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These are the key Lafayette area high school sports events to watch for Aug. 26-31

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These are the key Lafayette area high school sports events to watch for Aug. 26-31

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LAFAYETTE – Week one of high school football concluded with a stunning range of impressive victories led by Lafayette Jeff taking down Avon for the first time in over a decade.

Harrison football won its week one battle against West Lafayette 30-22.

Benton Central started its girls volleyball season with a series of wins against Tri-County and Harrison and ending its weekend with a match against defending Class 4A state champion Hamilton Southeastern last week.

Harrison boys soccer stayed unbeaten through four matches including a late goal to beat Crown Point while McCutcheon earned its first win of 2024 and Harrison has rattled off 16 goals in three matches to open its season in girls soccer.

Here’s a look at what to watch this week in high school sports.

Aug. 26

  • Boys soccer: Central Catholic (3-0-1) vs. Lafayette Jeff (1-1) at Loeb Stadium 5:30 p.m.: One of the lesser known but impactful rivalries takes place between Lafayette Jeff and Central Catholic on Monday night. Two schools in the same area separated by approximately one mile. Central Catholic has never beaten Lafayette Jeff in boys soccer and holds five straight losses dating back to the program’s first matchup in 2010. Senior leading goal scorer Thomas Henry and junior midfielder Joseph Weeks contends with leaders senior Ari Kennedy and Emmanuel Limon who own a pair of goals in two matches.
  • Girls soccer: Central Catholic (0-1-1) vs. Faith Christian (3-0) 6 p.m.: The Eagles and Knights matchup in a rematch of last season’s 1A Benton Central Sectional Championship. Faith Christian scored a combined 16 goals in its first three games against Crawfordsville, Southmont and Benton Central led by senior Grace Robinson (four goals) and Johanna Haste (six goals) while returning key players junior Hannah Bolton and sophomore defender Gracyn Musick from knee injuries. Central Catholic is led by sophomore midfielder Addie Waller and junior midfielder Casey Schuessler. Central Catholic seeks its first win against Faith Christian since 2020.

Aug. 27

  • Girls volleyball: Lafayette Jeff (2-3) vs. West Lafayette (4-1) 6 p.m.: Competitive double local battle between Lafayette Jeff with the addition of junior outside hitter Maya Layton (19 kills, 17 digs) along with the return of seniors outside hitter Julia Vallier (15 kills) and setter Jianna Walker (56 assists and 17 digs). Across the net leading West Lafayette is outside hitters senior Taylor Woods (20 kills), junior Audrey Alexander (20 kills), defensive specialist Courtney Gretencord (15 digs) and junior setter Addie Gehres (24 assists). West Lafayette has won 13 straight matches against Lafayette Jeff since 2014.
  • Girls volleyball: Faith Christian (5-0) vs. Clinton Prairie (3-0) 7:30 p.m.: The departure of transfer Maya Layton hasn’t slowed the Eagles who have come out red hot to open the 2024 campaign. Senior outside hitters Molly Miller (46 kills) and Anna Riley (44 kills) have come out sharp backed with junior defensive specialist Caya Stillings (27 digs) and junior setter Olivia Barber (117 assists). Clinton Prairie, which plays Benton Central on Tuesday, has been guided by senior outside hitter Abbey Swan (32 kills) and Hyleigh Wilson (14 kills) with Swan and Wilson combining for 51 assists in their first three games.

Aug. 28

  • Girls soccer: Central Catholic (0-1-1) vs. McCutcheon (1-1) 6 p.m: It’s a battle between McCutcheon, the Harrison Class 3A Sectional finalists from 2023 led junior Chloe Finney. Finney scored two goals last week as the Mavericks host Benton Central 1A Sectional finalists Central Catholic who will be playing on just one day of rest in another road challenge.

Aug. 29

  • Girls volleyball: Benton Central (5-1) vs. Central Catholic (0-1) 7 p.m.: Benton Central makes its return to Lafayette to face defending 1A sectional champions Central Catholic. The Knights proved to be a worthy challenger to Harrison, taking Harrison to four sets last Thursday. Senior Carley Barrett finished with nine kills, sophomore outside hitter Lauren Johnson added eight kills while setter Kaitlyn Kuckkan had 21 assists, 10 kills and six digs. Battle tested Benton Central beat Harrison last Tuesday and played No. 1 ranked Hamilton Southeastern last Saturday at home. Sophomore Ella Miller has been another quality addition for the Bison. Miller slashed six kills for the Raiders against Hamilton Southeastern.
  • Girls volleyball: South Newton (3-3) vs. Harrison (4-3) 7:30 p.m.: Harrison faces off against Central Michigan commit Taylor Cripe (67 kills, .350 hitting percentage, 30 digs) from South Newton. Harrison is led by senior outside hitter Della Bossung (56 kills, .237 hitting percentage), junior setter Jillian Deno (131 assists) and senior libero Grace Klemme (44 digs).

Aug. 30 (Week 2 high school football)

  • Game of the week: West Lafayette (0-1) vs. McCutcheon (0-1) 7 p.m.: McCutcheon faces off against area opponent West Lafayette after both teams struggled with turnovers in week one. West Lafayette allowed three turnovers including a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown by Payne Meyer, allowed a 78-yard kickoff return for a score in a game decided by one possession. Senior David Curl III made 17 tackles with a sack while senior Benny Speaker completed 12 of 15 passes for 153 yards in his debut at quarterback. McCutcheon led Guerin Catholic 7-0 after the first quarter before a 20-yard interception return for junior Quentin Klee in the second quarter swung momentum in the Golden Eagles favor. McCutcheon senior quarterback Lonnie Griffin threw his first touchdown, a 15-yarder to Broderick Arnold but the Mavericks allowed 4.5 rushing yards per carry in the loss.
  • Plainfield (1-0) vs. Harrison (1-0) 7:30 p.m.: Is there a rivalry here? Recent history says there might be with two major programs, in 5A the other in 6A going toe to toe this Friday. Plainfield and Harrison have played each other four times in the past two seasons, splitting the series but with Harrison winning the last encounter in the 5A sectional semifinals in 2023. Harrison carries plenty of new pieces on offense led by juniors quarterback Lannon Nicoloff (12 of 21 passes, 119 yards), running back Jack Gonzalez (35 rushing yards, 78-yard kickoff return, three touchdowns) anchored by offensive lineman Jaime Chavez and a defense that forced three turnovers. Defensive lineman Evan Walker made seven tackles including two for loss with a forced fumble while Meyer made four tackles, one for loss and a 49-yard interception touchdown return.
  • Cardinal Ritter (1-0) vs. Central Catholic (1-0) 7 p.m.: Two high quality 2A teams duke it out with Cardinal Ritter fresh off pummeling 6A Indianapolis Tech last Friday 36-0. Week one provided Central Catholic little trouble as well, handling Seeger 55-6 in a rematch of last season’s 2A regional championship game. Cardinal Ritter collected 304 yards of total offense led by freshman Tavien Fox (25 carries, 94 rushing yards and one touchdown) and junior Santana Allen (11 of 19, 123 yards and two touchdowns). Senior quarterback Bobby Metzger completed 21 of 27 passes for 361 yards.
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