Jake Marwede received his Under Armour All-America Game jersey (Photo: Intersport)

Jake Marwede showed just how versatile he could be in Wilmete (Ill.) Loyola Academy’s 44-43 victory against Maine South last week.

The first play from scrimmage was a 77-yard touchdown with Marwede throwing the pass instead of catching it.

A former quarterback until he was called up to the varsity in the playoffs as a sophomore, Marwede is now a tight end who is committed to Duke and had offers from Alabama and Ohio State. He also plays some receiver and some running back for Loyola.

Marwede, who finished the victory with seven receptions for 130 yards and two TDs, continued with his stellar week as he accepted his honorary jersey for the Under Armour All-America Game on Thursday when the Selection Tour presented by American Family Insurance came to his school.

MORE: The Under Armour All-America Selection Tour

The Under Armour game is Jan. 1 in Orlando and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Marwede, who is 6-5 and 238 pounds, is ranked as the No. 4 tight end in the Class of 2017 by ESPN.com.

What’s most amazing, perhaps, is his rise to prominence nationally.

Marwede, who did not even start in Loyola Academy’s victory in the state 8A title game last fall, saw his recruitment take off with the position switch after moderate interest as a sophomore quarterback.

“I did not know that was going to happen,” Marwede said before the season. “It was a fresh start and I had to take it like that. It turned out pretty good.”

Jake Marwade is surrounded by teammates after his Under Armour presentation (Photo: Intersport)

One of the most successful coaches in Florida’s storied prep football history filed a lawsuit against members of his former school’s administration this week, citing a conspiracy to terminate his contract in 2014 that has since brought on serious health problems and a strained relationship with his wife.

Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach Joe Kinnan, who won 290 games and five state titles in 29 years at the helm of Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee High’s football program, accused the school board and two former administrators of libel and slander, according to the Bradenton Herald.

Kinnan last coached Manatee in 2013, when he led the Hurricanes to an 11-1 season and was voted Florida’s best high school football coach in an online poll here at USA TODAY High School Sports. He took a medical leave of absence from his roles as athletic director and head football coach in July 2014 and retired a month later against his wishes. Kinnan wasted no time taking the administration to task.

RELATED: Longtime Manatee football coach blasts district

“I can’t begin to understand that some people in our community would view our success with resentment and anger,” Kinnan, now an assistant at University of South Florida, said in a 2014 press conference covered by the Bradenton Herald. “That’s probably why I was so slow to recognize it when the new superintendent and others in the district launched a full-scale attack on my position and reputation. I’ve been repeatedly investigated, hit with a gag order, told to resign or retire and smeared with outright lies in the media.”

Kinnan’s resignation followed a tumultuous year in Manatee’s athletic department. Previously, former Manatee assistant football coach Rod Frazier pled no contest to four misdemeanor battery charges following accusations he sexually harassed a female student, and the school district later issued a $210,000 settlement to a victim’s family after an investigation revealed an alleged administrative cover-up. Likewise, former Manatee baseball coach Dwayne Strong resigned amid an investigation into alleged improprieties in the program, which later resulted in a $13,300 fine by the FHSAA.

More than three years later, Kinnan filed an 84-page lawsuit on Tuesday, charging former Manatee superintendent Rick Mills, his former district investigator Troy Pumphrey and the school district with nine counts ranging from defamation and negligence to breach of contract and civil conspiracy.

The following are the three most incendiary charges, via the Bradenton Herald:

• “Intentional infliction of emotional distress, claiming Kinnan has suffered ‘severe emotional distress, physical ailment, depression, nervousness, anxiety, and worry,’ because of the direct acts of the defendants.”

• “Abuse of process, claiming the defendants ‘improperly and in a perverted manner, used the legal system and alternative judicial resources to accomplish their ulterior purpose — namely to harass, cause emotional distress, and destroy the namesake’ of Kinnan.”

• “Loss of consortium, with Kinnan’s wife claiming the actions of all the defendants caused her to suffer the ‘loss of her husband’s consortium, companionship, comfort, society, love, affections and services.'”

The Kinnans are seeking $15,000 on the loss of consortium charge and an indeterminate amount for the other eight counts, pending a trial by jury, according to the Bradenton Herald. The legendary football coach is being represented by the same law firm that earned former Manatee principal Bob Gagnon a $400,000 settlement from the school board stemming from a similar lawsuit this past June.

Mills, the former Manatee superintendent, retired after announcing in April 2015, “I don’t think I any longer have the support of the board.” Similarly, Pumphrey, the school district’s former investigator, did not have his contract renewed for 2015-16 amid allegations he misrepresented himself on a resume. He was awarded $27,500 from Manatee schools, ending a racial discrimination lawsuit.

Incredibly, $93,000 was paid out in 2015 to two more school employees in the aftermath of Frazier’s sexual harassment lawsuit, and another assistant football coach turned down a $25,000 settlement from the school board earlier this year after alleging retaliation after reporting the Frazier allegations.

For those of you counting at home, that’s at least $743,800 in agreed-upon settlements and fines for the taxpayers of Florida’s Manatee County, before Kinnan ever gets his day in court. The monetary value of a legendary high school football coach’s reputation could push that total figure over $1 million.

Arbor View defensive lineman Greg Rogers was an early stop on the Under Armour All-America Selection Tour (Photo: Intersport)

Greg Rogers is one of the nation’s most highly touted defensive lineman. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound tackle is an athletic space filler who can eat up opposing offensive linemen en route to wreaking havoc in the backfield. He’s a four-star recruit who models his game after Ndamukon Suh and Aaron Donald, and is about as close to a sure thing as colleges are likely to get direct from the high school ranks, which is why he was an easy pick to help kick-start the Under Armour All-America Selection Tour presented by American Family Insurance.

There are plenty of reasons why the Under Armour game would be interested in Rogers, but why would Rogers be interested in Under Armour first?

“I’ve been watching this game and seeing all the top players coming to this game,” Rogers told USA TODAY High School Sports. “They were also the first game to offer me. I want to show loyalty to them, too. It’s big when you get an offer from a big-time place like that.

“The ceremony was really, really fun. Getting an opportunity to meet these guys with my teammates and the staff behind me supporting me. I’m going to continue to keep working and go down to Orlando on January 1 and work to compete as well as I can.”

Naturally, Rogers’ abilities have also made him a prime candidate for the nation’s top college football programs, most of which have offered him a scholarship. Rogers has scheduled his five official visits beginning with Oklahoma on September 17 and concluding with USC just after Thanksgiving; he’s also scheduled to visit Colorado, Arizona State and UCLA, and feels confident that he has both his recruiting and football ideally situated to keep his focus on the field.

