A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
10-03-2007
MERRILLVILLE (10-03-2007) -
It's always dangerous to
put too much stock in one regular season
week's results. Any 'statement' you make on one Friday
can be slapped out of your mouth the next
week. That's the way high school football
works. That's why it's always best to let
your play do your talking. Some of the
things that appeared to be the truth after
week six disappeared after week seven.
Valparaiso's one week as a sectional and regional darkhorse and as "the team that gets no respect" ended when 5A Sectional One favorite Merrillville dropped 55 points on them in a 42-point rout on Valpo's home field last Friday.
Lake Central's 'no respect' card was canceled when they allowed almost 500 total yards in a 31-24 loss at Chesterton. LC's defense, renowned as one of the region's best after doing well against three weak offenses in August, now has allowed 111 points in four weeks and is looking for answers.
These are just examples. It's OK to lose. It's part of the game and a valuable experience. But it can prove embarrassing to talk about how good you are before you have posed for pictures with any trophies. Football people all belong to the same fraternity. A brotherhood. It always disappoints me when coaches and players choose to revel in whatever luck they've had with the bounce of the ball and liken the scoring of more points to value and honor, as opposed to how lucky they are to be coaching and playing this high-profile game every Friday night. Translation? Stop saying 'Nobody gives us any respect'. Just play the game.
Those who are wondering when the state tournament draw is, have a right to wonder. The matchups for the first round of the six-week Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state tourney is uncomfortably late, Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, just 10 days before the games are played. I assume this is done so schools that are both league and sectional rivals who might meet in week eight (Crown Point and Chesterton, Merrillville and Lake Central) will not know they are first round foes when they play that game. That might prevent week eight foes from playing a dumbed down, bland contest so as 'not to give anything away' for the winner-take-all meeting.
Coaches laugh at the concept of holding something back, contending that's not possible in an all-out contact game like football. They also argue that the regular season meeting (certainly this week's games involving DAC co-leaders Merrillville, Chesterton and Crown Point) also have meaning and that you don't want to get into controlling the future. But coaches are also the ultimate control freaks and they are not above setting up an opponent in an eighth week game that has been scheduled for a playoff rematch in week 10.
As frustrating as it is, maybe it's better that teams not know the pairings until as late as possible. Remember that all rankings are different. These don't pivot totally on what you did last week. They are supposed to be total grades on a sliding scale (last week is more important than last month) that includes the entire season. That's why this poll doesn't flip-flop wildly and teams don't move up three spaces. Although I did have Munster (2-5) in the Top-10 at the start of the year. I was hoping you wouldn't remember that.
1.)
5A Merrillville (6-1)
2006
(7-5), 2005
(11-3), 2003 (5-6), 2004 (6-5)
MERRILLVILLE
- I think everybody knew that Merrillville could drop more rain on your head than a Florida
weatherman, but the Pirates gave the DAC an
example with a 55-13 win over Valparaiso. The Pirates rolled up 500 total yards and
cornerback DeMarrreo Richardson intercepted
three passes and senior HB Roosevelt
Williams carried 17 times for 214 yards.
The worry here is that Merrillville needs to
not let other teams stay in the game so
long. Championship teams don't win nine
close games during the regular season. For
the future, Merrillville's question is: What
happens when the weather deteriorates?
They have a lot of speed that could be
nullified on a bad night.
The Pirates have been ranked No. 1 here
since they beat Warren Central and Griffith
in back-to-back weeks. Their only loss was
an overtime 20-17 week three loss at Crown
Point which is really considered a tie for
purposes of evaluation.
But they aren't living off August. Merrillville scored 69 points in four games,
but the Pirates have scored 131 points in
the last three weeks. There's a message
here. The window of opportunity for NW
Indiana teams to beat Merrillville may have
closed.
2.)
5A CROWN POINT (5-2)
2006
(12-1), 2005
(11-1), 2004 (4-7), 2003 (5-5)
CROWN
POINT - The
Bulldogs, who have lost a couple of double-digit leads in the second half this
year, didn't let it happen last week, winning 35-21 over LaPorte. Russell
Chick (34 carries, 226 yards, 3 TDs) just does not seem to wear down, setting a
career high single game rushing total and icing the game with a 42-yard run with
1:42 to play. Chick (198 carries, 1,119 yards) wasn't the only Bulldog on
the scoreboard last week as WR Danny Osojnicki and tight end Zach Cecich caught
TD passes from QB Blake Mascarello. CP has some injury problems on defense
and the secondary is a major concern. But as long as they can run the
ball, it would appear they've got a chance to beat anyone in this region. That
theory gets a serious test this week against once-beaten Chesterton (6-1).
