EC, L'Burg, Milan Win Sectional Titles, Ready for Tough Regional Matchups

Southeastern Indiana is going strong in the IHSAA Football State Tournament

Photo by Andrew Berglund.

(Southeast Indiana) - Three teams from southeastern Indiana are marching on in the IHSAA Football State Tournament. 

East Central, Lawrenceburg and Milan all claimed sectional championships on Friday night. 

In Class 4A, #5 East Central won their sixth straight sectional title and 25th in program history with a 63-30 win over Columbus East. Senior quarterback Ben Bond completed five of six passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, senior running back Ryan Minges carried the ball 17 times for 201 yards and a score. Chase Marsh added 166 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries. 

Defensively, Anderson Deters had two interceptions and Ethan Wynn had one. 

The Trojans' win sets up a Regional Championship matchup with Heritage Hills. The game will be played at East Central on Saturday, November 14 at 4:00 PM. 

In Class 3A, #2 Lawrenceburg outlasted Batesville by a score of 28-14 to win their second straight sectional title and 24th in program history. Senior quarterback Crue Gilmour ran the ball 23 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also intercepted Batesville quarterback Calvin Padgett which swung the momentum of the game in favor of the Tigers. Brogan Wynn rushed for 156 yards and a score. Campbell Williams put the "nail in the coffin" with an interception return touchdown late in the fourth quarter. 

Lawrenceburg will host #8 Tri-West on Friday, November 13. The Regional Championship game will kickoff at 8:00 PM. 

In Class A, #5 Milan held off North Decatur for a third straight sectional title and 9th in program history. The Indians were led by sophomore running back Beckett Langferman who carried the ball 20 times for 254 yards and four touchdowns. 

Milan will look to win back-to-back regional titles when they host #13 Knightstown on Friday at 7:00 PM. 

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEWS

Heritage Hills (10-2) at #5 East Central (10-2)

This matchup features two of the top scoring teams in Class 4A. Heritage Hills ranks 4th in 4A in points per game at 42.5. East Central is 9th at 38.6 PPG. Both teams get the job done defensively too. Heritage Hills ranks 5th in 4A in points allowed per game (13.3). East Central is just outside of the Top 10, allowing 16.2 PPG. 

The Patriots are riding a six-game winning streak heading into the regional round. They boast a balanced offense that is led by senior quarterback Tyce Winchell. He has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,014 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. 

Asa Palmer and Micah Toler are Winchell's favorite targets. Palmer has 33 receptions for 729 yards and nine scores. Toler has caught 37 passes for 887 yards and 14 touchdowns.

On the ground, Heritage Hills used multiple runners. Four players have between 372 and 617 yards. As a whole, the Patriots have rushed for 2,418 yards and 40 scores. 

Defensively, Tucker Hess is a player to watch with a team-high 26 tackles for a loss. Aiden Fischer has four of the team's 15 interceptions. 

East Central is on a modest three-game winning streak coming into Friday's regional matchup. The Trojans lean heavily on the run game, which is led by senior Ryan Minges. He has rushed 203 times for 1,492 yards and 26 touchdowns. Colton Bellman and Chase Marsh provide a spark in the run game too, combining for over 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Defensively, the Trojans have been great at turning over teams, forcing 22 takeaways. Anderson Deters is a player to watch with a team-high five interceptions. Chase McCracken leads the Trojans in tackles with 74, including a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss. 

East Central is seeking their first regional title since 2023.

#8 Tri-West (10-2) at #2 Lawrenceburg (11-1)

Another matchup of high-powered offenses. Lawrenceburg enters Friday's regional championship game averaging 43.0 points per game (5th in 3A). Tri-West ranks 9th in the classification at 38.2 PPG. 

Defensively, the Tigers have been statistically better than their opponent, allowing only 12.8 points per contest (7th in 3A). For Tri-West, they have given up 19.3 PPG. 

Both teams enter the next round with lengthy win streaks. The Tigers have won 11 in a row after a week one loss to East Central. Tri-West has won seven straight following a 19-12 loss on September 18 to #5 Indian Creek. 

Tri-West is led by quarterback Jack Sorgi, the son of former NFL quarterback Jim Sorgi. The four-star Wisconsin commit has completed 71 percent of his passes for 2,400 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also run for 519 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sorgi spreads the ball around. He has three receivers that have 32 receptions or more. 

The Bruins throw for 219.1 yards per game. Their rushing attack is solid at 156.2 yards per game. 

Lawrenceburg will counter with a dynamic quarterback of their own. Senior Crue Gilmour has thrown for 1,465 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 910 yards and 18 scores. Junior running back Brogan Wynn has 1,638 yards and 25 touchdowns. Mason Manford is a 1,000-yard receiver who is complimented by the big play ability of Campbell Williams. 

Lawrenceburg is seeking their first regional championship since 2022.

#13 Knightstown (10-2) at #5 Milan (10-2)

These two teams are statistical juggernauts. 

Milan leads Class A in points per game (52.) and average margin of victory (42.0). Defensively, the Indians are 3rd in Class A in points allowed (9.92). Knightstown is right there with the Indians. The Panthers rank 5th in points per game (45.6), 1st in points allowed (9.67) and 4th in average margin of victory (36.0). 

Knightstown quarterback Bryor Carmichael is one of the state's best passers. He has completed 71 percent of his passes for 2,605 yards, 35 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. The Panthers lean heavily on the passing attack, where they average 222.6 yards per game. They will mix in some run, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and 120.4 yards per game. 

Carmichael's top targets have 27, 32, 50 and 56 receptions, respectively. Brody Willard is their leading receiver with 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

The Panthers' defense has had a tremendous season, shutting out seven of their 12 opponents. Over their current seven-game winning streak, they have only allowed 20 points. 

Milan's rushing attack is amongst the best in the state, totaling 4,055 yards and 68 touchdowns through 12 games. Sophomore Beckett Langferman does much of the heavy lifting with 128 carries for 1,856 yards and 28 touchdowns. Grant Langferman, Gavin Trenkamp, Luke Hendron and Hunter Snelling have been terrific when their numbers are called. 

Quarterback Lane Smith is a capable runner too with 411 rushing yards and 11 scores.. He has also thrown for 735 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Milan is seeking back-to-back regional titles.