carmel, 49-24, and need a bounce-back against Lawrence North.
15. Bishop Chatard Trojans (1-0)
Held off Lafayette Jeff 35-28. Next stop: Hanover Central.
16. Warsaw Tigers (1-0)
Beat Fort Wayne Snider 38-30 in a thriller. They’ll clash with Warren Central in Week 2.
17. Merrillville Pirates (1-0)
Crushed Andrean 41-14, but a trip to Illinois power Loyola Academy is next.
18. Concord Minutemen (1-0)
Knocked off Elkhart 35-29 with a strong second half.
19. Carroll Chargers (0-1)
Lost a 14-7 nail-biter to HSE despite QB Gabe Frisinger’s 268 passing yards.
20. Warren Central Warriors (0-1)
Struggled offensively in a 24-6 loss to Center Grove.
21. Ben Davis Giants (0-1)
Held scoreless in an 8-0 defeat to Cathedral.
22. Franklin Central Flashes (1-0)
QB Connor Moreland threw for 249 yards in a 48-6 rout of Perry Meridian.
23. Zionsville Eagles (1-0)
Defeated Pike 27-7.
24. Roncalli Royals (1-0)
Escaped Bishop Dwenger 3-0 in a defensive grinder.
25. Avon Orioles (1-0)
The week’s biggest climber. A dramatic 30-28 overtime win over Decatur Central vaulted them into the rankings.
Polls by Class
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6A Top 3: Brownsburg, Westfield, Center Grove
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5A Top 3: New Palestine, Cathedral, Merrillville
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4A Top 3: Bishop Chatard, Heritage Hills, (tie) Mishawaka & East Noble
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3A Top 3: Evansville Memorial, Gibson Southern, Mississinewa
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2A Top 3: Adams Central, Lutheran, Brownstown Central
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1A Top 3: Providence, South Putnam, North Decatur
Biggest Winners
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Avon: Knocking off Decatur Central in overtime re-establishes the Orioles as a 6A threat.
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Warsaw: A statement victory over Snider propels the Tigers into the top 20.
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Heritage Hills: Absolute domination in Week 1 shows they’re every bit a 4A contender.
Biggest Losers
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Fishers: Falling flat against Carmel was a major setback after entering the year with momentum.
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Decatur Central: Losing to Avon stings, especially with New Pal looming.
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Warren Central & Ben Davis: Traditional powers both struggled to find the end zone in Week 1.
Final Word
Week 1 reminded us that in Indiana high school football, there are no safe bets. Brownsburg, Westfield, and New Pal look the part of title contenders, but the early surprises—like Avon’s upset and Warsaw’s rise—prove the rankings are far from settled. Week 2 brings more heavyweight clashes, and if history is any indication, expect more shake-ups.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
