We are entering the time of the high school football season when the top performers lead their teams to postseason glory. So, for fun, we'll make this a regular season award. Asking this question:
Who has been the Most Valuable Player from the Indianapolis area so far in the 2024 season? We will keep the voting open through Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. Here are 11 candidates with information about each.
IHSAA football: 12 thoughts, predictions and more going into sectional play
Cast your vote in the poll at bottom of article, or click here to vote.
There are teammates on his defensive line going to big-time schools or with big-time offers (Damien Shanklin to LSU, Tyrone Burrus to Louisville and Jerimy Finch Jr. with offers from about everybody in the country), but they would also tell you how important Bell is to the fifth-ranked 8-1 Warriors' success. Of Bell's 54 tackles overall, 23 have come behind the line of scrimmage. He also has six sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, one caused fumble, one blocked punt and one blocked field goal. In addition to all of that, Bell has scored seven times on 2-point conversions and has 83 yards rushing and four TDs in short yardage.
It is tough to pick just one player from the Class 6A top-ranked Wildcats, who have been one of the biggest stories of the 2024 season. But if you pick one, the senior receiver and Indiana recruit is the guy. Chandler has 36 catches and 733 yards and eight TDs this season and has also pitched in on the defensive side with 20 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Chandler is not the only playmaker on this team, but his electricity on the perimeter -- and over the middle -- keeps the Wildcats ticking.
If Geske can help Brebeuf Jesuit to a sectional title in Class 4A, he will definitely put his name on the short list of IndyStar Mr. Football candidates. In nine games this season for the seventh-ranked Braves, Geske has completed 61.2% of his passes for 3,385 yards and 33 TDs with nine interceptions. He has also rushed for 104 yards and six TDs. If Brebeuf can win a few tournament games, he would have a chance to break the state's all-time single season passing record set by Evansville Mater Dei's Jake Schiff in 2001 with 4,468 yards.
The Stanford commit has done it all for the 5-4 Tigers. Hall, also a standout in basketball and track and field, has 67 receptions for 978 yards and nine TDs this season, along with two rushing TDs, a passing touchdown. He also averages 22.5 yards per kickoff return. Hall, who has 147 career receptions, 2,295 career receiving yards and 20 receiving TDs for his career, is the old school multi-sport athlete -- and does all three about as well as anybody has in years.
Fast on fast. Hicks, a junior with offers from Indiana, Cincinnati and Northwestern, among others, is a touchdown waiting to happen any time he touches the ball. He does most of his damage at receiver with 40 catches for 713 yards and 10 receiving TDs, but also ran for more than 100 yards in a win over Perry Meridian (296 rushing yards and three TDs on 20 carries) and has returned two kickoffs and two interceptions for scores. If 5A No. 4 Decatur Central (6-2) makes another run the state finals, Hicks will be one reason why.
If Lawrence North has been the story of the season, Martinsville certainly is not far behind. The Artesians (8-1) came up short of their first undefeated regular season since 1982 with a season ending loss to Plainfield, but that does not diminish the season at all. Reynolds has completed 72% of his passes for 2,217 yards and 25 touchdowns with seven interceptions and has rushed for 341 yards and 11 TDs. You could also make a strong argument for Martinsville senior receiver Hunter Stroud, who has 1,130 receiving yards and 14 TDs.
The Class 5A fifth-ranked Quakers (8-1) are playing bully ball, averaging 276 rushing yards per game. Starnes leads the way with 1,396 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs, along with seven catches for 46 yards. That comes after a sophomore season that saw him run for 952 yards and 12 TDs. The beautiful thing for coach Tyler Bless is that he can also use Westyn Weyrich at running back and not skip a beat. Weyrich has 817 rushing yards and 15 TDs.
New Palestine (8-0) is No. 1 in Class 4A and has designs on winning a fourth state championship (though there is plenty of competition for that honor in 4A). Thacker, a Ball State recruit and defensive lineman, has been a big part of that success for the Dragons, accounting for 52 tackles, including 18 ½ for a loss, and seven sacks. He has also caused a fumble and recovered one. Thacker will go down as one of New Palestine's most-accomplished defensive players. He has 304 tackles, including 94 for a loss, and 32 ½ sacks for his career to date.
If 6A third-ranked Westfield (8-1) goes on to accomplish what it hopes to this season, Webster will certainly be at the heart of the effort. The senior linebacker and Ball State commit has 61 tackles, including 10 ½ for loss, with three sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one caused fumble this season. While the Shamrocks have leaned more heavily on Deacon King at running back, Webster has also been a major contributor there as well with 289 rushing yards and four rushing TDs. Webster has impressive career defensive numbers with 241 tackles, including 23 for loss, six sacks, five fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
The senior was the starting quarterback for a pair of Class A state championships and could potentially win a third in Class 2A. This season, Willis is completing an obscene 79.5% of his passes for 2,108 yards and 27 TDs with just three interceptions. He has also rushed for 216 yards and three TDs this season. Willis has 8,890 career passing yards and 113 career passing TDs. Only seven quarterbacks in state history have reached 10,000 career yards. Willis also helped Lutheran (8-1) to a 45-game winning streak before a loss this season to Triton Central.
'Don't know what else I have to prove.' He has 2 state titles, climbs IHSAA passing chart.
It feels like the Notre Dame commit still has a memorable moment or two coming in the next few weeks. Zackery has a team-leading 46 receptions, 730 yards and six TDs this season on offense. He is also one of the few two-way players on this list, accounting for 49 tackles, six interceptions and a fumble recovery. Zackery returned two of those six interceptions for TDs and has averaged 19.8 yards on six kickoff returns and 9.3 yards on three punt returns. For his career, Zackery has 107 receptions for 1,618 yards and 15 TD receptions, along with 127 tackles and 12 interceptions. And he has a state football championship and state basketball title under his belt.
Mr. Football? Maybe Mr. Basketball, too. For Mark Zackery IV, it all starts at home.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football: Indianapolis area MVP candidates, top players for 2024