The RENEGADE

2006 Week-9: NW Indiana High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

10-11-2006

CROWN POINT (10-11-2006) The top two teams stepped to the front and delivered smack downs that justified their position in the polls. Crown Point's 34-0 first half against a Chesterton team that tied Griffith was very impressive. Add to that Griffith's hard line 36-13 rejection of Andrean, and there was left no doubt about their room at the top.

With that said, I'm not sure it's a good year in either Crown Point's Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) or Griffith's Lake Athletic Conference Black Division. Outside of the top four -- CP, LaPorte, Portage and Merrillville, the DAC has been disappointing, especially Valparaiso and Chesterton. LC is doing as well as they can.

In the LAC, there clearly are three (Andrean, Griffith and Hobart) and then a gap to everyone else, despite that 7-0 Hobart-Lowell game. When you look at the worst team in both leagues, Michigan City (1-7) is vastly superior to Hammond (0-8) and Valparaiso (2-5, on the field) is a notch or two ahead of Highland (2-6). But if the Panthers and Bulldogs improve to 9-0, you are all authorized to put together your fantasy match ups of how that CP-Griffith game would go. It should be noted that only two (1975 Portage and 1989 Hobart) of NW Indiana's nine title teams in the 40 years of the sate tournament have completed an undefeated regular season and then gone on to win the state title. None of the great Warren Central 5A champ teams of the last three seasons were undefeated, although this one will be. For normal schools, it's always good to lose one and respond.

Griffith and Crown Point clearly don't want to be normal.

Very disappointing to see North Judson's 83-6 win over River Forest. There's no need for that. River Forest threw 34 passes, including 24 incompletions, so they kept giving the ball back to the Blue Jays, who I'm sure only ran the ball after halftime when the score was 63-0. Once the score gets to something like 70-0, you start running into the line and falling down. You run out of bounds. You do not keep scoring on a helpless team.

I know of no ill feelings between Judson and River Forest and the game was at River Forest so you can only play with the players you brought on the bus. But you tell your players not to score and you tell them why. River Forest has allowed 436 points in eight games and they aren't going to beat you. You also don't prove anything by scoring the 11th TD of the game against their worn out two-way players. RF (0-8) is trying to keep the program going and this is not something you do to boys who just want to keep playing the game. I have to believe it wasn't totally intentional. I'm sure North Judson was using freshmen and sophomores at the end and the Jays regret the final score. I would hope so.

We are lucky this season in NW Indiana, because in the final year of the LAC, both divisions come down to the final week. Hobart (7-1, 6-0) travels to Griffith (8-0, 6-0) to decide the LAC Black Division and Whiting (7-1, 6-0) travels to Kankakee Valley (7-1, 6-0) to decide the LAC Blue.

State wide, an interesting game matches 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard against Cincinnati, Ohio traditional power Elder (4-3) in Indianapolis. 3A schools state wide may get a reading on just how tough Chatard, a seven-time Indiana state champion which has allowed just 67 points in eight games against a 4A and 5A schedule, really is.

The NUMBERS GAME: The unfortunate 83 points scored by North Judson is NOT an all-time program high. Judson beat RF 65-0 in 2002 and Whiting 73-6 on Aug. 31, 1984. But the biggest beat down occurred when the Jays beat Caston 88-0 on Oct. 2, 1970.

Crown Point and Griffith have both won 17 consecutive regular season games and both are facing the team that last beat them (Michigan City and Hobart) this Friday. Kankakee Valley's Dustin Wilson has scored 27 touchdowns in eight games, but he now faces Whiting and Lowell in successive weeks, two strong defensive teams.

Lowell has been shut out for times this season. But remember, Lowell has had some very dark years in football. That's not a record. Lowell has been shut out four times in 15 different seasons. Lowell was shut out five times in 1923, 1932, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1983, 1985 and 1990. In '50, '51, '54 and 1965 Lowell was shut out four games in a row. On Oct. 2, 1926, Gary Froebel beat Lowell 100-0. The success Lowell has had in the last 15 years is very gratifying, because absolutely no one in NW Indiana has an uglier history in varsity football than Lowell.

Portage's Albert Evans gained 328 yards on 26 carries, a Portage school record. The NW Indiana record, I believe, is still held by John Story of Gary Roosevelt, who ran for over 450 yards in a game in the late 1980s.

5A No. 7 Lafayette Jeff QB Timmy Fogarty completed 10 of 12 passes last week for 308 yards. That's not a misprint. He averaged 30 yards per completion. 5A Goshen (4-4) gained 504 yards in a 41-38 loss to Plymouth. Penn defeated Elkhart Central 48-20 to clinch a tie for their 21st consecutive Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) championship. Penn QB Nick Keim was 14-of-18 for 58 yards while Elkhart receiver Nate Palmer caught nine passes for 234 yards.

