The IHSAA state football playoffs started last week in Indiana, but Class 6A and 5A teams had the week off.

This week, the bigger schools are in action at sectional final games, and 9-0 Carroll will travel to Mishawaka to face 7-2 Penn.

Carroll, the SAC champion, breezed through the 2022 regular season, outscoring its opponents 378-68. Penn finished second in the East-West Division of the Northern Indiana Conference.

The Kingsmen have scored 256 points and given up 187. They’re led by quarterback Nolan McCullough, who had 104 passing yards and five TDs in leading Penn over South Bend Adams in its 2022 regular season finale Oct. 14.

Carroll is led by sophomore quarterback Jimmy Sullivan, who has completed 134-of-265 passes for 1,620 yards and 23 TDs with just five interceptions.

Sullivan’s favorite targets have been Camden Herschberger, with 40 catches for 556 yards and five TDs, and Hansen Haffner, with 25 catches for 416 yards and 10 TDs.

Nate Starks leads the Charger ground attack with 127 carries for 833 yards and six TDs.

Carroll coach Doug Dinan, now in his 13th season, is 99-45 overall and could win his 100th game if the Chargers defeat Penn and move on to the sectional finals against the winner of the other semifinal between 7-2 Elkhart and 7-2 Warsaw.

Kickoff at TCU Freed Field Friday night is slated for 7 p.m.