Ben Davis’ defense struggled a bit, according to coach Mike Kirschner, in the Giants’ 23-16 overtime loss to Warren Central three weeks ago. The following week, in a 58-21 win over Terre Haute North, “we kind of got off to a slow start,” Kirschner said (all of North’s points came in the first half).

Then the Giants (4-2, 3-1 Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference) went to Terre Haute South and shut out the Braves 50-0.

“I really felt like our defense kind of bounced back after the Warren (loss),” Kirschner said.

The same goes for the offense, both with rushing (six players posted at least 30 yards against South) and passing (senior quarterback William Barksdale completed 12 of 16 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns last week).

Which, as Kirschner put it, is “huge,” because the Giants’ next opponent is considerably tougher than their past two. That would be defending Class 5A champion Center Grove (5-1, 3-1 MIC), which has thrashed Ben Davis the last three times they’ve played (twice in the regular season, 37-7 and 44-22, and 49-21 in last year’s semistate).

The only team to beat the Trojans the past two seasons has been Carmel, which Center Grove beat in last year’s title game. So although this again could be a playoff preview, Kirschner isn’t worried about anything that far away.

“(We’re) just trying to figure out how to beat them,” Kirschner said. "Obviously you could see them down the road, but that’s a long way off for us. But we’ve got to find a better way of defending them, because we haven’t defended them well the last two years, and we’ve got to execute offensively.

“We’ve got our hands full. They’re very talented on offense, and their defense is maybe the best defense I’ve seen yet this year. I mean, they’re really, really good up front.”

The Giants also should get a boost with the return of senior running back Donte Asher, who missed last week with what Kirschner called personal issues — “He should be fine for next week,” Kirschner said Saturday.

Cardinal Ritter

On Sept. 4, Cardinal Ritter barely could come up with one yard per carry in a 25-7 loss to Brebeuf Jesuit.

Since? More than 900 yards rushing in three games (all victories), including 424 last week in a 42-9 win over Park Tudor.

“I think we learned a lot from that loss as far as our offensive line,” coach Ty Hunt said. “They have stepped up to the challenge at this point.”

Also helping has been the return of junior running backs Michael Timko (191 rushing yards last week) and Khary Ferguson (107), both of whom missed the Brebeuf game but who now are “probably close to 100 percent,” Hunt said.

They’ll need to stay healthy and strong this week, as the top-ranked Raiders (5-1, 1-0 Indiana Crossroads Conference) will take on league rival Beech Grove (5-1) — which knocked off then-No. 1 Heritage Christian last Friday and also has not lost a conference game this season.

“I know (coach Dave Coudret will) have his guys ready,” Hunt said. “We just expect a hard-hitting football game.”

Etc.

Although Speedway (4-2, 3-1 West Central Conference) holds the No. 3 spot in the league standings, a conference title is not out of the question.

The Sparkplugs first must beat South Putnam (5-1, 2-1) on the road Friday, while hoping next week’s opponent, North Putnam (5-1, 3-0), defeats Monrovia (6-0, 4-0).

Decatur Central’s 21-20 overtime loss to Plainfield was its second by one point this season. It also dropped the Hawks to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the Mid-State Conference — but not out of the running for a league title.

With three weeks left, four teams are either 3-1 or 2-1 in conference, and the Hawks’ remaining league games are Friday at Greenwood (1-5, 0-3) and Oct. 16 at Whiteland (3-3, 2-1).

Ben Davis (4-2) at Center Grove (5-1)

When : 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year : Center Grove 44-22 (regular season); Center Grove 49-21 (semistate).

Ben Davis’ key players : RB Phillip Dudley (Ball State recruit, 100-plus yards rushing each game); QB William Barksdale (157 yards passing, 2 TDs, rushing TD last week vs. Terre Haute South); S Isaiah Lewis (Michigan State recruit).

Center Grove’s key players : RB Jimmy Daggett (449 rushing yards, 7 TDs); QB Kyle Barth (468 passing yards, 4 TDs).

The skinny : This matchup has gone Center Grove’s way three straight times. Can the Giants crack the Trojans’ stifling defense?

Beech Grove (5-1) at Cardinal Ritter (5-1)

* *When : 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year : Cardinal Ritter 41-0.

Beech Grove’s key players : RB Kyle Cruz (179 rushing yards, TD last week vs. Heritage Christian); RB Nick Roberts (52 rushing yards, TD last week); QB Jordan King (88 passing yards, rushing TD last week).

Cardinal Ritter’s key players : QB Ross Hendrickson (919 passing yards, 8 TDs; 188 rushing yards, 5 TDs); RB Michael Timko (586 rushing yards, 11 TDs); RB Khary Ferguson (400 rushing yards, 3 TDs); LB Carlos de Luna (63 total tackles).

The skinny : The Hornets proved their ability last week with a win over then-No. 1 Heritage Christian. The Raiders, meanwhile, must avoid becoming the second straight top-ranked team to tumble against Beech Grove.

Decatur Central (3-3) at Greenwood (1-5)

* *When : 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year : Decatur Central 34-6.

Decatur Central’s key players : QB Brandon Ledford (more than 1,000 total yards, 15 total TDs); RB Sean Evans (87 rushing yards, TD last week vs. Plainfield); RB Sean Gary (TD reception last week).

Greenwood’s key players : RB Brad Carnes (83 rushing yards, 2 TDs last week vs. Guerin Catholic); RB Drew Slaughter (45 rushing yards, TD last week).

The skinny : The Hawks lost their second heartbreaker of the year last week, falling on a blocked extra point in overtime. A win over the Woodmen (0-3 in the Mid-State Conference) would keep their league-title hopes alive.

Northwest (1-5) at Howe (0-6)

When : 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year : Northwest 19-16.

Northwest’s key players : WR/DB Kwame Gray (85-yard kickoff return last week vs. Broad Ripple); RB Sean Hamilton (76 rushing yards, TD, 15 receiving yards last week); RB Davon Gray (29 rushing yards, 10 receiving yards last week).

Howe’s key players : QB Timothy Johnson (81 rushing yards, 2 TDs two weeks ago vs. Broad Ripple).

The skinny : The Space Pioneers’ win over the Hornets last year was the team’s only on-the-field one in 2008 (the other came by forfeit). This season Northwest seems stronger, but must beat Howe to further show it.

Pike (5-1) at Bloomington South (3-3)

When : 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year : Pike 31-23.

Pike’s key players : RB Cameron Crabtree (138 yards, 2 TDs last week vs. Columbus North); WR Anthony McClung (85-yard punt return for TD last week).

Bloomington South’s key players : QB Joey Forney (264 passing yards, 3 TDs last week vs. Lawrence Central); RB Jordan Hogue (180 rushing yards, TD, passing TD last week); WR Nate Peck (103 receiving yards, 2 TDs last week).

The skinny : The Panthers surprised Lawrence Central last week. Could they derail the 4-0 Red Devils’ quest for an undefeated Conference Indiana record?

Speedway (4-2) at South Putnam (5-1)

When : 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year : Speedway 7-0.

Speedway’s key players : RB/WR Michael Hubbard (208 rushing yards, 3 TDs last week vs. Cascade); RB Jake Dunn (102 rushing yards, TD last week); WR J.T. Bouwman (71 receiving yards, TD last week).

South Putnam’s key players : QB Grant Zimmerman (157 passing yards, TD last week vs. Cloverdale); WR Rob Gibson (101 receiving yards, kickoff return TD last week); RB Drew Cash (TD run last week).

The skinny : The winner of this gets to stay in the West Central Conference race, as both teams enter Friday with one league loss.