FB: 8/17 Saturday Morning QB: Hoosier Heritage Conference roundup

While the HHC had one of the best non-conference records in the state last year, this year's Week 1 saw conference teams go 3-5 in their season openers. A couple of those were razor-thin losses: Mt. Vernon fell to Kokomo in OT and New Palestine dropped a one-touchdown decision to Whiteland despite outgaining the Warriors by more than 100 yards.

Delta, Greenfield-Central and Pendleton Heights were all victorious on opening night. Next week rounds out non-conference play, as the HHC teams will be playing each other from Week 3 on this season.

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Whiteland 26, New Palestine 20: The Dragons outgained Whiteland by 110 yards, but the Warriors took advantage of five turnovers to beat the Dragons. NP's running game was solid, with Matt Siergiej running for 121 yards and Collin Hill adding 49 yards in two carries off the bench. Junior QB Blake Luker threw two TD passes -- including a 35-yarder to Logan Carothers -- but some key turnovers aided the Warriors, who scored three times after starting drives inside the NP 40 Archived webcast | Hancock County Sports | Daily Reporter | Johnson County Daily Journal

Kokomo 28, Mt. Vernon 21, OT: The Marauders had a solid start to the year, going up 14-0 in the first quarter when Tyler Dicks and Anthony Burnett scored TDs. Burnett scored again in the third quarter to break a 14-all tie, but Kokomo's Tayler Persons threw for a late TD to tie it and then scored the lone points of overtime to give the Wildkats the victory -- and the North Central Conference's first win over an HHC team in two years. Burnett ran for 110 yards, with TD runs of 27 and 22 yards and a 75-yard kickoff return to start the game. Archived webcast (WIOU) |  Hancock County Sports | Daily Reporter | Kokomo Tribune

Greenfield-Central 40, New Castle 7: Brant Boles-Lattimore and Derek Conley both ran for more than 100 yards as the Cougars rolled over New Castle. It spoiled Mark Luzadder's coaching debut with the Trojans and sent them to their 17th consecutive loss dating back to 2010. G-C, looking for three straight winning seasons for the first time since Clayton Myers' fine teams of the mid-1970s, had a solid start, gaining nearly 400 yards on the ground. The Cougars, who hung their hat on return touchdowns last year, started the year the same way. Joe Hoskins and Drew Dougherty each had defensive TDs in the game. Hancock County Sports | Daily Reporter

Delta 24, Jay County 8: The two rivals played their annual season opener and the Eagles had their traditional season-opening victory, as they moved to 15-0 against the Patriots in Grant Zgunda's tenure as coach. Delta's defense pitched a shutout -- Jay County's two scores were off an interception return and a safety -- and the young Eagles offense moved the ball deep into Patriot territory most of the night. Muncie Star-Press

Pendleton Heights 42, Muncie Central 13: The Arabians won their seventh consecutive regular-season game -- now the longest such streak in the HHC -- with Jon Furrow and a strong ground game leading the way. Furrow ran for 118 yards and a TD. Jim Arney and Will Galliher combined for 140 yards and two more TDs rushing. New quarterback Jesse Furrow threw TD passes to Kurt Talbert and Austin Coffel. Anderson Herald-Bulletin | Muncie Star-Press

Muncie South 30, Yorktown 27: The Tigers dropped their opener to their county rivals. Riley Neal threw for 207 yards for Yorktown, and Adam Miller caught 114 yards worth of passes. The Tigers threw it often, with Neal attempting 25 passes. Chandler Carroll rushed for more than 100 yards for Yorktown. Muncie Star-Press

Greensburg 24, Shelbyville 10: The Golden Bears fell in their opener for the second straight year, as Greensburg pulled away in the second half. Shelbyville also lost QB Jake Laker in the second half due to injury. Shelbyville News

Connersville 34, Rushville 27: The Spartans gave coach Adam Kelly a win in his varsity debut. It was also the Spartans' first win in the "War on 44" since 2007. This will be a conference game next year, as both will join the EIAC. No media links, as both communities' newspapers do not post Friday games online by Saturday morning. 

Standings (HHC/overall) + next week's schedule

Delta 0-0/1-0. Next: at Carroll (Allen), 7:30 (1-0, beat Goshen 45-8 )

Greenfield-Central 0-0/1-0. Next: vs. Lebanon, 7 (1-0, beat Mooresville 42-20). Webcast: RadioMom

Pendleton Hts. 0-0/1-0. Next: vs. Anderson, 7:30 (0-1, lost to Greenwood 6-52). Webcast: WEEM

Mt. Vernon 0-0/0-1. Next: at Marion, 7 (1-0, beat Madison-Grant 40-18). Webcast: Hancock County Sports

New Palestine 0-0/0-1. Next: at Richmond, 7 (0-1, lost to East Central 35-6). Webcast: Red Devil Mania

Rushville 0-0/0-1. Next: at New Castle, 7 (0-1, lost to Greenfield-C. 7-40). Webcast: WIFE

Shelbyville 0-0/0-1. Next: at Franklin, 7 (1-0, beat Seymour 28-21 OT). Webcast: WSVX

Yorktown 0-0/0-1. Next: vs. Northwest, 7:30 (0-1, lost to Franklin Co. 18-72). Webcast: Delaware County Voice