HIGH SCHOOL

Week 2 high school football predictions

Kyle Neddenriep
kyle.neddenriep@indystar.com
Decatur Central's Tyrone Tracy is looking to build off a big Week 1.

One of the state’s most versatile offensive players will be looking to get his team on track after a season-opening loss.

Decatur Central junior Tyrone Tracy accounted for 142 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but the Hawks dropped a 21-17 decision to Franklin Central. Decatur Central has another nonconference game this week against Perry Meridian (0-1) at Southport before opening Mid-State Conference play next week with a key home game against Whiteland.

First-year coach Kyle Enright was a former assistant under Justin Dixson, who is now the athletic director at Decatur Central.

“The (coaching) transition is not really a transition,” Tracy said. “Coach (Enright) went from offensive coordinator to head coach. So everything is pretty much the same. It’s a pretty easy transition.”

Tracy caught two passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Franklin Central and rushed 15 times for 51 yards. He’ll be used as a slot receiver and in the backfield, much as he was as a sophomore when he rushed for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 680 yards and seven TDs.

“I’ll go anywhere on the field,” Tracy said. “I just like to have the ball in my hands.”

HS football: 5 players to watch in Week 2

Division I programs have taken notice. Tracy has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Bowling Green and Central Michigan. Penn State, Purdue and Mississippi are among others that have shown interest.

“I’m really liking Cincinnati right now,” Tracy said. “I’ve gone to watch them a couple of times. They see me as a receiver and have the kind of offense that I’d like to be a part of.”

Decatur Central was 8-3 last year, losing to Zionsville in a Class 5A sectional championship. There is reason to believe the Hawks could challenge again in Sectional 13 with Tracy and junior quarterback Bryce Jefferson (1,324 passing yards, 14 TDs and 404 rushing yards last season) leading an explosive offense.

“I’m looking to be a leader,” Tracy said. “I want to lead people in the right way this year.”

Look for Decatur Central to get back on the winning side against a Perry Meridian team coming off a 34-7 loss to Greenwood. Prediction: Decatur Central 31, Perry Meridian 16.

Not a bad showing for the first week of predictions as I was 35-8 (81.4 percent). For a look at all of the area games, check indystar.com on Friday morning. Here’s a look at six other top area games this weekend (all games 7 p.m. Friday unless noted):

• Ben Davis (1-0) at Avon (1-0): Ben Davis routed Tech 70-0 last week, its biggest margin of victory in a home win. The Giants will get a much tougher test this week against a team that knocked it out of the sectional last year, 27-22. Avon’s season opener was a win, although not exactly smooth sailing in a 35-31 comeback win over Plainfield. The Orioles did roll up 382 yards of offense and junior quarterback Cameron Misner passed for three touchdowns in his first start. Ben Davis 42, Avon 28.

HS football notebook: Ben Davis QB settling in, Center Grove RB hurting

• Bishop Chatard (1-0) at Lawrence Central (1-0): Class 3A top-ranked Chatard was dominant on defense last week, holding Brebeuf Jesuit to 218 yards and no touchdowns in a 23-3 win. Gabe Coleman, one of the state’s top running backs, rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Lawrence Central showed some big-play explosion on offense in a 35-0 win over McCutcheon, and its defense allowed just 156 yards and eight first downs. Chatard defeated Lawrence Central 17-10 last year. Chatard 17, Lawrence Central 16.

• Lawrence North (1-0) at Brownsburg (1-0): Both of these programs were sub-.500 last year but notched impressive opening wins last week (Lawrence North 21-17 over Noblesville and Brownsburg 28-26 over Bloomington South). Al McKeller (146 yards) and Martell Williams (124) both rushed for more than 100 yards for Lawrence North. Hunter Johnson passed for 242 yards in Brownsburg’s win and the Bulldogs showed good balance with Carson Gill rushing 29 times for 130 yards and a score. Lawrence North won a 65-47 shootout last year. Brownsburg 34, Lawrence North 31.

• Guerin Catholic (1-0) at Lafayette Central Catholic (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Class A top-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic dominated Guerin 34-0 last year after Guerin won the 2014 meeting 17-7. Guerin’s Carter McGinnis ran for 277 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-22 win over Martinsville last week. Lafayette Central Catholic 30, Guerin Catholic 21.

• Southport (0-1) at Westfield (1-0): These programs have split a pair of entertaining games the past two years. Southport is coming off a gut-punch of a loss last week, 25-21 to Roncalli on a last-minute touchdown. Can the Cardinals bounce back? Sophomore Eddie Schott passed for 196 yards and two touchdowns in his first start. Westfield won its opener 38-17 over Harrison. Westfield 35, Southport 28.

• Warren Central (1-0) at Cincinnati Colerain (0-0), 1:30 p.m. at Nippert Stadium: Warren Central moved up to No. 1 in the Class 6A poll after a 21-16 win over defending state champion Center Grove. But the task gets even tougher this week with a Colerain team that is ranked No. 7 in the country by USA Today (Warren Central is No. 18). The Warriors were competitive last year in a 27-16 loss against a Colerain team that was 12-2 and made the state semifinals. Colerain’s defense is loaded and running back Monalo Caldwell (1,343 yards) also returns. Cincinnati Colerain 24, Warren Central 14.

Call IndyStar reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.