For now, those prospects are exciting, but not his main focus. He wants to make sure he can achieve as much as possible in his final campaign with Arbor View High in Las Vegas, before then making a final mark in his biggest game of the season while wearing an Under Armour jersey, all while setting an example for the players who will follow him at Arbor View.

“Our season is going good,” Rogers said. “We’re 1-1 into tomorrow, and we want to win every game. I want to be the most dominant player in the state and reach a state title. We have to keep working hard for that, and we have a lot on our plate, but we can handle it.

“This is special for all our team. My teammate Elijah Wade is a junior who has offers from USC and Michigan and hopefully he gets the chance to be in this same position. I know he’ll get the chance, he’s a five-tool guy. This is a big spotlight for me and Arbor View, and our coaches push us every day. I’m just thankful for this opportunity, and I know he will be, too.”

For three straight seasons the Male High School football team accomplished what many thought was impossible for a Jefferson County Public School, competing on the same level as mighty Trinity and winning five of six matchups overall.

But as the teams get set to renew their rivalry Friday night, Bulldogs coach Chris Wolfe acknowledges a return to the status quo may be brewing.

After all, Trinity is ranked No. 19 in the nation by USA Today. Male is still trying to find its stride after losing 32 seniors and 20 of 22 starters from last year’s 15-0 state-championship season.

“We’re definitely the underdog,” Wolfe said.

Trinity – No. 1 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – and No. 5 Male will both bring 3-0 records into Friday’s matchup at Trinity. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Male has blitzed through its first three opponents, beating Fairdale 57-8 last week, but the bevy of new faces in the starting lineup will get their stiffest test so far against Trinity.

Wolfe is excited about the talent on this squad, and most observers expect the Bulldogs will be major players for the Class 6-A title come November. But the coach said he’s had to temper expectations in the early going of the season.

“It has been tough,” Wolfe said. “You go to practice expecting the types of practices you’ve had the last couple of years, but you have to take a step back. … That was just a unique group that had played so much together. We’ve got 20 new (starters) out there, and you realize it’s not all going to happen in Game 1 or Game 2.

“But then you find the right perspective and see glimpses of getting a little bit better, and it makes you feel good.”

Wolfe said the offense took a big step last week against Fairdale, recording a season-best seven of what the coach calls “explosive plays.” They include completions of 16 or more yards and runs of 12 or more yards.

Senior quarterback. T.J. Thomas completed 6 of 8 passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s about rhythm and timing, and the margin of error is really small on those deep balls,” Wolfe said. “There’s a lot that goes into making that look easy, but it’s not easy. Experience helps, and we’re starting to see a glimmer of hope there.”

Junior running back Dayveon Higgs has rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, a number Wolfe expects will improve as the passing game takes off.

“And he’s had to run through a lot of tackles as we clean up our offensive line,” Wolfe said. “He’s done the hard work of moving the chains.”

Trinity made quick work of Lafayette last week, jumping to a 35-0 halftime lead on its way to a 45-7 rout. Senior quarterback Spencer Blackburn threw three touchdown passes, all to Jovel Smith (six catches, 89 yards).

Like Male, Trinity had to overcome the loss of several starters from last season (18 of 22).

“I think they’re still trying to tweak some things and find out what their strengths are, and I think we are, too,” Shamrocks coach Bob Beatty said. “This is not a Super Bowl. This is just Game 4 on the schedule. … We’re still looking at our strengths and weaknesses, and I’m sure they’re doing the same thing because it’s not long before we get into district play.”

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.

GAME OF THE WEEK

* Who: Male (3-0) at Trinity (3-0).

* When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

* Jason’s pick: Trinity 28-17.

Lehigh running back Jalane Nelson carries the ball during the Lightning’s 28-0 loss to Dunbar last week. Lehigh travels to South Fort Myers on Friday for The News-Press’ Game of the Week.

Ever since Lehigh’s season-opening 28-0 loss to Dunbar last week, the Lightning have sat through what seems like a non-stop film festival featuring the lowlights of a game they’d rather forget.

Chris Curry and Jacquez Brown could only shake their heads at every fumble, every missed assignment and every mental error.

“We’re way better than that,” Brown, the senior middle linebacker, said.

To wait nearly 10 months to show last season’s 3-6 flop was an aberration and then put that product on the field in a huge rivalry game was difficult. But, believe it or not, the last week of waiting to redeem themselves against another highly-touted team in South Fort Myers on Friday at Wolfpack Stadium was more difficult.

Curry, the junior running back, may have taken the loss against a group of players he grew up with the hardest because he admitted he made the classic mistake of taking the Tigers lightly.

Meanwhile, Brown presented a strong front saying the loss “stung just a little bit.” His face told a different story as he discussed 48 minutes worth of mistakes.

There’s no shame in falling to the Tigers, who are now ranked No. 9 in the Class 5A Associated Press poll. It was the fashion in which they lost — taking four sacks, surrendering two safeties and managing just 113 yards of offense — that hurt the most.

Dunbar thwarts Lehigh behind swarming defense

Lehigh coach James Chaney took the blame for all of it.

“My job is to make sure they are mentally prepared, and they weren’t,” he said. “Hindsight is always 20/20. You think to yourself, ‘What did we overlook?’ Sometimes it’s hard to make adjustments in the heat of the battle. That’s what non-district games are for, though. You get a chance to see what you can do better.

“It could be a blessing in disguise.”

The Lightning put together an 18-7 win over North Port in the preseason before weather canceled its opener with Palmetto Ridge.

Chaney and company are trying to put the 5-game losing streak that derailed 2015 behind them.

A win over a 2-0 South team that has been shaky at times this season could do a lot.

“This week means everything,” Curry said.

And the 6-foot, 200-pound versatile back is willing to do anything in his power for a win. That includes carrying 30 times if need be.

Against Dunbar, he received just 13 carries and gained 82 yards as the offensive line failed to make headway against the Tigers’ front seven. Chaney maintains the offense will take what the South defense gives them.

If that means Curry gets 30 carries, so be it. If he has to serve as a decoy, that’s fine too.

“That’s the great thing about Chris,” Chaney said of the back with offers from North Carolina and Western Kentucky. “He fits into any system. If I ask him to play guard, he will.”

Defensively, Lehigh will have to focus on limiting the big plays from South’s stable of running backs, which includes seniors E’Quan Dorris and Riley Ware.

Special play is key in South’s 18-6 win over Cape Coral

“We need to make them go east and west,” said Brown, who is picking up steam on the recruiting trail with offers from UNC-Charlotte and Toledo.

