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November 4, 2009

Highlander football trying to keep up

Football team will attempt to add to Floyd's fall success

By MIKE HUTSELL

It may seem odd for some to hear it, but the Floyd Central football team will be doing its best just to keep up with the mass of success at its school this Friday night.

The Highlanders (8-3) will host Castle at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the IHSAA Class 5A Sectional 8 championship round, looking to extend an exciting run of champions roaming the hallways in Floyds Knobs.

“It’s been quite a week at our school,” said Floyd Central head coach Brian Glesing. “The volleyball team here is playing in the state finals this weekend, the band just placed in the state competition, the drama department is performing its show ‘Oliver’ very successfully right now and we’re playing for the sectional championship.

“There’s a lot of things going on at the school right now, and we’re excited to still be playing and be a part of it.”

Friday’s game marks the third time this decade that Floyd has played in the sectional championship round. The Highlanders lost twice in Class 4A sectional play to Vincennes Lincoln in 2003, 31-21, and in 2001, where it fell to Jasper, 21-7. The Highlanders have not won a sectional championship since 1998.

Castle (8-3) is the defending sectional champion and has won five of its past six games, including two sectional wins over Hoosier Hills Conference teams Jeffersonville (21-14) and Bedford North Lawrence (21-6).

“Castle has a lot of football tradition,” said Glesing. “They’re very solid and seem strong at every position. They seem to have a lot of speed on defense.”

Testing that defense will be a Floyd Central offense that has rolled in postseason play.

The Highlanders have scored 96 points in two sectional games, beating Jennings County (62-27) and New Albany (34-27).

Part of the reason for the offensive revival, Glesing says, is getting starting quarterback Max Guenther back in the lineup.

The senior, who has started three seasons behind center for Floyd, missed four games during the regular season due to a back injury. Since his return to the lineup, Floyd has posted a 3-1 mark, scoring at least 34 points in each of those victories.

“The offense has been able to make some big plays, and the biggest reason for that has been getting back to full strength,” said Glesing. “Having Max back in the lineup has seemed to be a major boost. He’s a leader who is going to make sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to do and he can also make a big play by running or throwing the football.”

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