1.) 5A CROWN POINT (8-0)
2005 (11-1), 2004 (4-7), 2003 (5-5)

CROWN POINT - Crown Point raced to a 34-0 lead and crushed Chesterton 41-21, clinching a tie for the Duneland Conference title. Jon Sertich gained 78 yards on 13 carries to become Crown Point's sixth 1,000-yard rusher. The hidden stat was again only one turnover (a blocked punt). CP has six turnovers all season. No one in NW Indiana is going to beat Crown Point if they can't get any turnovers. Passer Blake Mascarello was 13 of 21 for 211 yards and three TDs. He has two interceptions all season. CP goes for an unprecedented second consecutive undefeated season Friday (10-13-2006) at Michigan City. CP drew fading Lake Central (4-4) in the sectional quarterfinals.

2.) 3A Griffith (8-0)
2005 (12-1), 2004 (9-3), 2003 (7-5)

GRIFFITH - Griffith jumped to a 22-0 lead and routed 3A No. 6 Andrean 36-14. Fullback Doug Ashenbaugh gained 127 yards on 15 carries. The Panthers rushed for 309 yards against an Andrean team that had allowed only 79 yards a game rushing. Griffith easily forced Andrean to the air and won easily. They dominated the 59ers. Are they that good, as this poll suggests, or is Andrean just not an equal?

Griffith now hosts Hobart (7-1) in the final game of the regular season and we get more answers. But, while Crown Point might not be as good in cold weather, as the weather turns brisk, this should be Panther time. Remember, this team was 13-0 last year before they folded. They'll need to hear how much they choked last year. They need to use that. Right now, they need the challenge that Hobart provides. But, after last week's blowout, let the groundswell begin for the ultimate confrontation. First time ever: Griffith vs. Bishop Chatard. The self-proclaimed 'Bad Boys' vs. the all-time greatest football 3A school. It could have occurred several other times. Now, it should occur at high noon, Saturday, Nov. 25.

3.) 4A Hobart (7-1)
2005 (6-6), 2004 (9-2), 2003 (5-7)

HOBART - Hobart won a 'must' game, 7-0 in Lowell. The Brickies had to prove to themselves that they could win at Lowell. Hobart lost lineman Don Smith to a knee injury and that may hurt them this Friday at Griffith. The Brickies will do better against Griffith's defense than they did against Lowell's defense. But the 'D', led by LB Steve Gascy, has to buckle up to handle Griffith's 300-yards per game attack in 40-degree weather. Hobart has to come up with pass protection schemes to allow Josh Miracle to get 20 passes into the Panther secondary. That's where WRs Bobby James and Michael Brown can score the points to win this game. Big back Andrew Jackson (6-2, 220) and his line have to bring the pain over to Griffith.

4.) 3A ANDREAN (6-2)
2005 (8-2), 2004 (13-2), 2003 (12-1)

MERRILLVILLE - Andrean got roasted 36-13 by Griffith and they did go home char broiled. But this game didn't matter. The rematch on Oct. 27 does. Remember that Andrean's 2004 state title team was massacred 48-14 in week eight by Griffith and then came back and finished the Panthers off 36-35 in the playoffs. What worries you about Andrean is that Hobart and Griffith both rang up 36 points on the Niners defenders. You have two options if you can't stop someone you see again in three weeks. One: Different formations, blitzes and players, if you have time to make those changes. Two: You play more of a ball control offense to keep that offense you can't stop off the field. The Niners may not be able to do the former, but they can achieve the latter. Don't write this team off yet.

5.) 5A LaPorte (6-2)
2005 (9-2), 2004 (7-4), 2003 (6-4)

LaPORTE - LaPorte ran for 300 yards for the third week in a row as all-stater Airrence Shark posted four more touchdowns. Shark (225 carries, 1,360 yards, 21 TDs) has over 180 yards in each of his last four games and he has surpassed the 1,251 yards he rushed for last season. The Slicers' defense held MC to minus yardage rushing and that's good. But MC is 1-7 and with an all-new offensive line this season.

I will mention the offensive line of Mike Berdowski (6-2, 200), Brandon Cosby (6-0, 187), Tyler James (6-4, 273), Grant Hofer (6-2, 205) and Ricky Salary (5-9, 262) every week as long as LaPorte runs for 300 yards. The big deal in this game is that, after leading just 24-13 at halftime, LaPorte shut out MC in the second half. QB Adam Creed tried to get back on track with 11-for-23 for 158 yards passing. He's still under 50% for the last four weeks and he must be sharp, because sectional favorite Penn can stop Airrence Shark. The question is, will Portage stop Shark this Friday at Portage? This is a great test for the Slicers' offense.