South junior receiver Jeshaun Jones emerged as another big-play threat over the last two weeks. His 82-yard touchdown off a swing pass against Island Coast and a punt return for a score against Cape Coral were game changers.

“You can’t allow that type of stuff even in Pop Warner,” Chaney said. “You can’t give extra chances to teams like Dunbar and South.”

With the biggest improvement coming from the first game to the second, Brown is convinced better days are ahead for the Lightning.

“Every day is a new day,” he said. “Every moment is a new moment. Every Friday is a new Friday.”

FOLLOW FRIDAY’S ACTION LIVE 

scoreboard

Log on to news-press.com on your desktop or mobile device every Friday to see live updates from all the action across Southwest Florida and for game reports, photos and videos after the action has concluded. Turn to the pages of The News-Press every Sunday to see local rankings, top performers, standings and notes on our new high school football page Snap Count.

Inside Southwest Florida Football

The News-Press high school sports reporter Adam Regan and high school sports columnist Cory Mull will preview the area’s top games and key players in this video each week. Watch it Thursday afternoons up until kickoff Friday every Friday at news-press.com. 

Prep Fantasy Football offers weekly prizes, free pie to Strawn’s on Kings Highway.

Prep Fantasy Football offers weekly prizes — free pie to Strawn’s on Kings Highway. The deadline to submit a roster is 7 p.m. every Thursday.

A weekend packed with high school football begins today and The Times’ new app, Friday Night Live, is your one-stop shop for a live scoreboard, a live stream of updates, picture and videos and Prep Fantasy Football.

Download here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/times-friday-night-live/id1147916150
The action begins with three area games, including the kickoff to Battle on the Border between Byrd and St. Thomas More at Independence Stadium (7 p.m.).
Two nationally ranked teams — No. 2 IMG Academy (Saturday vs. BTW, Tulsa), No. 16 John Curtis (Friday, vs. West Monroe) will take the field during the six-game showcase.
The deadline to submit a roster for this week’s Prep Fantasy Football contest (exclusive to the Friday Night Live app) is tonight at 7 p.m.
Download Friday Night Live, an interactive app that has changed the high school football experience.

Week 2 Prep Fantasy Ballot

Quarterbacks (choose 1)
Jaiden Cole, Neville at Evangel
Bryson Smith, John Tyler vs. Warren Easton
Kellen Mond, IMG Academy vs. BTW (Tulsa)

Running backs (choose 2)
Javien Wilson, Byrd vs. St. Thomas More
Jermaine Newton Jr. Benton vs. Natchitoches
DeMarcus McCall, Captain Shreve vs. Huntington
Delmonte Hall, North DeSoto vs. Mansfield
Trey Coleman, West Monroe vs. John Curtis
Darryan Washington, John Curtis vs. West Monroe

Receivers (choose 2)
Alex Antoon, St. Mary’s at North Caddo
Terrace Marshall, Parkway vs. Lufkin
Coby McGee, Airline vs. Green Oaks
Tavarius Edwards, Minden at Haughton
DeWayne Cooks, BTW (Tulsa) vs. IMG Academy
Orlando Puryear, Evangel vs. Neville

Teams (choose 1)
Neville at Evangel
Evangel vs. Neville
Minden at Haughton
Haughton vs. Minden

West Henderson plays at North Buncombe on Friday.

Here are statewide predictions for this week’s football games made by North Carolina analyst Brian Simmons:

WEEK 4 – TOP 10 FEATURED GAMES    Pick
Cape Fear (3-0, 4A) at Sanford, Terry (3-0, 3A)    C by 2
Havelock (3-0, 3A) at Rose, J.H. (1-1, 4A)    H by 12
Hough (2-1, 4A) at Ardrey Kell (2-1, 4A)    H by 6
Midway (3-0, 2A) at Lakewood (2-1, 1A)    L by 3
Mount Tabor (2-1, 4A) at Glenn (3-0, 4A)    M by 7
Northside (Jacksonville) (3-0, 2A) at Clinton (2-0, 2A)    C by 11
Richmond Senior (3-0, 4A) at Butler (2-1, 4A)    B by 17
Robinson, Jay M. (3-0, 3A) at West Rowan (1-1, 3A)*    R by 8
Rocky Mount (2-1, 3A) at Edenton Holmes (3-0, 2A)    R by 7
West Johnston (2-0, 4A) at Cleveland (2-1, 3A)    W by 6

WEEK 4 PICKS    
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2016    Pick
Cape Hatteras (1A) at First Flight JV (NR)    No pick
Robbinsville (0-2, 1A) at Christ School (1-1, Ind)    C by 15
Weddington (1-2, 3A) at Monroe (1-2, 2A)    W by 4

