Top standouts, best performances in Week 7 of the Indiana high school football season

By Kevin Messenger

These guys posted some of the top performances among Indiana gridiron stars in Week 7:

Jaylen Alexander, RB, Hamilton Southeastern

The Royals' running back netted 192 yards on 20 carries while scoring two of HSE’s first three touchdowns. His 47-yard run opened the scoring and his 2-yarder put the Royals on top 21-0.

Reece Bellin, WR, Carmel

The Greyhounds' receiver finished with six catches for 138 yards and scored the winning touchdown in a battle of traditional 6A powers. Bellin opened the night with a 73-yard score and his 3-yard catch staked the Hounds to a 21-14 win over Ben Davis.

Micah Coyle, RB, Center Grove

Coyle ran for 148 yards on just 12 carries and scored two of the Trojans’ first three touchdowns on scores from 25 and 64 yards, as top-ranked Center Grove shut out Pike, 48-0.

Bodie Derrer, QB, Hamilton Heights

Derrer threw for four TDs and ran for another as Hamilton Heights blitzed Tipton, 42-7. Derrer’s 66-yard TD pass opened the scoring and his 1-yard sneak gave the Huskies a 14-0 advantage. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 210 yards.

Hansen Haffner, WR, Fort Wayne Carroll

Haffner caught three TD balls from QB Jimmy Sullivan to spark the Chargers to stay unbeaten with a 52-10 win over Fort Wayne Homestead.

Luke Hansen, RB, Roncalli

The state’s leading ground-gainer went over 300 yards for the third time this season, finishing with 316 yards on 37 carries. Hansen packaged touchdown runs of 58 and 73 yards around a pair of 1-yard scores to account for all four of the Royals’ scores.

Khobie Martin, RB, Fishers

Martin staked the Tigers to a 14-0 lead on a 46-yard run in the second period, and he iced the game in the fourth with a 10-yard burst. He finished with 121 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Clay McClelland, QB, Charleston

McClelland was 12-of-21 passing for 191 yards and two passing TDs in a 42-27 win over Corydon. He also carried 31 times for 229 yards and three more scores. In all, he totaled 420 yards in total offense.

Danny O’Neil, QB, Cathedral

The junior QB passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the Irish put away visiting Cincinnati LaSalle, 37-6. O’Neil’s 47-yard strike to Javon Tibbs opened the scoring, and he scored twice on the ground in the second quarter. O’Neil finished 21-of-28 passing for 217 yards.

Nicholas Patterson, QB, Mooresville

Pioneers QB passed for two scores and added a 61-yard TD run in the final period, but it wasn’t enough to counter a balanced attack by Whiteland. Patterson finished with 115 yards rushing and 153 through the air.

Devan Roberts, RB, Gibson Southern

Roberts carried 11 times for 121 yards and four touchdowns to help Gibson Southern remain unbeaten.

John Shepard, RB, Franklin

Shepard led the Grizzly Cubs to a 35-12 win over Plainfield. He rushed 15 times for 121 yards, and scored on touchdown runs of 3 and 34 yards.

Grayson Thomas, RB, New Palestine

Thomas rushed for 147 yards on just three carries and scored three touchdowns. Thomas raised his season rushing total to 1,033 yards to become the first Dragon in school history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in three different seasons.

Luke Valerio, WR, Heritage Christian

Valerio had 11 receptions for 152 yards and ran twice for 29 yards. Valerio’s 70-yard catch staked the Eagles to a 20-13 lead and he caught a two-point conversation late in the game for a 35-25 lead.

Trey Woods, RB, NorthWood

Woods scored both NorthWood touchdowns in a critical 14-6 win in a battle of unbeatens. Woods took a 45-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first series, and after the Cavemen pulled within 7-6 and missed a two-point conversion, Woods took the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for the only other score of the game.