PREPS INSIDER

Takeaways from Ben Davis-Westfield scrimmage

Kyle Neddenriep
Kyle Castner of Ben Davis winds up for a throw down field. Ben Davis hosted Westfield in a football scrimmage Friday August 15, 2014.

It doesn't count for real until next week, but tonight offered a bit of a sneak preview to the high school football season with scrimmages across the state. I made the drive over to Ben Davis to see the Giants against Westfield. Here are a few takeaways from Friday night:

>>>Ben Davis looks the part:Mike Kirschner made sure his team knew after Friday's scrimmage – in no uncertain terms – that it was just a scrimmage. Next week's opener against Cathedral is a different animal altogether. But the Giants, who will be ranked No. 1 among our area teams when our preview comes out in Sunday's paper, were impressive. Under the rules of the controlled scrimmage, it's not entirely like a game situation. One team gets 15 plays, then the other. Then 10 plays from the opponent's 10-yard-line and so on. Bottom line: Ben Davis scored 11 touchdowns and Westfield scored two. During one stretch during their first 15 offensive plays, the Giants scored touchdowns on three consecutive snaps – from 25 yards, 65 and 65. There was some sloppiness here and there with penalties, but nothing out of the ordinary for a scrimmage. Definitely nothing to make me question Ben Davis as the No. 1 pick.

>>>Multiple Ben Davis weapons: Ben Davis quarterback Kyle Castner is maybe the most experienced quarterback in the state. I had Castner's numbers at 16-for-23 for 394 yards and seven touchdowns. Not bad, huh? Castner's seven touchdowns went to five different receivers – Trew Smith (two), Dorian Tate, Stori Emerson (two), Rashawn Bond and Brennan Gillis. Tate showed good explosion out of the backfield, as did versatile junior Chris Evans. Castner was protected well for the most part and receivers were getting separation from the Westfield defensive backs. Ben Davis mostly seemed content to work on the passing game, but Tate (three carries, 13 yards) and Evans (five carries, 38 yards) should be a solid combo out of the backfield.

>>>Not all bad for Westfield: The Ben Davis defense, led by linebacker Asmar Bilal and a very good line, made it tough for Westfield. The Shamrocks, reloading after a run to the Class 5A state championship game a year ago, did have a few good moments on offense. Coach Jake Gilbert rotated junior Ryan Pepiot and sophomore Andrew Sweet at quarterback. Westfield managed just 25 yards on its first 15 plays, but Pepiot managed to make some plays later in the scrimmage, including a 37-yard pass to Nick Henderson and a 4-yard TD pass to Milo Beam. Elvin Caldwell, a 5-6, 212-pound senior, found it tough sledding against the Ben Davis defense, but might not see a better front seven all season. The Shamrocks might not be as explosive as a year ago, but should have a solid offense.

>>>Etc: Ben Davis sophomore backup quarterback Azjai Cooper had his ups and downs but absolutely leveled a Westfield defender on one scramble. Cooper showed he has a strong arm and good athleticism. He's not nearly to Castner's level yet, but looks like he could be a playmaker down the road.