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2016    Pick
Alleghany (3-0, 1A) at South Stokes (1-2, 2A)    A by 17
Anson (2-1, 3A) at Chesterfield(SC) (NR)    A by 5
Apex Friendship (1-1, 4A) at Fuquay-Varina (2-1, 4A)*    F by 46
Ashe County (1-1, 2A) at Hibriten (3-0, 3A)    H by 47
Asheboro (2-1, 3A) at Eastern Randolph (2-1, 2A)    A by 34
Asheville (1-2, 3A) at Southern Lee (2-0, 3A)    S by 15
Asheville Saints (1-2, Ind) at Asheville School (1-0, Ind)    A Sch by 25
Athens Drive (0-3, 4A) at Apex (0-3, 4A)*    AD by 10
Atkins (0-3, 1A) at West Wilkes (1-1, 2A)    W by 47
Bandys (1-1, 2A) at Alexander Central (2-0, 4A)    A by 32
Berry Academy (0-2, 4A) at Cuthbertson (1-2, 3A)    C by 16
Bertie (1-1, 2A) at Roanoke Rapids (2-0, 2A)    R by 18
Bishop McGuinness (1-2, 1A) at Kestrel Heights (0-1, 1A)    B by 8
Bunn (2-1, 2A) at Northern Vance (2-1, 3A)    B by 16
Byrd, Douglas (0-3, 3A) at Smith, E.E. (1-2, 4A)    S by 36
Camden Military(SC) (NR) at Sandhills Titans (1-2, Ind)    C by 7
Cannon School (2-1, Ind) at Pine Lake Prep (1-2, 1A)    C by 1
Cape Fear (3-0, 4A) at Sanford, Terry (3-0, 3A)    C by 2
Cardinal Gibbons (3-0, 4A) at Broughton (2-1, 4A)    C by 18
Carolina Forest(SC) (NR) at Hoggard (1-2, 4A)    H by 12
Carolina Wildcats(SC) (NR) at Carolina Gladiators (0-2, Ind)*    CW by 49
Carrboro (0-3, 2A) at Northwood (1-2, 3A)    N by 48
Carver (0-3, 2A) at North Forsyth (1-2, 3A)    C by 3
Cary (0-3, 4A) at Panther Creek (0-2, 4A)*    P by 15
Central Cabarrus (1-2, 3A) at Carson (1-1, 3A)*    CC by 12
Charlotte Catholic (2-1, 4A) at Rocky River (1-2, 4A)    C by 17
Charlotte Christian (3-0, Ind) at West Ashley(SC) (NR)    C by 22
Chase (2-1, 2A) at Burns (3-0, 3A)*    B by 31
Cherokee (2-1, 1A) at Cosby(TN) (NR)    Ch by 11
Cherryville (0-3, 1A) at North Gaston (0-3, 3A)    N by 38
Clayton (2-1, 4A) at Smithfield-Selma (0-3, 3A)    C by 47
Cloudland(TN) (NR) at Avery County (0-3, 1A)    C by 22
Columbia (2-1, 1A) at Camden County (0-2, 1A)*    CC by 13
Comm. Sch. of Davidson (0-3, 1A) at North Mecklenburg (1-2, 4A)    N by 44
Concord First Assembly (3-0, Ind) at North Raleigh Christian (1-2, Ind)    C by 29
Corinth Holders (0-2, 3A) at East Wake (1-2, 4A)    E by 1
Cox Mill (0-2, 3A) at East Rowan (1-2, 3A)*    E by 16
Cramer, Stuart (2-1, 2A) at Bessemer City (2-1, 1A)    C by 2
Crest (1-1, 3A) at Draughn (1-2, 2A)*    C by 34
Creswell (0-2, 1A) at Perquimans (1-2, 1A)*    P by 46
Croatan (2-1, 2A) at Topsail (2-1, 3A)    C by 14
Currituck (2-1, 2A) at First Flight (2-0, 2A)    F by 7
Davidson Day (2-1, Ind) at Charlotte Country Day (1-2, Ind)    D by 11
Dixon (0-2, 2A) at East Carteret (2-1, 1A)    E by 39
Dudley (3-0, 4A) at Hillside (2-0, 4A)    D by 25
East Columbus (0-2, 1A) at Trask (3-0, 1A)    T by 41
East Davidson (3-0, 2A) at Ledford (1-2, 3A)    L by 25
East Duplin (2-1, 2A) at Kenan, James (1-1, 1A)    E by 16
East Forsyth (3-0, 4A) at Reagan (2-1, 4A)    E by 24
East Montgomery (3-0, 1A) at Albemarle (0-3, 1A)*    E by 47
East Wilkes (1-1, 1A) at North Stokes (0-3, 1A)    E by 50
Eastern Alamance (3-0, 3A) at McMichael (0-3, 3A)*    E by 44
Enka (0-3, 3A) at Hayesville (0-3, 1A)    E by 22
Enloe (1-1, 4A) at Knightdale (0-3, 4A)    K by 4
Farmville Central (3-0, 2A) at Ayden-Grifton (1-2, 2A)    A by 2
Fike (2-1, 3A) at Beddingfield (2-1, 2A)    F by 8
Foard, Fred T. (2-1, 3A) at West Lincoln (2-1, 2A)    Even – W
Forbush (2-1, 2A) at Starmount (0-2, 1A)    S by 21
Forestview (2-1, 3A) at East Lincoln (3-0, 2A)    F by 13
Franklin (1-1, 2A) at Swain County (0-3, 1A)    F by 31
Garinger (0-3, 4A) at Ashbrook (0-2, 3A)    A by 32
Garner (2-1, 4A) at Leesville Road (2-1, 4A)    G by 19
Goldsboro (0-3, 2A) at Aycock, C.B. (2-1, 3A)    A by 31
Granville Central (1-1, 1A) at South Granville (2-1, 2A)    S by 18
Gray’s Creek (1-2, 3A) at Pine Forest (3-0, 4A)    P by 31
Greene Central (2-1, 2A) at Eastern Wayne (2-0, 3A)    G by 12
Halifax County(VA) (NR) at Person (2-1, 4A)    P by 15
Harding (2-1, 4A) at East Mecklenburg (2-1, 4A)    E by 26
Havelock (3-0, 3A) at Rose, J.H. (1-1, 4A)    H by 12
Hendersonville (2-1, 2A) at North Henderson (2-1, 3A)    H by 9
Heritage (3-0, 4A) at Jordan (0-2, 4A)    H by 44
Hertford County (1-2, 2A) at Southern Vance (0-3, 2A)    H by 41
Hickory Ridge (2-1, 3A) at Concord (2-1, 3A)*    C by 9
High Point Central (1-2, 4A) at Grimsley (2-1, 4A)    G by 17
High Point Christian (2-0, Ind) at Harrells Christian (1-2, Ind)    HPC by 24
Highland Tech (0-2, 1A) at Lake Norman Charter (3-0, 2A)    L by 52
Hoke County (0-3, 4A) at South View (2-1, 4A)    S by 16
Holly Springs (1-2, 4A) at Green Hope (1-2, 4A)*    H by 9
Hough (2-1, 4A) at Ardrey Kell (2-1, 4A)    H by 6
Huss, Hunter (0-3, 2A) at Hickory (0-3, 3A)    HH by 18
Independence (0-3, 4A) at West Mecklenburg (2-1, 4A)    W by 28
Jacksonville (2-1, 3A) at New Bern (0-3, 4A)    N by 11
Kannapolis Brown (3-0, 4A) at Mooresville (1-2, 4A)    B by 10
Kings Mountain (2-1, 3A) at East Rutherford (2-1, 2A)*    K by 31
Landrum(SC) (NR) at Polk County (1-2, 2A)    P by 7
Lejeune (0-3, 1A) at Rosewood (0-3, 1A)    R by 37
Lincolnton (3-0, 2A) at East Gaston (0-2, 3A)    L by 36
Louisburg (0-2, 1A) at Webb, J.F. (1-2, 3A)    W by 27
Madison (2-1, 2A) at Brevard (2-0, 2A)    B by 10
Maiden (1-1, 2A) at St. Stephens (1-1, 3A)    M by 30
Marvin Ridge (0-3, 3A) at Providence Day (1-2, Ind)    M by 6
Mattamuskeet (2-0, 1A) at KIPP Pride Academy (3-0, 1A)    K by 10
McDowell (2-1, 4A) at Mitchell (3-0, 1A)    Mit by 19
Metrolina Christian (1-2, Ind) at Central Academy (1-2, 2A)    M by 13
Midway (3-0, 2A) at Lakewood (2-1, 1A)    L by 3
Mount Airy (3-0, 1A) at North Surry (1-2, 2A)    M by 19
Mount Tabor (2-1, 4A) at Glenn (3-0, 4A)    M by 7
Nash Central (2-1, 3A) at Southwest Edgecombe (0-3, 2A)    N by 6
