Time for a quick history lesson.
Southwestern Indiana has been represented in a state championship game 13 times since the IHSAA tournament went to six classes in 2013. All but two of those instances were by a team in Class 3A, 2A or 1A. It doesn’t require much computing power to connect those dots. Therefore, the question is as follows.
Will history repeat itself this fall? The preseason coaches poll seemed to give good odds with six programs receiving votes in Classes 1A-3A. Here are five such teams, in alphabetical order, to watch for this fall in Southwestern Indiana.
Gibson Southern Titans
It would take a brave soul to doubt the Titans at this point.
The last 15 years under Nick Hart point to another contender rolling through Fort Branch this fall. The program has never won fewer than seven games under his watch. That’s not to say this group is impervious to any pitfalls. Just look at who it must replace: starting quarterback, top two rushers, four of the top five pass catchers, half of the offensive line and eight of the top 11 tacklers.
That’s a lot of yards, tackles and experience out of eligibility. The case for Gibson Southern points to its pure potential.
“I like this group a lot,” Hart said. “Just because we lack a lot of experience, I think you always want to get better as the season goes on. I don’t think we’ll be the same Week 10 that we were Week 1. They’ve worked really hard. I like where we’re at, but we’ve got to get a lot better too.”
The next group has a mix of known quantities. Eli Foster (353 rushing yards) had success in the backfield before missing most of the season with an injury. Peyton Johnson (37 catches) could become a true No. 1 receiver this fall. Three returning offensive lineman bring ample experience. All-PAC linemen Khale Campbell (17 tackles for loss), All-PAC linebacker Ian Maikranz (73 tackles) and safety Cole Ridens (61 tackles) provide stability at each level of the defense.
That’s nearly it in terms of significant returning production. The big spot is quarterback, with Caden Rochleau leading the offense. The senior was thrown into the fire late in the tournament but flashed potential with three touchdowns against Cascade in the semi-state. The defense will also be tested early with non-conference games against Floyd Central, St. Pius (Mo.) and Henderson County (Ky.).
What matters, as Hart alluded to, is how this group progresses between now and October.
“Our area has proven over time,” Hart said. “If you’re one of the top teams in our sectional, you’re one of the top teams in the state. That expectation hasn’t changed. We’re not one of those teams right now. But as we continue to grow and get some experience, and hopefully build a little more depth, that’s a realistic goal and something that we’re going to strive to be.”
Mater Dei Wildcats
Few teams could be tougher to decipher this fall.
Last year’s 6-6 mark was deceiving with several one-score losses and playing without quarterback Tate Mallory for half the season. Mater Dei was a single play from upsetting Gibson Southern in the sectional championship too. What could give pause is replacing significant production on both sides, particularly the offensive skill positions.
But as second-year coach Cody Hess said last year, this is still Mater Dei. Nothing has changed in terms of preparation or expectations. The first step is identifying what type of team the Wildcats can be.
“The main thing that we’ve looked at is trying to figure out who we are,” Mater Dei coach Cody Hess said. “Relying on these incoming seniors to become leaders and lead our team the best that they can do. We’ve done a really nice job of getting better throughout the summer. Now, it’s time to get going.”
It’s also disingenuous to say Mater Dei is starting from scratch. The offensive line has size and experience with four returning starters led by All-State tackle Gavin Lukeman. The same could be said in the defensive trench with All-State senior Eli Wargel (85 tackles). There are seven returners in total on defense, including linebacker Brock Folz and defensive back Gavin Winegard, that allowed 12.0 points per game after September.
Will the Wildcats score the ball? That comes down to new quarterback Colton Salee (580 yards, seven touchdowns) and a host of other new faces. That could lead to trial and error as Mater Dei navigates a tough first half of the season — five of the first six opponents had a winning record last year. That portion of the job was the biggest lesson for Hess during his debut campaign.
“It’s been a really good summer of competition,” he said. “That’s what you always want. No matter where it’s at on the field or what phase of the game, you’ve got a group of guys working extremely hard. (I learned) to make sure you’re ready for anything at any given time. Things can change in an instant. You’ve got to make sure that you’re ready to adapt and continue to be the leader of your football team.”
Memorial Tigers
Another quick history update. It’s been 11 years since one school won the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference outright in three straight years. That poses a challenge for the rest of the league: will Memorial maintain its perch at the top?
It’s a very real possibility following back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. The offense returns eight starters, including All-State quarterback Luke Brown (1,905 yards and 21 touchdowns) and multiple All-SIAC offensive linemen. The bigger problem is replacing eight spots from a defense that allowed only 9.5 points per game. The good news? One of those few returners include All-State linebacker Grayson Carter (105 tackles).
An All-State quarterback and linebacker? Seems to be a solid building block.
