"The Renegade"

Final 2003 High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

CROWN POINT (12-8-2003) It was a good year in northwest Indiana, although it may not have seemed like it. It is not realistic to expect a state finalist every year from the five county area we call the 'region' , especially with all seven Lake and Porter County 5A teams funneled through one sectional. Portage, Lowell and Andrean were the top teams in 2003 and will be again in 2004. All three return significant offensive players. If a new star is on the horizon, it may be rising above Bishop Noll, which showed great potential in Class 2A. If an old star is coming 'round the mountain again, it would probably be over Valparaiso, which had an outstanding junior class.

As always, 'The Renegade', with no allegiance to any school or any sponsors (not yet, anyway) can tell it like it is about local prep football. All schools in the six county Northwest Indiana region count and records are irrelevant. These are the BEST teams.

1.) Portage (11-2)

HB Antoine Brown (273 carries, 2,039 yards, 32 TDs) was the premier offensive player in northwest Indiana and has a chance to be the best running back ever in the four decade old Duneland Conference. QB Jake Huston (117-217, 1,973 yards, 15TDs, 2 INTs) also returns in 2004 as well as impact WR Milt Rivera (27 catches - 626 yards). The Indian defense will have to be rebuilt but that defense certainly isn't going to have to shut everybody out to win.

2.) LaPorte (6-4)

Clearly the second best team in the region. Losses to Elkhart Memorial (11-1) and Portage (11-2) were the only defeats in LaPorte's last eight games. QB Lance Jurgensen returns (93 of 189, 1,500) for two more seasons and the 2002 undefeated freshman team reaches the varsity en masse next year. Fullback Kyle Cepeda and 1,000-yard receiver Jerome Vann graduates, but word is, get ready for Airrence Shark, a premier freshman running back.

3.) ANDREAN (12-1)

Andrean's 22-21 loss to Hamilton Heights was unexpected, because we didn't know Hamilton Heights, a team that was 48-11 over the last five years. QB Tommy Finn (116-197, 1,469 yards, 15 TDs) rushed for 894 yards on 150 carries. TE Ty Harangody (40 catches, 506 yards) will be back in 2004 as will halfback Joaquin Rodriguez and WR Jake Kocal (17 catches, 201 yards). The 59ers are 38-4 over the last three years.

4.) LOWELL (11-2)

Lowell loses all-area players in Jim Jeffries, Justin Wiler, Chris Marzotto, QB Chuck Thompson and HB Justin Henley (251 carries, 1,563 yards) but the Devils only had 14 seniors. FB-LB Toby Goetz (148 carries, 836 yards) returns along with linebacker-guard Randy Lukasik, punter, WR-safety Jeff Clemons, speedy safety and option QB Scott Schulz and two-way lineman Larin Childress (10 sacks). The Devils also had an undefeated 2002 freshman team that will be juniors next year and are used to winning. But Lowell rushed for 3,000 yards in 2003 and that line graduates three blockers. They need three replacements to do it again in 2004.

5.) Chesterton (7-4)

Chesterton gained only 300 yards rushing in the last three games and I just don't know why, except that maybe I'm not giving enough credit to Merrillville (7-5), which was the foe on two occasions. QB Casey Martin (86 of 161, 11 TDs, 10 INTs) was 8-of-19 for 152 yards and four interceptions against Merrillville in last week's season-ending 21-14 loss. Seven of Martin's interceptions came in two games against Merrillville. Martin's back-up quarterback next year will be Kyle Yelton, the son of Merrillville coach Jeff Yelton. Kyle will QB against his dad in 2005.

6.) Griffith (7-5)

Jack Kosinski (164 carries, 1,862 yards, 23 TDs) was held to 45 yards and just 7 carries in a 16-14 loss to Andrean. The Panthers lost to Munster, Lowell (11-2), Chesterton and Andrean (12-1) twice. Not a bad year. The Panthers bring back QB Rich Lehmann in 2004 with Drew Rogowski and LB Nick Lam-Chi (6-3, 191). Nick Lehman (5-11,181) is back for 3 more years. On the surface, the Panthers lose a lot of linemen. But the Panthers have some very big underclassmen and like Lowell, they always seem to develop linemen over the summer.