New Covenant Knights (1-2, Ind) at Carolina Pride (1-2, Ind)    C by 7
North Davidson (3-0, 4A) at Lexington (2-1, 2A)    N by 38
North Georgia Falcons(GA) (NR) at Murphy (2-1, 1A)    M by 15
North Johnston (2-1, 2A) at Princeton (1-2, 1A)    P by 2
North Moore (1-1, 1A) at South Stanly (0-2, 1A)*    N by 15
North Pitt (0-2, 2A) at South Central (1-2, 4A)    S by 25
North Rowan (3-0, 2A) at Davie County (2-1, 4A)    D by 31
North Stanly (1-1, 1A) at West Stanly (2-1, 2A)    W by 13
North Wake Saints (0-0, Ind) at Greensboro Panthers (0-0, Ind)*    N by 10
Northeast Guilford (0-3, 3A) at Rockingham County (0-3, 3A)*    R by 1
Northeastern (2-0, 2A) at Hunt (1-1, 3A)    N by 10
Northern Durham (1-2, 4A) at Millbrook (2-1, 4A)    M by 5
Northern Guilford (0-2, 3A) at Williams (3-0, 3A)*    W by 8
Northern Nash (1-1, 3A) at Laney (1-2, 4A)    L by 1
Northside(Jacksonville) (3-0, 2A) at Clinton (2-0, 2A)    C by 11
Northwest Guilford (3-0, 4A) at Southeast Guilford (2-1, 4A)    N by 11
Northwest Halifax (0-3, 1A) at Manteo (0-3, 1A)    M by 31
Olympic (1-1, 4A) at Hopewell (1-2, 4A)    O by 21
Orange (3-0, 3A) at Cummings (0-3, 2A)    O by 46
Overhills (1-2, 4A) at Harnett Central (0-3, 4A)    O by 23
Parkwood (3-0, 2A) at Buford(SC) (NR)    P by 21
Patton (2-1, 3A) at Wilkes Central (2-1, 2A)    P by 3
Pender (1-1, 1A) at North Duplin (0-3, 1A)    P by 3
Piedmont (0-3, 3A) at Forest Hills (0-3, 2A)    P by 10
Ragsdale (1-2, 4A) at Page (2-1, 4A)    P by 41
Ravenscroft (2-1, Ind) at Charlotte Latin (3-0, Ind)    C by 37
Reidsville (3-0, 2A) at Andrews, T.W. (0-2, 2A)    R by 12
Reynolds, R.J. (1-2, 4A) at Southern Alamance (0-3, 4A)    R by 3
Richmond Senior (3-0, 4A) at Butler (2-1, 4A)    B by 17
Riverside(Durham) (1-2, 4A) at Cedar Ridge (3-0, 3A)    R by 6
Roberson, T.C. (3-0, 4A) at Freedom (2-1, 3A)    F by 27
Robinson, Jay M. (3-0, 3A) at West Rowan (1-1, 3A)*    R by 8
Rocky Mount (2-1, 3A) at Edenton Holmes (3-0, 2A)    R by 7
Rolesville (1-2, 4A) at Wake Forest (3-0, 4A)    W by 43
Rosman (0-2, 1A) at Mountain Heritage (3-0, 2A)    M by 50
R-S Central (2-1, 2A) at Shelby (3-0, 2A)*    S by 45
Salisbury (1-2, 2A) at Lake Norman (3-0, 4A)    L by 58
Science Hill(TN) (NR) at Erwin (1-2, 3A)    S by 12
Scotland (3-0, 4A) at Britt, Jack (2-1, 4A)    S by 21
Seventy-First (2-1, 4A) at Lumberton (1-2, 4A)    S by 9
South Brunswick (1-2, 3A) at North Brunswick (1-1, 2A)    N by 40
South Columbus (2-1, 2A) at Wallace-Rose Hill (3-0, 1A)    W by 26
South Creek (0-3, 1A) at Northside(Pinetown) (3-0, 1A)    N by 15
South Davidson (1-2, 1A) at Union Academy (1-2, 1A)*    U by 37
South Iredell (1-1, 3A) at Mount Pleasant (1-2, 2A)    S by 19
South Johnston (1-2, 3A) at Southern Nash (3-0, 3A)    SN by 24
South Lenoir (2-1, 2A) at Richlands (0-3, 3A)    R by 10
South Mecklenburg (2-1, 4A) at Myers Park (3-0, 4A)    S by 6
South Point (1-2, 3A) at Clover(SC) (NR)    S by 6
South Rowan (0-2, 3A) at Northwest Cabarrus (0-2, 3A)*    N by 17
South Wake Crusaders (0-0, Ind) at Davie Pride (0-0, Ind)*    S by 44
Southeast Halifax (2-0, 1A) at North Edgecombe (2-0, 1A)    N by 19
Southeast Raleigh (1-2, 4A) at Chapel Hill (1-2, 3A)    S by 37
Southern Guilford (1-2, 3A) at Smith, Ben L. (1-2, 4A)    SG by 6
Southern Wayne (1-1, 3A) at North Lenoir (0-3, 2A)    S by 12
Southlake Christian (1-2, Ind) at Hickory Grove Christian (0-3, Ind)    S by 9
Southside (2-1, 1A) at Riverside(Williamston) (2-0, 1A)    R by 23
Southwest Guilford (3-0, 4A) at Western Guilford (1-2, 3A)    S by 26
Southwest Onslow (1-2, 2A) at Jones Senior (1-1, 1A)    J by 7
Southwestern Randolph (0-3, 3A) at Providence Grove (1-2, 2A)    Even – P
Statesville Christian (3-0, Ind) at Trinity Academy(TN) (NR)    S by 23
Sun Valley (3-0, 3A) at Porter Ridge (2-0, 4A)    S by 24
Surry Central (3-0, 2A) at Elkin (0-3, 1A)    S by 44
Swansboro (2-1, 3A) at Pamlico (0-3, 1A)    S by 10
Swett, Purnell (2-1, 4A) at Westover (1-2, 3A)    Even – P
Tarboro (2-0, 1A) at Franklinton (2-1, 2A)    T by 37
Thomasville (1-2, 2A) at Randleman (2-1, 2A)    R by 15
Trinity (1-2, 2A) at Graham (0-2, 2A)    G by 3
Trinity Christian (1-1, Ind) at Fayetteville Christian (1-2, Ind)    T by 33
Union (2-0, 1A) at Hobbton (1-2, 1A)    U by 38
Union County(GA) (NR) at Andrews (1-2, 1A)    U by 18
Union Pines (2-1, 3A) at Jordan-Matthews (0-3, 2A)    U by 33
Village Christian (1-1, Ind) at Rocky Mount Prep (1-2, 1A)    V by 27
Virginia Disciples(VA) (NR) at Newton-Conover (3-0, 2A)    V by 1
Wake Christian (2-0, Ind) at Spring Creek (1-2, 1A)    W by 22
Wakefield (1-1, 4A) at Southern Durham (1-2, 3A)    W by 4
Walkertown (1-2, 1A) at Parkland (3-0, 4A)    P by 22
Watauga (2-1, 4A) at Reynolds, A.C. (1-2, 3A)    R by 30
Weldon (0-1, 1A) at Northampton County (0-3, 1A)    W by 5
West Bladen (2-1, 2A) at St .Pauls (1-2, 2A)    W by 4
West Caldwell (2-1, 2A) at Hickory Hawks (0-2, Ind)    W by 33
West Carteret (2-1, 3A) at Conley, D.H. (3-0, 4A)    D by 21
West Charlotte (0-3, 4A) at Gaffney(SC) (NR)    G by 55
West Davidson (1-2, 2A) at Central Davidson (0-3, 3A)    C by 3
West Forsyth (2-1, 4A) at Statesville (1-1, 3A)    W by 32
West Henderson (1-1, 3A) at North Buncombe (0-3, 3A)    W by 15
West Iredell (1-2, 3A) at Bunker Hill (0-3, 2A)    W by 12
West Johnston (2-0, 4A) at Cleveland (2-1, 3A)    W by 6
West Montgomery (3-0, 1A) at Chatham Central (0-2, 1A)*    W by 51
West Stokes (2-1, 2A) at East Surry (2-1, 1A)    E by 7
Western Alamance (2-1, 3A) at Morehead (0-3, 3A)*    W by 46
Western Harnett (1-2, 3A) at Lee County (3-0, 3A)    L by 43
White Oak (0-2, 3A) at Kinston (1-2, 2A)    K by 23
Whiteville (1-2, 1A) at West Brunswick (2-1, 3A)    WB by 18
Word of God Academy (1-2, Ind) at Winston-Salem Prep (0-2, 1A)    WSP by 13
Yancey, Bartlett (0-2, 2A) at East Chapel Hill (1-2, 4A)    E by 10

