Talented Hoosier State prospects flash in Brownsburg-Zionsville game

BROWNSBURG – There were talented football prospects all over the field at Brownsburg on Friday night as the top-ranked Bulldogs hosted Zionsville in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference showdown which is the largest class of play in the state.

Brownsburg turned a 14-6 ballgame at the half into a 38-6 rout showing why they’re the defending state champs. However both teams had players that flashed throughout the evening.

Rivals has the scouting takes from the Indianapolis suburbs.

Brownsburg’s quarterback Oscar Frye came up big when needed

Not as consistent an effort as he’s used to, the talented 2027 passer picked up huge first downs with his arm and legs to extend plays and drives that ultimately helped his team pull away.

Frye finished the night 18-of-30 for 176 yards and three touchdowns (with another rushing score) and also picked up a first down rushing on a big scoring drive to end the first half. His touchdown pass with four seconds left in the quarter ultimately increased the lead to 14-6 heading into intermission. Several times he was flushed from the pocket and still delivered an accurate football to his receiver.

“There is a lot to his game he needs to progress on, he’s a junior, but his throws and platforms and being able to throw across field and not re-situate his feet is pretty impressive,” head coach John Hart said.

On Frye’s last touchdown throw of the night he moved the Zionsville safety with his eyes and with a quick release delivered a dime to game-breaker receiver Branden Sharpe for a 38-yard touchdown.

Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green have offered the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Frye who’s now thrown for 1,332 yards and 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions on the season. A state champion a season ago, Frye had some big games as a sophomore en route to 2,445 yards passing and 23 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Frye says he has visits coming to Duke and Iowa.

Brownsburg playmakers of note

Sharpe is one of the most coveted juniors in the state with offers from Indiana, Iowa State, Purdue and Vanderbilt among others. He had five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in this one. He has 565 yards and eight scores on the season.

“When he’s at the top of his game I have not seen a player that we’ve played against that’s at his level,” Hart said.

Indiana is the early team to watch for Sharpe who will visit Wisconsin and Vanderbilt in the coming weeks.

Brownsburg’s running backs gashed Zionsville defense to keep the offense on schedule. Junior Brady Lewis ran 12 times for 87 yards including one rush where he broke what seemed liked five tackles for a pivotal first down. He will have all the Division-II programs salivating when it’s his time to be recruited if not programs in the Mid-American Conference and above. Senior Aiden Jobe carried 12 times for 60 yards and a touchdown. He has interest from the University of Indianapolis and Marian University.  

“That’s probably the group I’m most proud of,” Hart said. “They’ve had an incredible year. They’re unselfish and get vertical all the time.”

Central Michigan commit Avin Robinson had three receptions for 37 yards.

Bulldogs playing well at the point of attack

Illinois State offensive line commit Mezziahs McDaniel and junior Nick Vecrumba (6-5, 280) are two of the state’s best. Vecrumba has been receiving a lot of Mid-American Conference interest.

Junior defensive lineman Dami Sowunmi (6-4, 225) garnered a lot of attention helping eat up blocks for his teammates to fly around. Sowunmi had a drive-killing sack in the second quarter that got the Eagles off-script on first down when the game was close.

“When he kicks it in full gear he’s virtually unblockable,” Hart said.

Iowa offered last week joining the likes of Purdue, Boston College, Kansas and Indiana. He’s back at Purdue today for the Illinois game.

Zionsville standouts

Butler running back commit Sam Manna was a difference-maker in the first half with 11 carries for 42 hard-fought yards. He did not play much over the last two-plus quarters and his presence was definitely missed on offense. Manna had a huge game last Friday in the win over Hamilton Southeastern rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles have a terrific sophomore class. On this night Nic Hoggs shined on both sides of the ball. The dynamic playmaker came into this game averaging over 40 yards per catch and in this one caught four passes for 52 yards including a 35-yard gain. He also had a big pass breakup against Sharpe in the second quarter when lined up in man coverage.

“He surprised us with how much speed he had and he broke some tackles too,” Hart said. “He’s a football player.”

Zionsville wasn’t able to get talented tight end Theo Schott the ball in this one after a two-touchdown performance last week. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Schott is a smooth route runner with a big catch radius that also plays attached and can handle blocking assignments. Schott stretches the middle of the field and got open a couple times deep in this one. Illinois and Purdue have offered and Louisville likely will on Saturday during a visit for the Virginia game.

Safety Gabriel Vinatieri is really coming on over the last two weeks. He had seven tackles against Hamilton Southeastern and was in on 10 stops against Brownsburg. He’ll be one to watch over the next two-plus seasons.

So will linebacker Kellen Riddle. He was in on seven stops and brought great energy to the field. He is a sure tackler that also impressed with his ability to read and react to what was happening in front of him.