What you need to know about Patoka Lake Athletic Conference football ahead of 2022 season

Auston Matricardi, The Times-Mail
·5 min read
Mitchell's reserves line up during their team session in warm-ups ahead of Friday's scrimmage.
Mitchell's reserves line up during their team session in warm-ups ahead of Friday's scrimmage.

After a couple of football seasons muddled by COVID-19, Patoka Lake Athletic Conference teams are preparing to return to the gridiron for the 2022 campaign. Traditional powers Paoli, Perry Central and West Washington appear as if they’ll be prime competitors for the title once again, but Springs Valley surged into contention last season and Mitchell is primed for a bounceback under a new head coach.

With kickoff coming quickly, here’s what you need to know about every team in the PLAC in 2022.

Beat the heat: Tips for how to keep student-athletes safe during summer workouts

Crawford County Wolfpack

Last season: 2-6, 0-4 PLAC

Final 2021 Sagarin Rating (courtesy of John Harrell): No. 6 PLAC, No. 60 Class 2A, No. 299 Overall

Coach: Tony Bell (2-12 in third year at Crawford County, 18-27 in third year overall)

Players to Watch: Ashton Arnold (Jr., RB/DB), Tanner Arnold (Sr., RB/LB), Coby Morris (Sr., OL/DL), Logan Peters (Sr., OL/DL), Nash Stroud (Jr., RB/DB)

Last season was a relatively productive one for the Wolfpack, as it posted its first multi-win season since 2018 and tied the program’s high-water mark for wins since 2008. By going 2-6, Crawford County also posted its best winning percentage since 2008. Workhorse Keith Brooks is gone, graduating after carrying a heavy load for the Wolfpack on the gridiron in recent years, but there are a handful of returners who could help them win a couple of games again this season.

Mitchell Bluejackets

Mitchell's Carsyn Herald breaks away down the sideline on what would be the first of two touchdown runs for him in the game.
Mitchell's Carsyn Herald breaks away down the sideline on what would be the first of two touchdown runs for him in the game.

Last season: 3-6, 1-3 PLAC

Final 2021 Sagarin Rating (courtesy of John Harrell): No. 5 PLAC, No. 49 Class 2A, No. 264 Overall

Coach: Kevin Kling (0-0 in first season at Mitchell, 20-11 in fourth year overall)

Players to Watch: Trey Craig (Sr., OL/DL), Kale England (Jr., QB/LB), Carsyn Herald (Sr., RB/LB), Ayden Tolliver (Sr., OL/DL), Kade Wigley (Sr., WR/DB)

The Bluejackets are entering year one under former Triton Central coach Kevin Kling, and because of that, it’s hard to say what exactly they’ll be in 2022. They’ve lost Times-Mail All-Area players Nick Mundy and Ashton Pritchett to graduation, but return Trey Craig and Ayden Tolliver, also All-Area honorees, to buoy them in the trenches. Kale England gained some experience under center last season and with the help of playmakers like Carsyn Herald, he should give Mitchell something to work with offensively.

More: After extensive search, Mitchell hires new varsity football coach

Paoli Rams

Paoli's Trey Rominger rumbles through Eastern Greene safety Evan Rogers on his way to the endzone.
Paoli's Trey Rominger rumbles through Eastern Greene safety Evan Rogers on his way to the endzone.

Last season: 7-3, 3-1 PLAC

Final 2021 Sagarin Rating (courtesy of John Harrell): No. 2 PLAC, No. 21 Class 2A, No. 142 Overall

Coach: Neil Dittmer (14-7 in third year at Paoli)

Players to Watch: Austin Benales (Sr., RB/LB), Braxton Elliott (Sr., QB/DB), Marty Higgins (Sr., OL/DL), Camron Meehan (Sr., OL/LB), Trey Rominger (Jr., RB/LB)

One of the more successful teams in the conference last season, Paoli will have some significant retooling to do after graduating a class that featured key players at all levels, including three of their top four rushers, each of their top five receivers, their starting quarterback and six of their top nine tacklers. Despite that, the Rams do bring back some dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball. Their rising sophomores were also able to get their feet wet and show some promise in mop-up duty last season. Those two things should allow them to be competitive in 2022.

More: Paoli's Trey Rominger brings vintage game to the gridiron

Perry Central Commodores

Last season: 7-3, 4-1 PLAC

Final 2021 Sagarin Rating (courtesy of John Harrell): No. 3 PLAC, No. 13 Class 1A, No. 176 Overall

Coach: Greg Gibson (68-42 in 11th year at Perry Central)

Players to Watch: Cohen Edwards (So., RB/LB), Sawyer Guillaume (Jr., RB/DB), Caleb Howe (Jr., OL/DL), Lucas Mitchell (Sr., RB/LB), Reece Winter (Jr., OL/DL)

If recent history is any indication, the Commodores will be a key figure in the race for a conference title once again this season. They’ve put together a winning record in eight of their 10 seasons under Greg Gibson including each of the last four. Perry Central’s also been potent in the conference, finishing second or third regularly with losses typically only coming to PLAC powers like West Washington, Paoli or, last year, Springs Valley. Expect another fundamentally-sound football team that wins will have to be earned against rather than given.

Springs Valley Blackhawks

Springs Valley's Ezra Mills (20) and Travis Bell (50) signal for a Blackhawk first down after Chris Houchins recovered a second-quarter fumble.
Springs Valley's Ezra Mills (20) and Travis Bell (50) signal for a Blackhawk first down after Chris Houchins recovered a second-quarter fumble.

Last season: 9-2, 3-0 PLAC

Final 2021 Sagarin Rating (courtesy of John Harrell): No. 1 PLAC, No. 9 Class 1A, No. 140 Overall

Coach: Jason Lowe (9-2 in second year at Springs Valley)

Players to Watch: Larron Childers (Jr., RB/DE), Jack Dalton (Sr., RB/LB) Jake Hammond (Sr., OL/DL), Griffin McGee (Sr., K), Ezra Mills (Sr., RB/LB)

The Blackhawks put together one of their best seasons in recent history last year, riding a gifted senior class that included 2021 Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA) All-State Team selections Kannon Chase and Travis Bell among many other major contributors. While some may expect the Blackhawks to fall off this season with those guys having graduated, they do return some key players including IFCA Junior All-State Team selections Larron Childers and Griffin McGee. They’ve got holes to fill and problems to solve ahead of 2022 but should be competitive nonetheless.

L.E.A.D.: The origin and power of Springs Valley football's motto

West Washington Senators

Last season: 4-5, 1-3 PLAC

Final 2021 Sagarin Rating (courtesy of John Harrell): No. 4 PLAC, No. 32 Class 1A, No. 246 Overall

Coach: Jeremy Lowery (4-5 in second year at West Washington, 32-24 in sixth year overall)

Players to Watch: Kenton Chase (Jr., QB/DB), Wyatt Johnston (Sr., RB/DB), Roper McPheeters (Sr., RB/DB), Ethan Roberts (Sr., RB/DL), Titan Williams (Jr., QB/WR/DB)

The Senators spent last season doing a bit of rebuilding following the graduation of the class that formed the backbone of their regional championship teams in 2019 and 2020, but could be poised to return to conference title competition. They’ll be in their second season under former Paoli coach Jeremy Lowery, who led the Rams to a sectional title back in 2018, and should have some quality options in the rushing game.

Contact Times-Mail sports reporter Auston Matricardi via e-mail at amatricardi@tmnews.com or on Twitter at @amatricardiTM.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: What you need to know about Patoka Lake Conference football in 2022

Recommended Stories