“You’ve got two, so to speak, quarterbacks on both sides of the ball,” Memorial coach John Hurley said. “I think our skill guys are pretty solid offensively. We’re looking for some linemen to step up. We lost some depth in the secondary. Really, it’s the line that will be important to us on both sides.”
How far Memorial goes this season could depend on a restocked defense and wide receiver group. The former was a giant reason why the Tigers entered the playoffs among the favorites in Class 3A. The latter is comprised of several from a deep junior class including Dru Ellis, Grant Rogier and De’Andre Fellows.
Those questions are usually answered in time. The more pressing item for Hurley is making sure complacency doesn’t take root. Memorial hasn’t lost a regular season game since 2023 but nothing to show for it in November. The schedule remains challenging, notably the start (on the road to Jasper and North) and finish (at Floyd Central and home vs. Castle).
“These guys have been pretty fortunate that a lot of things have gone their way the last few years,” Hurley said. “Taking care of the little things is something we’ll have to improve on. We’re going to make sure they understand that’s something we’re not going to tolerate. There’s a process in place. These guys know it. Sometimes, you’ve got to be reminded.”
North Posey Vikings
This could be an interesting season in Poseyville. Just look at what the Vikings have to offer.
The offense is loaded between senior quarterback Carter Schickel (31 touchdowns), junior running back Bret Buecher (1,383 yards), multiple All-Pocket Athletic Conference wide receivers (Remi Johnson and Brody Fehn combined for 105 catches) and a trio of experienced linemen led by All-State center Lennox Stone. That group scored 32.5 points per game to earn seven victories and the Small School Division title.
There’s potential depth North Posey coach Waylon Schenk hasn’t enjoyed during his decade run with 18 starters back in total. He anticipates a more balanced offense, especially on the ground, with a backfield three or four deep. It has brought a general vibe matching how this program felt three years ago when making a run to Lucas Oil Stadium.
“I really didn’t know how last year would go,” Schenk said. “We battled a bunch of injuries with being young. Proud of how those guys performed. I think it builds to something that could be special. We had to rely on (Schickel) pretty heavily. We’re a lot more balanced with a pretty veteran, big offensive line. He’s not going to have to shoulder a load, but it’s good knowing that he can if we need him to.”
For all of the promising potential, there are still answers to find. Can this group do it against stronger teams on the schedule? Will the defense hold up down the stretch? Those coincided last year in three October losses, allowing 50-plus points each time. The end result was a slight damper on a solid overall campaign.
Schenk pointed to youth on that side for partial reason. The coaching staff also looked inward and teased schematic changes. If that side finds improvement, the arrow is definitely pointing up on this season.
“The good thing is a lot of those young guys that were playing got experience,” Schenk said. “They got bigger. They’ve gotten stronger. Our secondary right now is really good. Last year, our linebacking group was really thin. This year, we’ve seven or eight guys that I feel confident could play. Their bodies are ready, and they understand the game better.”
Vincennes Lincoln Alices
Yes, the Alices are coming off a three-win season. The details matter with this pick.
Four of the seven losses came by 10 points or less. The offense struggled to find its footing at times with a freshman quarterback thrown into the fire via injury. A few different breaks still result in a winning season. With 11 returning starters — plus a few significant changes — the arrow could be pointing upwards in Vincennes.
The known quantities are notable. Landon Hartley (870 yards, 13 total touchdowns) is a year older at quarterback with a big-time wide receiver in Brody Phillips (638 yards, eight TDs). The defense also has playmakers are each level between Ray Sommerville on the defensive line, Carson Sanders (120 tackles) and Phillips (63 tackles, All-State) at linebacker and Colton York at safety. The Alices also moved away from Evansville to the Western Indiana Conference and Sectional 31.
The questions? Vincennes Lincoln will be reliant on its sophomore class to fill multiple spots. One of those is also replacing SIAC Player of the Year Mac McCormick at running back and defensive end. A lot is dependent on young players being ready.
“We will have a very young team this season,” Vincennes Lincoln coach Levi Salters said. “We are going to be learning a lot from game action because several of them haven’t played at the varsity level. I expect us to have some growing pains, but that’s expected with a young team. The kids are up for the challenge, and it should be a really fun year.”
Honorable mention: Southridge Raiders, Tell City Marksmen, Tecumseh Braves. You could convince any of these teams will take a step forward. Southridge has experience across the board, especially on the offensive line, after a late-year surge resulted in six wins. Tell City has 19 starters back including All-PAC running back Brandon Casebolt. Tecumseh returns a similar including most of the offense. The Braves could be the sleeper pick in Southern Indiana for Class 1A.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Who are the top small school football teams to watch in Southwestern Indiana?
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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By Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