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2016    Pick
Carolina Crusaders(SC) (2-1, Ind) at Cabarrus Stallions (0-3, Ind)*    CC by 9
Pinecrest (3-0, 4A) at Woodberry Forest(VA) (NR)    W by 10
Vance (3-0, 4A) at James Island(SC) (NR)    V by 35

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2016    Pick
Kestrel Heights (0-1, 1A) at Chatham Central (0-2, 1A)    K by 4
Tarboro (2-0, 1A) at Northern Nash (1-1, 3A)    T by 1

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Dunbar takes on Lehigh in a high school football matchup on Friday night at Dunbar High School.

App users: Click here to view our interactive scoreboard » (Note: Click refresh to get latest score)  ​

Friday’s during the high school football season, The News-Press will keep you up to date on all the action across Southwest Florida with our live scoreboard.

To get ready for tonight’s action, read The News-Press preview capsules and game predictions.

And watch sports writers Cory Mull and Adam Regan break down this week’s games on Inside SWFL Football.

Here are Friday night’s games: (Unless noted, games start at 7:30 p.m.)

• Lakeland Christian at Bishop Verot, 7 p.m.
• St. John Neumann at Canterbury, 7 p.m.
• Sebring at East Lee County, 7 p.m.
• Gateway Charter at ECS, 7 p.m.
• St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut at SFCA, 7 p.m.
• Barron Collier at Immokalee, 7 p.m.
• Golden Gate at Lely, 7 p.m.
• Miami Monsignor Pace at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.
• Boca Raton Christian at Marco Island Academy, 7 p.m.
• Cypress Lake at Fort Myers
• Dunbar at Riverdale
• Estero at North Fort Myers
• Ida Baker at Bradenton Braden River
• Sarasota at Island Coast
• Lehigh at South Fort Myers
• Mariner at LaBelle
• Palmetto Ridge at North Port

BYE: Cape Coral, CSN, First Baptist, Naples

Autauga Academy’s head coach Kyle Glover. (Photo: Montgomery Advertiser)

The Alabama Independent Schools Association is punishing Autauga Academy and its football coach following recent incidences that led to the cancellation of the school’s game against Edgewood Academy.

In a letter sent to Autauga Academy’s headmaster and forwarded anonymously to the Montgomery Advertiser, AISA director Randy Skipper said he was “dismayed and embarrassed” by comments head coach Kyle Glover made to news media outlets about Edgewood.

Skipper has placed Autauga Academy on a year’s probation, fined it $1,000 and suspended Glover from coaching for three weeks. He also ordered that Autauga Academy officials make no comments to the media or school stakeholders about the forfeit or the punishment doled out.

“… the AISA finds that Autauga Academy demonstrated a lack of institutional control in managing its employee and Kyle Glover demonstrated poor sportsmanship and professionalism through his actions,” Skipper wrote.

Last week, Glover admitted to news media outlets that he was angered by insinuations in a letter from Edgewood Academy’s headmaster that Glover’s players had threatened to intentionally injure opposing players during an upcoming game between the two schools.

Reached on his cell phone, Glover said he could not comment on the issue.

RELATED STORIES

• ‘Threats’ prompt Edgewood to cancel game vs. Autauga Academy
• Autauga Academy coach visits Edgewood
• Autauga coach: Edgewood shouldn’t have varsity team
• Angry Autauga coach wants explanation for threats
• Edgewood headmaster makes statement

The situation began between the two schools during the summer, when longtime Edgewood coach Bobby Carr abruptly resigned from the school. Lawsuits were threatened and accusations flew between the two sides, before Carr eventually landed at Autauga Academy, serving as Glover’s offensive coordinator.

Edgewood’s program was weakened by player defections following Carr’s resignation and currently has a varsity team that started the season with only three upper-classmen. But the school declined to forfeit the entire season, choosing instead to dress a number of middle-school students on the varsity roster – a move that prevented the players who transferred from becoming automatically eligible at any other school.

Read full story on MontgomeryAdvertiser.com

Michigan’s 2018 football recruiting class is vanishing.

U-M today lost its third commitment from the class in the past three weeks, when Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar linebacker Antwuan Johnson decommitted. He announced on Twitter: “I look forward to getting back into this recruiting process.

