A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
11-21-2006
CROWN
POINT (11-21-2006)
The toughest week of the season claimed Griffith again, as a long ride to
Norwell and a second half rush buried the Panthers 35-7. If you look back
at the last few years, it comes to you that you need to be at home for the
semistate game. The 1997 Griffith title team won a road semistate and the 2004
Andrean team did, too, although playing at New Prairie was hardly a road trip
for the 59ers.
But Lowell has reached the semistate level three times. They are 1-0 at home and 2-0 on the road. In Hobart's four state title years, they won the semistate at home three times. The distance is an issue. The travel is an issue. LaPorte didn't even seem to be the same team last week when they got to Carmel. I give Concord a lot of credit for winning both the regional and semistate away from home, but it is different for teams in the Central time zone. They either lose an hour in time on Friday night or they push the game to Saturday, upsetting the routine.
The answer: There is a proposal to play semistate games indoors in Indianapolis. I assume that four 1A and 2A games would be played Friday while six 3A, 4A and 5A semifinal games would be played Saturday with the winner returning for the finals.
There are advantages. Far more boys get to play in the RCA Dome, which is a major thrill. Plus, the IHSAA makes more money because more people will show up to an indoor arena than will sit outdoors for two hours in late November. The downside, and the killer here, is that the RCA Dome people won't just give up the Dome for two days because they love teenagers. They want to get paid. Would the total of extra paying fans (indoors as opposed to outdoors) pay for the rent of the Dome? Possibly.
But hosting a semistate is such a big advantage I don't see the IHSAA voting to move the semistates indoors just because it's more fair. And truthfully, since Indianapolis area folks don't have to travel that far to semistate games (there is no distance from Indianapolis to anywhere in the state that equates what Lowell or Hobart would have to do to get to Muncie Central) they may not see a problem. With that said, at the start of the year, Griffith was given the best chance of reaching the state finals and they had the best chance. They just didn't get it done.
The NUMBERS GAME: Bishop Chatard (7) and Cathedral (5) have a combined
12 state titles. Concord's Bobby Cira has 45 touchdown passes in 14 games.
In three years, Cira has thrown for 8,000 yards. LaPorte's Airrence Shark (362
carries, 2,108 yards) is NW Indiana's 11th 2,000-yards rusher. Lowell's Scott
Gray (323 carries, 2,336 yards) is Northwest Indiana's all-time record holder.
Remember this very simply name. Rod Smith (6-2, 197) has gained 1,600
yards this season for Fort Wayne Harding. He is a 14-year-old freshman.
Harding's 28-0 shutout of Jimtown was the first shutout loss for the Jimmies in
seven years and the worst Jimtown home loss in 27 years. Carmel has not
allowed a TD in 20 playoff quarters. That streak will end Saturday against
top-ranked Warren Central, where halfback Darren Evans has scored 56 touchdowns
in 14 games.
1.)
5A CROWN POINT (12-1)
2005
(11-1), 2004 (4-7), 2003 (5-5)
CROWN
POINT -
Crown Point had an outstanding season, but greatness eluded them when they lost
in overtime 28-21 at LaPorte in the 5A regional finals. It couldn't have felt
good when LaPorte got bombed the next week (Nov. 17) 34-0 at Carmel in the
semistate. The Bulldogs are 23-2 over the last two seasons, the best record in
NW Indiana (Griffith is 25-3) and they had several statistical highlights.
Jon Sertich was near 1,500 yards rushing. Matt Ernest was just under 1,000
yards in pass receptions and Blake Mascarello was over 2,000 yards passing.
In two games with LaPorte at LaPorte, CP lost one in overtime. The Bulldogs
were the better team. CP narrowly beat Portage twice at Crown Point.
CP was the better team. CP beat Merrillville twice. They stopped LAC
champ Hobart and beat 4A sectional champ Lowell. Unless you argue that
Griffith is better, CP is a clear cut No. 1. They return a lot and they'll need
it. CP will open the 2007 season with sectional champ Lowell (7-6), LAC
champ Hobart (12-2) and arch-rival Merrillville (7-5).
