HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – Hagerstown’s football team is set for a rematch from last year’s sectional finale as the No. 11 Tigers travel to No. 3 Indianapolis Lutheran on Friday.
The Sectional 46 championship contest is now scheduled for 7:30 p.m., which is 30 minutes later than originally announced.
The Saints defeated the Tigers 48-27 last fall in Hagerstown to win the sectional crown in the only meeting between the two schools.
“I expect it’s going to be a physical game,” Hagerstown Head Coach Scott Snodgrass said. “I expect they are going to be quick. We’re going to have to be on top of our game.”
The two teams have Lincoln as their only common opponent this season with the Saints winning 54-16 over the Golden Eagles, while Hagerstown won the TEC contest 39-0 in Cambridge City on Oct. 13.
Friday’s winner advances to the regional to face either Indianapolis Arlington (8-2) and South Putnam (3-8), who are in the Sectional 45 championship contest in Greencastle.
Andre Jones is the top player for the Saints (9-2), who beat South Decatur 55-12 last Friday night.
“Their quarterback is a fast kid,” Snodgrass said of Jones, who gained 138 yards on a the ground against the Tigers a year ago as a running back. “He’s all over the place and we’re going to have to try to corral him as much as we can and see how it goes from there.”
Jones ran for four touchdowns and threw for two more against South Decatur last week. He ran for three in the opening tournament game against Lincoln, while throwing for three more and adding an 84-yard kickoff return for a score.
Hagerstown (10-1) won its 10th straight last Friday as the Tigers beat Tri High 33-14 to earn their ticket to the title affair.
Owen Golliher leads the Tiger offense with 1,791 yards passing with 16 touchdowns, while gaining 780 yards on the ground with 16 more scores.
Mason Hicks is the top rusher with 1,395 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also has 19 receptions for 340 yards and four touchdowns.
Jalen Oliver has 30 catches to lead the Tigers with 512 yards and a team-high six touchdowns. Cody Swimm has 28 grabs with 517 yards to lead the Tigers. He also has five touchdowns.
Defensively, Ryan Golliher leads the way with 114 tackles. Jake Combs has 92 stops. Blake Blevins had 11 sacks.
Oliver and Grant Vinson have five interceptions apiece and Cameron Purtha has four with one return for a touchdown.
The Tigers are looking for their 11th sectional title having won in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2010.
Indianapolis Luthern won its first sectional championship in 2009 before taking three in a row from 2014 to 2016.