“I have officially decided that I will be opening my recruitment back up thank you to all the coaches at UM that showed love and I appreciate all the fans.”

He still had a Michigan logo on his Twitter page after the announcement.

A four-star prospect, Johnson was a key figure in the class because he brought his then-teammate at Springfield (Ohio) High Leonard Taylor into the fold with him. But Taylor decommitted in mid-August, and now Johnson, who transferred to Dunbar, is out of the class, as well. Michigan held a satellite camp in Springfield this summer. The day after Taylor left, Stone Mountain, Ga. offensive lineman Jalil Irvin also decommitted from the 2018 class.

U-M’s 2018 class is down to just one player: Leesburg, Ga., four-star safety Otis Reese.

Stokes Nihipali-Botelho of Kahuku (Hawaii) has been voted the Super 25 Top Star for games during the weekend of Sept. 1-3 by readers of USA TODAY High School Sports.

Nihipali-Botelho had two interceptions and kicked six extra points in Kahuku’s 44-0 victory against Campbell (Ewa Beach).

The defending state Division I champions, Kahuku is now 4-0, ranked No. 17 in the Super 25 and riding a 17-game winning streak heading into Friday’s game at Radford (Honolulu), 1:30 a.m. ET.

RECAP: See the 10 nominees for Super 25 Top Star

After that, Kahuku heads to Las Vegas to face top-ranked Bishop Gorman.

Nihipali-Botelho is a big part of a defense that has allowed 22 points all season and is coming off back-to-back shutouts. The defense was a key to last year’s success, allowing an average of less than four points per game.

“We were making sure all of us were 100 percent and knew our jobs, so we just had to come out and execute, and — with all of that combined with what I did — it felt really good,” he told Hawaii Prep World.

“We’ve got a lot to work on, giving up too much yards, too many big plays. We’ve just got to come back next week (to prepare for the Radford game on Friday), start working on it and hopefully come out better.”

One of the top running back prospects in the state of California has been declared ineligible for his entire senior season following a controversial decision by the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section.

Drake Beasley, a three-star prospect who spent his first three seasons as a star at Los Angeles Loyola, transferred to La Canada High School during the summer break. He anticipated he would be allowed to compete for La Canada this fall due to a change of residence, but an internal investigation by La Canada officials and subsequent Southern Section deliberations ruled Beasley as improperly motivated to move to La Canada solely for athletics.

The ruling officially detonates a dangerous attempt Beasley made to circumvent other CIF regulations. As noted by the Los Angeles Times, if Beasley had filed to be eligible under the Southern Section sitout rule he would be in the middle of an early season ban, but would be eligible to return Oct. 3. Now he has been declared ineligible for his entire season, barring overturn on appeal, which Beasley has announced he plans to pursue.

The season-long ban could have a significant impact on Beasley’s recruiting process as well. The back holds scholarship offers from the likes of UCLA, Cal, Arizona State, Colorado and Boise State among others. Still, those schools and others were surely intent on following his progress in his final senior campaign and could adjust how aggressively they pursue the teen now that he is officially ineligible.

In the meantime, Beasley continues to be frustrated by life on the sideline, even if he is taking the entire situation in stride.

West wide receiver Javon McKinley (88) is greeted by members the Army as he runs onto the field for the 2016 US Army All-American Bowl. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

The game, scheduled for Jan. 7 in San Antonio, will now be referred to as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl presented by American Family Insurance.

The Army Bowl has produced a total of 330 players selected in the NFL Draft in its 17-year history, including Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Peterson and Adrian Peterson, among others.

Organizers say the television broadcast is annually the most-watched high school sporting event of the year.

Gary (Ind.) West Side trailed by 50 points late in this past weekend’s game, and yet the Cougars were preparing for the most meaningful play of their football season.

As relayed by The Times of Northwest Indiana scribe Steve Hanlon, West Side coach Jason Johnson called “Dog Right” for sophomore running back Justin Davis. It was the first play of his career, and it would be the only highlight Davis would ever need.

Perennial Chicago power Mount Carmel knew the play was coming, as Johnson told the opposing coaching staff beforehand, and yet they could do nothing to stop it. Davis marched 75 yards unscathed for a touchdown nobody West Side will forget.

Not for the fact it was the team’s lone score in a 56-6 defeat — and just the Cougars’ second score during their 0-3 start to the season — but because Davis is autistic, and before he came out for the football team this summer, this seemed like a dream.

“It was huge,” Johnson, who played special teams for the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1980s, told the local paper. “To do that against that team, wow. You should’ve seen him three months ago. He came out of nowhere and asked if he could play. He couldn’t do much. Now, he’s sprinting his drills. He can do the bags, lateral drills. It’s been amazing to watch. The whole game I kept going up to him, ‘You ready, Justin? You ready?’”

Boy, was he ever.

“I ran really fast,” Davis told Hanlon. “It was like the NFL. I felt famous.”

If you pause this highlight in the middle, there’s no way you think Connor Worthington is scoring a touchdown. The Grand Haven (Mich.) freshman fullback entered the lion’s den of rival Grandville’s defense and emerged on the other side without so much as a scrape.

Seriously, all but one defender had a shot to take down Worthington, and none could bring the 6-foot-2, 195-pound freshman to the turf. He broke through not one, but two crowded gang tackle attempts, and then dragged a few defenders into the end zone for good measure.

He’s a man amongst boys at the sub-varsity level, as his highlight reels shows him crushing would-be tacklers at the line of scrimmage and outrunning the secondary once he’s broken through. Oh, and as a defensive end on the other side of the ball, he treats quarterbacks like human rag dolls. I almost feel bad for Grand Haven’s opponents the next four years.

Two days after a shooting at Alpine High in West Texas, the football teams from Alpine and nearby Pecos will play Saturday in a show of unity between the communities.

The game between the two schools was canceled Thursday night in the wake of the shooting in which authorities say a 14-year-old freshman girl shot another student and then turned the gun on herself. A federal agent was accidentally shot via friendly fire, according to reports, and is in fair condition.

Alpine High remains closed Friday after it was placed on lockdown Thursday.

Coaches for both schools said the game was not canceled because it will provide an opportunity for the communities to be together following the tragic incident.

Alpine High is a four-year school with about 300 students, most of them Latino. The Alpine Independent School District serves almost 1,000 students across almost 2,000 square miles of Brewster County in West Texas.

Scecina’s Collin Connor wraps up Beech Grove QB Chase Andries Friday night.

In a duel of undefeated teams, Scecina outlasted Beech Grove 14-13 at Tech’s Howard Longshore Stadium behind an opportunistic defense that consistently came up with big plays when needed.