2.)
3A Griffith (12-2)
2005
(12-1), 2004 (9-3), 2003
(7-5)
GRIFFITH
-
I'd have ranked Griffith ahead of Crown Point if they'd have won the state
title. But CP defeated a Hobart team that stopped the Panthers. There
were some controversial calls in Griffith's 35-7 loss at undefeated Norwell in
the semistate title game, but the Panthers committed five turnovers. You
shouldn't win with five turnovers. Griffith is better than LaPorte because
LaPorte has four losses and won two other in overtime. Griffith lost to Hobart
(10-2) and Norwell (14-0), two league champs. The Panthers are 25-3 in the
last two seasons. Maybe they need a tougher opening schedule.
They'll take care of that when the face Merrillville next August.
3.)
5A LaPorte (10-4)
2005
(9-2), 2004 (7-4), 2003 (6-4)
LaPORTE
-
LaPorte had an outstanding season despite the 34-0 loss to Carmel in the Class
5A semistate on Nov. 17. State tourney upsets of Penn and Crown Point ended the
stigma that the Slicers fold up early in the playoffs. All-time leading rusher
Airrence Shark surpassed the 2,100-yard mark in 14 games. 10 wins is a school
record. The Slicers were lucky to come from behind to win in the second
half (down 7 or more points 5 times) as often as they did. Defensively,
they allowed 24 points a game. That's not a blueprint for winning and
that's why there's a tendency to say they were lucky. Truthfully, I thought the
2005 LaPorte team was superior to the 2006 squad. But you don't always get
downstate with your best team. The Slicers lost to 3A New Prairie but NP was
11-2 so that's not a black mark. It would be close, but I think LaPorte would
beat Hobart.
4.)
4A Hobart (10-2)
2005
(6-6), 2004 (9-2), 2003 (5-7)
HOBART
-
It's still hard to figure out how, but Hobart was eliminated from the sectional
for the fourth consecutive year by Lowell. Maybe we're not giving Lowell enough
credit here because of early season wins and losses. Four turnovers gave the
Devils a 31-28 win in Hobart, even though the Brickie offense rolled up 500
yards. Andrew Jackson gained 200 yards rushing and scored three TDs, but QB
Josh Miracle was intercepted three times. Hobart's Bobby James (41
catches, 738 yards, 10 TDs) was double-teamed all night and shut out for a
second time by Lowell. The Brickies have two state class offensive skill
position players returning so they'll be a winning team again in 2007.
Would they beat Merrillville and Portage? I think so. But I would have liked
to have seen those games.
5.)
5A Merrillville (7-5)
2005
(11-3), 2003 (5-6), 2004 (6-5)
MERRILLVILLE
-
The Pirates were respectable in a 28-7 loss at 5A No. 3 Crown Point (12-1), but
too many Pirates were playing hurt and the running game just never materialized.
It's funny how things work. Lowell was great last year and are 7-5 this
year and they're celebrating. That's the difference between 4A and 5A.
Merrillville lost to LaPorte (10-4) and twice to CP so you can't call this a bad
season. Defensively, the Pirates improved as the season progressed and a
lot of players did get experience. The Pirates' defense was fine, but 32
turnovers indicates there's lots of offensive work to do. And they open
the 2007 season with Warren Central (14-0), Griffith (12-2) and Crown Point
(12-1). Maybe the toughest opening three games in the history of NW Indiana
high school football.
6.)
3A Portage (6-5)
2005
(2-8) , 2004 (8-4), 2003 (11-2)
PORTAGE
-
Portage's
win over LaPorte (12-2) and two close games with Crown Point (12-1) are looking
better every day. The Indians will need (and will probably get) significant
improvement from soph QB Jason Melcic and they don't need much improvement from
Albert Evans (254 carries, 1,602 yards, 15 TDs). But the core of the DAC's top
defense graduates, including tackles Tony Bohling (6-0, 240), and
linebackers Nate Milligan and Kevin Alvarado. Those boys' positions can be
filled but they probably can't be replaced. Would Portage have beaten
Merrillville late in the season? Probably. They were unlucky not to beat
Crown Point. The Indians, as it turned out, might have been one defensive stop
away fronm the semistate.
