Who's the Best in Indiana High School Football?

by Jeff Fisher
Indiana High School Football Huddle

Everything is coming together as high school football fans prepare for the opening of the regular season next weekend. Who's considered the best in the state before a game is played? The Associated Press will answer that question on Monday when it releases its pre-season poll in all five classifications.

In 5A, eyes will be on Ben Davis because of its post-season run in 2008. After a 5-3 start, the Giants ripped-off five straight wins before losing to eventual state champ Center Grove 49-21 in the state semifinals. Next Friday Ben Davis opens on the road against Penn.

If Ben Davis hopes to make it to the Lucas Oil Dome for the state championship game, the Giants will once again have to navigate the always tough Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, which includes the likes of defending state champ Center Grove, Carmel and Warren Central.

Many believe that Warren Central is back-on-track to go after a state title after a two year hiatus. The Warriors won four straight state titles from 2003 to 2006. Before that run, it was Ben Davis that had won three titles ('99, '01, '02) in four years.



What about the defending champs? Center Grove has to replace a lot of talent from last year's 14-1 squad.



And what about the Carmel Greyhounds, the team that lost in the biggest comeback in state finals history?



All of the above video comes from the Indy Star, which does a great job of covering the high school sports scene in central Indiana! Who are the other contenters in 5A? Go to the Indy Star link to find-out.

In 4A, Cathedral is hoping to defend its title, which would give the program its third championship trophy in four years. The start of the season is brutal for the Irish with its opener with Carmel followed by Warren Central. The following week, Cathedral has a showdown with Ohio power St. Xavier in the Horseshoe Classic in the Dome. The brutal four-week stretch ends with 3A power Bishop Chatard.



Go to the Indy Star link for the rest of the 4A breakdowns.

in 3A, like Cathedral, Bishop Chatard appears to be ready to rebound and go after the program's third title in four years.



Click the Indy Star link to read about the rest of the contenders in 3A.

The 2A classification is very interesting because it now features the defending champ Heritage Christian and last year's 1A champ Cardinal Ritter, which moves-up a class this year.





Click on the Indy Star link to read about the rest of 2A.

With Cardinal Ritter up in 2A, it looks like Sheridan is back in the Class A spotlight. Ritter snapped Sheridan's run of three straight titles last year. The Class A can be found by clicking on the Indy Star link.