Beech Grove coach Mark Weller’s team moved the ball offensively and played well enough to win, but several costly penalties and turnovers undid the Hornets.

“The big thing we’ve got to do is fix ourselves,” Weller said. “We can’t make the silly penalties and errors that we made tonight and expect to beat a good team like Scecina. And that’s what we’re going to focus on (going forward).”

HS football: Brownsburg holds off rival Avon, remains unbeaten

The Hornets took to the air early, storming out to a 7-0 lead on a 29-yard connection from quarterback Chase Andries to wide receiver Montrez Hearon.

The Class 2A No. 4 Crusaders answered right back with a touchdown of their own, tying the score  at 7 with a 5-yard run by Darrell Johnson.

But the rapport between Andries and Hearon continued causing problems for the Scecina defense. Hearon snagged his second touchdown on a 10-yard Andries toss to the back corner of the end zone. After a missed extra point, the Class 4A No. 10 Hornets went into the locker room with a 13-7 halftime edge.

Andries had an up-and-down game, finishing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Scecina coach Ott Hurrle mostly relied on the running game throughout the night, using heavy doses of Johnson, Drew Lowery, Amaari Abdul-Halim and Victor Franco. But it was a 32-yard strike from quarterback Mac Ayres to wide receiver Anthony Andrews that gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game at 14-13.

A would-be go-ahead touchdown catch by Beech Grove’s Kyion Tyler was nullified by a holding penalty, then Scecina’s defense came up huge twice to stop the Hornets on downs on consecutive possessions to cling to the one-point lead.

Hamilton SE beats Fishers, 36-33

And in the moment of truth, the Scecina defense again produced something special.

The game came to a head with a minute left in the fourth quarter, when Beech Grove faced a 4th-and-1 in Scecina territory. Andries rushed up the middle on a quarterback keeper, but the Crusaders defense swarmed him to force another turnover on downs and lock up the victory.

Scecina (4-0) will face a difficult road test next week at Roncalli, while Beech Grove (3-1) will look to rebound at home against Howe.

Football

Coming off a win last week in front of famous alumnus Charles Davis, things only got better for the New Paltz High School football team Friday.

The Huguenots beat visiting Rondout Valley, 52-8.

“We were physical,” New Paltz coach Tom Tegeler said. “We dominated every aspect of the game.”

Quarterback Jimmy Verney had four touchdowns and amassed 220 rushing yards. Teammate Hunter McVea had a touchdown, as did Christian Burda, Anthony Nittolo and Joey DiMarco.

Football Huddle: Charles Davis creates cool night for Singh, New Paltz

Defensively, Mike Pisciotta had a team-high 12 tackles. DiMarco made 10 tackles while Burda made five.

It was a unique experience for Tegeler, who attended Rondout Valley High School as a student.

“It was great,” the coach said. “Against my old high school, it felt really good. The kids played well and we’re hoping for some good things.”

New Paltz (2-0) visits Millbrook at 7 p.m. Friday.

“They’re a great team,” Tegeler said of the Blazers. “It should be a good game.”

A.J. Martelli: amartelli@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4836, Twitter: @AJM_PoJoSports

Adam Mullett throws for HSE, Fishers High School at Hamilton Southeastern High School football, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. The game was tied 30-30 at the end of overtime.

FISHERS — Neither Fishers nor Hamilton Southeastern was willing to let the annual Mudsock Game slip from their grasps.

HSE wouldn’t let four first-half turnovers stop it from its goal. And Fishers overcame a 10-point deficit in the final quarter to keep its quest alive.

So, it’s no wonder the rivals needed overtime to settle the score.

Insider: Center Grove answers any questions with win over Ben Davis

After a 30-minute delay because of lightning at the end of regulation, HSE scored on its first possession of overtime on a 1-yard run from sophomore running back Tyler Fleming to capture an improbable 36-33 win.

Fishers kicker Ben Norton connected on a 21-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime to take a 33-30 lead.

The Tigers’ forced the Royals to a 4th-and-1 from the 1-yard line. HSE coach Scott May elected to go for it and Fleming punched it in for the game-winner.

“We did about everything wrong, but the final score,” said May, whose team committed five turnovers in the game. “This is a big win in the conference. I have to give Fishers a lot of credit for the game they played.”

It was a crucial conference win for the 6A No. 8 Royals, who improved to 1-1 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and 3-1 overall. Fishers dropped to 0-2 in the HCC and 2-2 overall.

Fishers battled back late to force the overtime. Trailing 30-20 with 7:09 to play in the game, Fishers used a 70-yard, nine-play drive to cut HSE’s lead to 30-27 on a 10-yard run by Max Shores, who had 71 rushing yards in the second half.

With one final chance to tie or take the lead, Fishers quarterback Joel Smyth hooked up with receiver R.J. Potts on a 42-yard catch to put the Tigers at the HSE 11. On 4th-and-9 from the 11, Norton connected on a 21-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining.

HS football: Warren Central shuts out Lawrence Central, 37-0

The Royals struggled to hold on to the ball early on. After scoring just four plays into the game, HSE turned the ball over on four of its next five possessions. The turnovers led to 10 Fishers first-half points: a 44-yard field goal by Norton and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown from Potts.

“I mean five turnovers and we came away with the win in this contest,” May said.

HSE quarterback Adam Mullett threw three first-half interceptions, and the Royals dropped a punt that the Tigers recovered.

The Tigers took a 13-7 lead into halftime despite only three first-half first downs.

Fishers led 20-7, on a 6-yard touchdown run Trevor Newman with 9:48 to play in the third quarter, but the Royals rattled off 23 unanswered points to take a 30-20 lead.

High School Football: Center Grove wins 20-7 at Ben Davis

Running back Jackson Sweeney — who finished with 99 yards rushing — had two straight rushing touchdowns to pull the Royals to within three,  and then gave them the lead, 23-20, on a 1-yard run with less than 11 minutes to play.

HSE stretched the lead to 30-20 on a fumble by Smyth. The ball was picked up by Johnny May, who ran 33 yards for the touchdown.

Football

Marlboro High School’s football team fell to 1-1 with a 63-43 loss to James I. O’Neill on Friday in Highland Falls.

“I thought we didn’t play with passion and the game of football is played with passion,” Marlboro coach Rich Ward said. “We need to look inside ourselves and see if we can get better as a team.”

Sam Mongelli threw for 318 yards with four touchdowns. John Perugino had 293 yards receiving and five touchdowns.

Marlboro hosts John S. Burke Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday.

Phil Strum: pstrum@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4847, Twitter: @PJStrum