7)
4A Lowell (7-6)
2005
(11-4), 2004 (9-4), 2003 (11-2)
LOWELL
-
Lowell finished the season with a fourth consecutive sectional championship
before losing 33-14 to state finalist Concord (14-0). At the start of the
season, everyone who knew something about it thought that Concord would be too
tall a hill for anyone coming out of Lake County. That proved to be true.
Lowell will return anywhere from 16-18 starters next season (depending on
position changes), including defensive end Jeff Barker (14 sacks) and five
linebackers. The Devils must find a quarterback going into 2007, but would they
beat New Prairie and Andrean. I know Lowell did not beat the 59ers in
September, but I think we've established that after two sectional championship
seasons following 1-4 starters, that Lowell is better late in the season.
Would Lowell have beaten Portage? Uh. No.
8.)
3A ANDREAN (8-3)
2005
(8-2), 2004 (13-2), 2003 (12-1)
MERRILLVILLE
-
Andrean probably was on the way out of the state tournament when they lost
leading tackler Matt Meschede (97 tackles) for the season last month. Their 26-7
post-season loss at Griffith was just the official notice. The Niners had to
throw to win and QB Jesse Repay was just 13 of 33 in the rain. With some
personnel shake-ups, the 2006 Niners lost only three times. Twice to
Griffith (12-2) and once to Hobart (10-2), both top-10 teams. This was a
very good year for them, but I understand if they don't see that because the
standards here are very high. This team has a some big holes to fill for
2007, including QB Jesse Repay (118-217, 1,888 yards, 20 TDs, 11 INTs) but
Sectional 17 gets easier as Morton goes to 4A and Roosevelt drops to 3A. The
Niners will be changing their schedule, joining the Northwest Crossroads
Conference (NWCC). This was the sixth consecutive season that the 59ers
won at least eight games, so the tradition of success was upheld.
I'm not sure that the 59ers were healthy enough to beat the team above them
in this poll at the end of the season.
9.)
3A New Prairie (11-2)
2005
(6-4), 2004 (12-2), 2003 (8-3)
NEW
CARLISLE -
A fine battle with Culver Academy (9-3) produced a 26-20 win in their first home
sectional championship game.
Undefeated
Norwell (12-0) looms large for 'Griffith West" and that game will be played in
Allen County, not at the little house on the 'Prairie'. The Cougars have won 29
of 37 and the running game continues to be difficult to defend.
The Cougars were crushed by Norwell on a bad weather night, something that
should have worked for them. NP needs to change their schedule. The
Northern States Conference. except for Jimtown, is weak. New Prairie
should seek out someone like Morton or East Chicago to play. But this is
very high for a 3A team to be in this poll. I do believe they could have beaten
some 5A DAC schools this season.
10.)
5A Chesterton
(5-6)
2005 (3-8), 2004
(5-5), 2003 (7-4)
CHESTERTON
- The
Trojans lost to Crown Point (12-1), who won a sectional. They lost to
Griffith (12-2), who made it to semistate. They lost twice to Merrillville
(7-5), who lost twice to CP (12-1). The Trojans took Griffith and Portage to
overtime. The record here is really 5-4-2. If you look at it that way,
they are the 10th best team. Alex Beierwalter (179-314, 2,569 yards, 17
TDs, 20 INTs) returns next season. But Adam Hutnick (36-574 yards, 8 INTs)
does not. Neither does Travis Anderson (8 TDs) or Jeff Eminger (6 INTs) and
Nick Kokikanos (8 sacks). The Trojans got more hype than Michael Vick and
they are almost as inconsistent. Chesterton has a lot to do before next
year, but when you start with a two-year returning starting QB, get ready for
more great expectations next season. Would they beat New Prairie? When would we
play that game? In August, Chesterton wins. In November, New Prairie
wins. Chesterton has to find a consistent running game.
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2006 USA-365.com and Meyer
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Revised: November 21, 2006
.