Carmel is our preseason pick as Indiana's top team in 2012, and that's exactly how the 2011 season ended.
Carmel showed Indiana that it was the best team in the land last season. This season, we pick the Greyhounds as the best again.
Photo by Warren Robison
14-1
Head coach: Kevin Wright
Carmel avenged a September loss to Warren Central by
stunning the nationally ranked Warriors in the playoffs before cruising to a 54-0 victory in the Class 5A title game. There are holes to fill, especially on the offensive line, but quarterback
Brandon Lugar and running backs
Chris Perkins and
Jajuan Self give Carmel a trio of weapons. Receiver
Austin Roberts, a transfer from Florida, immediately becomes one of the state’s top playmakers. Carmel ranked No. 2 in our June, 2011
Top 10 Indiana football dynasties list.
2. Warren Central (Indianapolis)2011 finish: 11-1
Head coach: Steve Tutsie
Warren Central, per usual, will have a bevy of talent, led by linebacker
Tim Kimbrough and quarterback
Jeff George. With turmoil and turnover among the coaching staff in the offseason, the challenge facing the 2012 team is how well it can gel with so many new faces. Warren Central led the way on the list of
2012 Indiana players who signed with Division 1 colleges.3. Indianapolis Cathedral2011 finish: 12-3
Head coach: Rick Streiff
Cathedral typically faces one of the toughest schedules in the Midwest, and 2012 will be no different with games against Warren Central and Ben Davis as well as Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), Moeller (Cincinnati) and St. Xavier (Cincinnati). Streiff likes his skill players, including 6-foot-3 quarterback
Connor Rice, but the team’s defensive and offensive lines will be young. You will find Indianapolis Cathedral listed four times on the
Indiana state football champions for the past 10 years list.
4. Ben Davis (Indianapolis)2011 finish: 10-3
Head coach: Mike Kirschner
Despite losing quarterback Matt Brock and running back Lamont Osborn from last year’s squad, Ben Davis once again figures to be among the state’s elite teams.
Kyle Castner saw some action behind center last fall as a freshman; he’ll likely compete with
Kiel Maxey for the job. Ole Miss-commit
Antonio Allen, a vicious hitter in the secondary, leads the defense. Ben Davis ranks fourth on the
Indiana's Top 10 most consistent high school football programs list.
5. Fishers2011 finish: 8-4
Head coach: Rick Wimmers
After capturing the 2010 Class 5A state title, Fishers took a bit of a step back in 2011. The team should rebound in 2012 nicely.
Cody Moore will lead the line play on both sides of the ball, while
Seth Riley will roam the secondary. Look for
Connor Christiansen to emerge as a leader at quarterback. Look for Fishers players on the
2011 All-Conference teams list.