CP is not a speedy team like Merrillville, but with their big offensive line,
they do figure to benefit from the weatherman once November is on the horizon.
3.)
4A Lowell (6-1)
2006
(7-6), 2005
(11-4), 2004 (9-4), 2003 (11-2)
LOWELL
-
The Devils
were strong defensively in a 24-0 win over previously undefeated Hammond high.
Senior safety Lukas Palmer intercepted two passes as the Lowell defense recorded
a fourth shutout this season.
Soph
HB Brandon Grubbe carried 26 times for 123 yards as Lowell just didn't give
Hammond many possessions. It's trivia, but Lowell has defeated three teams
(Crown Point, Hobart, Hammond) who are tied for the league in their leagues with
two weeks left. The Red Devils can't win any championships averaging 23 points
a game and that's a concern heading into the final two weeks against
high-scoring Munster (25.6 ppg.) and Andrean (31.7 ppg.). But the Devils still
have boys who played on the 2005 state championship team so the post-season
probably does not frighten them. 'Ground hogs' like Griffith and Lowell are
also the ultimate bad-weather teams.
4.)
5A Chesterton (6-1)
2006
(5-6), 2005
(3-8), 2004 (5-5), 2003 (7-4)
CHESTERTON
-
Chesterton rolled up 400 yards against Lake Central in a 31-24 victory that saw
senior QB Alex Beirwalter complete 15 of 25 passes for 295 yards and he ran 17
times for 104 yards. Zach Carnahan caught 10 balls for 141 yards and he
ran 13 times for 40 yards. The Trojans' offense has scored 20 points or more
six times this year, but the defense gave up 200 yards rushing which is a major
concern.
Chesterton has been favored in every game so far this season. That now ends as they close the season with Crown Point (5-2) and Merrillville (6-1). Truthfully, the Trojans should be 7-0 right now, but they can make up for any past sins with wins the next two Fridays.
5.)
4A Hobart (5-2)
2006
(10-2), 2005
(6-6), 2004 (9-2), 2003 (5-7)
HOBART
-
Here's where you need to be consistent. Hobart handed Munster its worst
loss of the season 41-7 last week as rookie QB Matt Barras had a career-best
18-of-24 passing game for 234 yards while all-state wide receiver Bobby James
caught nine balls for 137 yards and three TDs. Hobart has a 2-point loss
at Crown Point (5-2) and a three-point home loss to Lowell (6-1). Both
times they were beaten by field goals in the final minute. I don't
understand why folks who thought highly of them at the start of the year, now
have downgraded them. What's changed? That's why you can't put too
much weight on wins and losses. I suggest that the reduced role that senior
star tailback Andrew Jackson (110 carries, 547 yards, 12 TDs) has taken on in
the second half of the season is simply to save a high collision, 30 carries per
game running back for the post season and the bad weather games. Hobart
has allowed just 53 points all season, and if they can get healthy, they are
still the 4A Sectional Nine favorite.
6.)
3A ANDREAN (5-2)
2006
(8-3), 2005
(8-2), 2004 (13-2), 2003 (12-1)
MERRILLVILLE
-
Odd game
last week.
Andrean
trailed Kankakee Valley 19-6 before rallying to win 48-26. The Niners gave up a
season-high 243 yards rushing to a KV team that had been shut
out four
weeks in a row. I have all questions and no answers here. Andrean's given
up 800 yards rushing all year and they give up 200 to KV?
QB Austin Sutter is at 88-of-166 for 1,256 yards, 16 TDs and 12 interceptions. Sutter (6-2, 185) is also the pass-run threat that Andrean always seems to have. Receivers Josh Bronisz (6-1, 175) has 32 catches for 415 yards while John Kennedy (5-10, 165) has grabbed 28 balls for 489 yards. The running game still needs work, although speedy junior Kyle Kovach (5-8, 160) has an eye-opening 404 yards on just 53 carries. This is still a good team with a balanced offense, usually strong run defense and some speed. I just can't explain what happened in the first half last week.
7.)
4A Griffith (5-2)
2006
(12-2), 2005
(12-1), 2004 (9-3), 2003
(7-5)
GRIFFITH
-
The Panthers coasted by a no-contest game with Highland 46-7 as Griffith scored
five TDs of 25 yards or more. As odd as this may sound, the best thing about
this game was that David Alexander didn't score a TD. Griffith relied on
him far too much early in the season. These blowout games don't
necessarily help a team and Griffith did lay two fumbles on the ground.