6.) 5A Merrillville (5-3)
2005 (11-3), 2003 (5-6), 2004 (6-5)

MERRILLVILLE - Merrillville's offense jumped all over Lake Central with 42 points and 363 yards, but there are still major concerns here. Josh Raspopovich hit 13 of 29 passes for 244 yards. That's three 200-yard passing games in a row. But just 119 yards rushing? That's no where near what a powerful team must have. And the defense has still given up 110 points in three games, even though they did hold the Indians to just 95 yards rushing. Ryan Stokes was 6-for-6 on extra points last week and he hit a 41-yard field goal two weeks ago. Who is Darren Handley (5-6, 155) and why does he have four TDs of 60 yards or more this year? But the Pirates have to bring back the 'D'. There is no substitute. Especially when you have to play pass-happy Chesterton twice in the next three weeks. Time to get out the 'D' or get out the basketballs.

7.) 3A Portage (4-4)
2005 (2-8) 2004 (8-4) 2003 (11-2)

PORTAGE - Somebody has to put Albert Evans (157 carries, 998 yards) into the mix of the top running backs in this part of the state. You can't laugh off 328 yards on 26 carries and Evans is about to become the DAC's third 1,000 yards rusher this season behind LaPorte's Airrence Shark and Crown Point's Jon Sertich. How can a team that has scored just 56 points in six games, score 86 points the last two weeks? That's offensive line play. It has to be because the skill players haven't changed. Portage has another chance to chow down on a shaky defense this week when the host LaPorte. The Indians still don't throw the ball well, but that won't matter in 40-degree weather this Friday. The Indians have something to prove and they have plenty to bring to the table against LaPorte's 3-time 1,000-yard rusher Airrence Shark this week.

8.) 5A Chesterton (3-5)
2005 (3-8), 2004 (5-5), 2003 (7-4)

CHESTERTON - You can't get down on Chesterton for getting blown out by Crown Point, but the Trojans did get blown out. The Trojans were down 34-0 at the half and they're powerless on 'D'. Alex Beierwalter (132-228, 1,967 yards, 16 TDs, 12 INTs) had to throw 37 times last week and that's too many. The Trojans can't win as long as their defense is on the field 60% of the time. Chesterton had 46 offensive plays last week (that's right, only 9 runs) while Crown Point had 59. You can't live that way. This week, Chesterton has to balance that out a little more, especially with the weather deteriorating. I'd use top receiver Adam Hutnick as a runner. The offensive line needs a chance to beat up on those defensive linemen who beat on them on pass plays.

9.) 5A Lake Central (4-4)
2005 (2-8), 2004 (1-9), 2003 (1-9)

ST. JOHN - LC is moving the ball and scoring, but they're taking a beating on the scoreboard, losing 63-36 to Chesterton and 41-28 to Merrillville. The Indians have allowed 600 passing yards in two weeks and they've lost four of their last five. Four of their last five foes have scored 30 or more and there's probably not much they can do about it. Lake Central's 'revival' may have been a little premature. The Indians haven't played well since the second game of the year. But the game changes this week as temperatures dip into the 30s and that should bolster the crumbling LC 'D'. With Valparaiso (30.1 ppg.) and Crown Point (29.3 ppg.) in the next two weeks, something's got to.

10.) 3A New Prairie (7-1)
2005 (6-4), 2004 (12-2), 2003 (8-3)

NEW CARLISLE - New Prairie horsed up 455 rushing yards to punish out-manned LaVille 57-7 for their sixth straight win. The Cougars have 2,700 yards rushing in eight games, but the schedule has been so soft, they have to have doubts.

The early wins over LaPorte (6-2) and Jimtown (6-2) still look good, but the chill New Prairie feels this week is not the weather. They drew St. Joseph's (6-2) to open the state playoffs and New Prairie will have played 1A and 2A foes for seven consecutive weeks when that game arrives.

On the outside looking in...

11.) 5A Valparaiso (2-5)
2005 (5-5), 2004 (6-5), 2003 (5-6)

VALPARAISO - Valpo is simply giving up far too many points. They lost 51-21 to Portage last week, even though Portage completed just two passes. I don't know if any Valpo team has ever allowed 38 points a game and I also don't know if it's simply a product of the new offense-minded (5 of the DAC teams average 27 ppg. and five others allow 25 ppg.) DAC. But how can they allow 442 yards rushing? Still with Hollis Ballard (900 yards rushing) and a strong offensive line, here's another team that could rebound when the weather goes bad.

12.) 4A Lowell (3-5)
2005 (11-4), 2004 (9-4), 2003 (11-2)

LOWELL - Four top-10 foes and four shutout losses. But you can't write off a team that lost 7-0 to Hobart, 17-0 to Andrean and 17-0 to Crown Point. Max Znika ran for a career-best 130 yards last week and the Devils' defense held Hobart to just 224 yards. Here's a team that may really benefit from cold weather because they have completed only 35 passes all year and if bad weather closes the airlines, they're used to taking the bus. 50-degree weather Friday night won't affect this team's offense. Lowell got a favorable draw and they need only a win over Kankakee Valley (7-1) to reach the sectional title game for a fourth consecutive season.