7.) MERRILLVILLE (7-5)

Merrillville and 1,200-yarder rusher Brandon Mosely went beyond where they should have so it was a successful year. Mosely had 4 TDs in his final game. QB Evan Parker (36-of-80, 400 yards) returns and the Pirates have a lot of speed returning next season. The Pirates lost to Crown Point, Valparaiso, LaPorte and Portage (11-2) twice. Merrillville rolled up 348 total yards against the Indians. Not a bad year. The future includes QB-WR Jimmy Reitz, QB Evan Parker for 2 more years and all-area deep back Brad Woodward, who led the area with 11 interceptions and WR Kevin Marsh (24 catches, 299 yards). Michael Binder (30 XPs, 3 FGs) returns as the good kicker and the new Pirate tailback may be Bo McClendon (5-10, 175). The Pirates intercepted 25 passes in 12 games and the 2004 question is, will they have the same speed on defense?

8.) CROWN POINT (5-5)

CP lost to Portage (11-1) twice, LaPorte (6-4), Chesterton (7-4) and Lowell (11-1). The Bulldogs are the only team to lose to both Lowell and Portage. It wasn't a bad year. QB Matt Cowan (116-216, 1,543 yards, 15 TDs and 9 INTs, plus 140 carries, 546 yards) would be an all-area player if his team had progressed further in the state tournament. Same is true of WR Aaron Miller (60 catches, 937 yards, 9 TDs). With the late season run of Lowell and Hobart, CP's 1st two opponents next fall, the Bulldogs' 2004 schedule looks tougher than 2003's slate, which was rated among the top 40 in the state. It will be very difficult for CP to do better than 5-4 during the regular season next year.

9.) Valparaiso (5-6)

Valparaiso gave up 500 yards to Portage in a 24-14 loss, but VHS had a good rebuilding year losing twice to Portage (11-2), Chesterton (7-4), CP (5-5) and LaPorte (6-4). Jon Moon (92-of-182, 1,293 yards, 11 TDs, 11 INTs) returns next year as does WR Colin McShane (32 catches, 564 yards), HB Jeff Brandt (156 carries, 1,126 yards), HB-LB Bo Gilliland (109 carries, 613 yards and 107 tackles) and TE Sam Mathias (24 catches, 406 yards). Add in DE Bill Danura, who had 68 tackles and eight sacks and the Vikings will be a DAC title favorite in 2004.

10.) Hobart (5-7)

The reality is... Hobart lost to three teams that were still playing in week 13: Andrean, Portage and Lowell, twice. With Mark Drobac (178 carries, 764 yards) and TJ Pope both returning next year plus big Adam Bailey (6-4, 350) to lead the line with Kyle Gonzales set to take over at QB, the Brickies will be the 3rd best team in the LAC next year behind Lowell and Andrean. Look for much more of a multiple offense from the Brickies, who won't be crushed in the opening two games against Portage and Crown Point. Here's another team that overachieved but the day is coming when Hobart will rule this league.

JUDGMENT Day is coming....

for Bishop Noll (11-1)

Bobby Kimp (162 carries, 1,063 yards) returns at QB and his small senior class has to come along for the ride. Where are the boys? Noll needs numbers. They need people out of the halls and freshmen of note. It's not that hard to win in Class 2A and sometimes surprises show up at the doors of Catholic schools. But the flip side of that advantage is there's no feeder system. Andrean and Noll appear to be going through times of diminished enrollment as schools for several reasons (including higher standards, economic hard times), but there's no reason Noll can't dominate in 2A locally like Andrean does in 3A. The Russ Radtke-influenced (and Eric Schreiber implemented) running offense should make "Our Lady of Griffith" into a winner again eventually. But eventually could be next year if some more boys would only come out for the team.