That's 11 fumbles total and that's a traditional Panther problem I'd hoped
Griffith wouldn't have this season. The Panthers did intercept three
passes and held Highland to 16 yards passing. That matters as they face
top passer Austin Sutter of Andrean in what should be warm and dry weather
conditions this week. But the Panthers truthfully can't win the Northwest
Hoosier Conference title unless Hobart (5-2, 4-1) loses to Highland (0-7, 0-4)
and that's about as likely as Bill O'Reilly being voted president of the NAACP.
But they are a sectional and regional contender. The Panthers have only
lost to Merrillville (6-1) and Hobart (5-2). The big result for Griffith
this week is not the game at Andrean (5-2, 3-1) but the draw next Tuesday night.
The Panthers don't need to face Hobart again immediately.
8.)
5A Lake Central (5-2)
2006
(4-6), 2005
(2-8), 2004 (1-9), 2003 (1-9)
ST.
JOHN
-
Lake Central again trailed at half-time and
rallied, but they could not win at Chesterton, falling 31-24. What has
happened here defensively? To allow 111 points in four weeks is the
approach of the apocalypse in football terms. Chesterton QB Alex
Beierwalter completed 15 of 25 for 295 yards without his best wide receiver
(injured Austin Bower) against the slumping LC defense. All credit to the
Indians for producing another 200-yard rushing night, but when you allow 450
total yards, you are being shelled.
Why is LC below 4As Griffith and Andrean?
Because the Indians have not defeated a team with a winning record all season
and they have trailed at the half five times in seven games. LC has a lot
to prove and the next two games are Merrillville (6-1) and Valparaiso (4-3).
The Indians do not have an impact victory yet and that opportunity arises
Friday.
9.)
5A Valparaiso
(4-3)
2006 (3-6), 2005
(5-5), 2004 (6-5), 2003 (5-6)
VALPARAISO
- Valparaiso was crushed 55-13 at home by Merrillville.
The VHS defense, which had been shaky all season, got 'Pearl Harbored' for 500
yards by Northwest Indiana's premier team. Why don't they drop in the
poll? Because the No. 9 team isn't supposed to beat the No. 1 team.
Valpo's all-state candidate Alex Sarkisian completed just 13 of 36, with four
interceptions and one TD, but I would not downgrade him in the slightest.
10.) 3A New Prairie (5-2)
2006 (10-4), 2005 (9-2), 2004 (7-4), 2003 (6-4)
NEW
CARLISLE - The Cougars rallied in overtime to beat rival John Glenn 28-27 in
a game where they allowed 255 total yards and 19 first downs. Senior New
Prairie QB Cody Williamson carried 24 times for 167 yards, threw a 70-yard TD
pass, scored his teams overtime TD and kicked the game winning extra point.
Glenn (4-3) had won four in a row, but they lost to New Prairie for the 10th
time in a row. Williamson (5-9, 165), who averages 140 yards rushing per
game in NP's Veer option attack, scored three TDs and kicked four extra points.
The Cougars would have won in regulation time had not Williamson's 38-yard field
goal attempt been blocked. They do have other players on offense, including
some strong offensive linemen. It just doesn't seem like it sometimes.
New Prairie was 11-2 last year and 12-2 in 2004 and they are accustomed to
winning. This year, they've lost only to 5A LaPorte (2-5) and Jimtown (7-0).
And I'd bet they are getting tapes of 3A Sectional 17 foe Andrean, because I can
almost guarantee Andrean is getting tapes of New Prairie.
On the outside looking in...
11.) 5A LaPorte (2-5)
2006 (10-4), 2005 (9-2), 2004 (7-4), 2003
(6-4)
LaPORTE -
I just can't quit them. They lose, but
they look good doing it. Consecutive losses to 5A league rivals: 35-21,
22-20, 31-28 and 42-28. All against winning teams and all competitive
efforts. Soph QB Dustin DeMuth continues to improve. He was 12-of-19
against Crown Point in the 35-21 loss. Running back Carlton Austin ran 20
times for 106 yards. Receiver Andrew Vaughn (6-4, 180) grabbed eight
passes for 106 yards and he's at 29 catches for the season for 384 yards.
LaPorte has allowed more points (188) than they have scored (153) and 153 points
in seven games is almost 22 points a game. If you're averaging almost 22
points a game and you're 2-5, your problem is not offense. But LaPorte always
gives up a lot of points and yards and they've been able to pull the defense
together late in the year. Every team LaPorte has faced so far is either
6-1, 5-2 or 4-3. All of them. The Slicers weekly prove then can
compete. Now, with two sub-.500 teams, Michigan City (2-5) and Portage
(3-4) next, LaPorte needs to prove they can win.
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2007 USA-365.com and Meyer
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Revised: October 03, 2007
.