East Central, North Decatur, and Milan will kick off the upcoming high school football season as ranked teams.
According to the Indiana Football Coaches Association’s (IFCA) preseason polls, East Central is ranked 5th in Class 5A behind New Palestine, Indianapolis Cathedral, Merrillville and Bloomington South. The Trojans finished 8-4 last season and won the first 5A sectional championship in school history before falling in the regional at eventual champion Decatur Central. EC is entering its second year of playing in 5A based on the Tournament Success Factor.
In Class 1A, the North Decatur Chargers hold down the #4 spot behind Providence, North Judson and South Putnam. Milan is ranked 7th in 1A behind Carroll (Flora) and South Adams. The Indians ended last season at 8-5 and advanced to the regional after getting past North Decatur in the sectional championship game. Milan fell to eventual state champion Providence in the regional. The Chargers finished at 10-2.
Meanwhile, Batesville received nine votes but missed the Top 10 in 3A. The two-time defending sectional champion Bulldogs went 9-4 and won the regional title last year before falling to eventual 3A state champion Heritage Hills. Lawrenceburg, the team the Bulldogs beat for the sectional crown last year, sits at #4 in the Class 3A preseason rankings.
See the all six IFCA preseason polls below (WRBI coverage teams are in bold):
Class 6A
1. Brownsburg
2. Center Grove
3. Lawrence North
4. Westfield
5. Hamilton Southeastern
6. Crown Point
7. Fishers
8. Warren Central
9. Carmel
10. Ben Davis
Class 5A
1. New Palestine
2. Indianapolis Cathedral
3. Merrillville
4. Bloomington South
5. East Central
6. Lafayette Jeff
7. Warsaw
8. Valpraiso
9. Concord
10. Castle
Class 4A
1. Indianapolis Chatard
2. Heritage Hills
3. East Noble
4. Mishawaka
5. Greenfield-Central
6. Martinsville
7. Evansville Reitz
8. Fort Wayne Dwenger
9. New Prairie
10. Indianapolis Roncalli
Class 3A
1. Fort Wayne Luers
2. Evansville Memorial
3. Gibson Southern
4. Lawrenceburg
5. Evansville Mater Dei
6. Mississinewa
7. West Lafayette
8. Maconaquah
9. Cascade
10. Knox
Class 2A
1. Adams Central
2. Linton-Stockton
3. Indianapolis Lutheran
4. Andrean
5. Lafayette Central Catholic
6. Brownstown Central
7. Lapel
8. Heritage Christian
9. Eastbrook
10. Bluffton
Class 1A
1. Providence
2. North Judson
3. South Putnam
4. North Decatur
5. Carroll (Flora)
6. South Adams
7. Milan
8. Springs Valley
9. Madison-Grant
10. North Miami