Rivals to face off this Friday
The annual Big Cat Classic between county, conference and sectional rivals Corydon Central (5-2, 2-1 M.S.C.) and North Harrison (3-4, 1-2 M.S.C.) starts Friday night at 7:30.
‘The Big Cat Classic is a bunch of young men battling it out,’ new Cougar coach Jason Mullis said. ‘Anything could happen on any given night. They are a very good experienced ball club, but they were in our shoes four years ago: young and inexperienced. Hopefully, one day we will be in their shoes.’
Corydon Central coach Jason Timberlake, also in his first year, said some members of his team suffered minor injuries in last week’s victory over West Washington, but none seem significant enough to hold the players out of this week’s anticipated matchup.
Mullis said he’s concerned about the defensive prowess of Panther seniors Eric Hoehn and Aaron Motsinger.
‘Eric is the best defensive lineman we will face this year, and Aaron is the best linebacker,’ said Mullis, a former assistant coach over Motsinger at Salem.
‘Offensively, they’re good at every position. They have the best line in the conference, they have a bruising back, and they have some speed at the wing and ‘H’ back,’ Mullis said of Corydon.
If recent history is a guide, one team will have a difficult time finding the end zone: in the past seven games ‘ and eight of the past nine ‘ the losing club has failed to score more than one touchdown.
The Panthers won last year’s snoozer, 64-0, and the 2002 version as well, 40-0.
North Harrison won the previous three meetings, 13-6, 27-0, 27-0. The Cougars also defeated Corydon in the 1999 sectional, 46-6.
The last time a losing team scored twice came in 1997, when North Harrison lost, 39-12, but was rewarded with the win due to Corydon’s use of an ineligible player.
North Harrison leads the overall series, 19-9 and the Big Cats, 17-9.
CC on road, NH at home to kick off tournament
Pairings for the 2004 Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament were conducted Monday night in Indianapolis.
Sectional play begins Oct. 22, the semifinal round is Oct. 29, and the sectional championship is Nov. 5.
In Class 3A, Sectional 23, Corydon Central (5-2) will travel to Greensburg (0-7) in the opener; Edgewood (0-7) goes to Salem (2-5); and Batesville (4-3) invades North Harrison (3-4). Brown County drew the bye and will travel to the winner of the Corydon-Greensburg game.
The team without a home game in the first round will be the host. Exception: A team that has a first-round bye will always be the visitor for a second-round game. If both teams were home or both were visitors in the first round, the first named team in the top quarter bracket will host.
For the third round of the sectional, the host team will be the team that has played the most away sectional games. If both teams have played the same number of away games, the team on top of the bracket (drawn first) will be the host.
Sectional tickets are $5 each.
