The RENEGADE

2006 Pre-season: NW Indiana High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

8-13-2006

CROWN POINT (8-13-2006) Last year is an example of the unpredictability of high school football. During the 2005 regular season in Northwest Indiana, Griffith. Crown Point and Whiting always came out on top, posting records. Everybody knew that Merrillville was strong while LaPorte and Morton showed a lot of life.

But on the day the season ended, absolutely no one would have seriously guessed that the final team remaining alive in the six week IHSAA playoffs would be Lowell. And when Lowell rallied from double-digit deficits three consecutive times and won the state title with a 28-27 victory over three-time defending state champ Roncalli, it proved the "on-any-given-day" theory of sport.

So who will be the 'Lowell' of 2006? Or is that a once-in-lifetime thing?

NW Indiana has not had a big school state champion in 30 years and that streak is unlikely to be broken with three-time 5A champion Warren Central loaded up (15 returning starters) to go for an unprecedented fourth straight. The battle between arch-rivals Crown Point and Merrillville should be renewed twice while LaPorte running back Airrence Shark could run his way towards 2000 yards.

State champs (2004-3A-Andrean, 2005-4A-Lowell) have come out of the 16-team Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) in each of the last two seasons and there is an outside shot that Griffith can make it three in a row. But powers Northwood and Bishop Chatard blocks everyone's path in 3A. Bishop Noll, with 15 returning starters and North Judson with 13 returning players, figure to meet in the post-season in Class 2A. Class 1A has some very strong teams state wide, but some eyes in NW Indiana will be on South Newton and 2,000-yard passer Eric Watt (6-3, 175) and South Central, with 18 returning starters.

One thing that's going to affect everyone early is the heat. The season begins early (Aug. 18) and it's been a 90-degree happy summer. Smaller, quicker teams may do well early as opposed to bigger, more powerful squads. Opening day looks like a mid-80s smoker and the first three weeks will test everybody's conditioning.

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

WR Matt Ernest #15 returns for his senior season to help anchor an explosive Crown Point passing attack. Soph RB Evan Nikrin #30 saw considerable action in the Aug. 11 scrimmage with Highland.

CROWN POINT - The Bulldogs are coming off the best season in school history and have juggled their roster to rebuild a defense that was No. 1 in least points allowed in Class 5A in 2005. 2005 offensive starters Danny Byrd, Zach Cecich and Zach Brumm will all move to the defensive line in 2006 and their offensive replacements will determine how good this team will be.

QBs Blake Mascarello (27-56, 458 yards - 6 games) and Marcus Shrewsbury will vie for the signal caller role. Game breakers Jon Sertich (135-805 yards rushing), Matt Ernest (17-313 yards receiving -6 games) and Ryan Forney (26 catches, 472 yards) all return as well as fullback Tommy Parks (5-11, 205).

The Bulldogs return two offensive linemen. 2005 junior all-state center Adam Krumwied (6-5, 245) has moved to guard and he could team with tackle Kurt Wermers (6-4, 275) to give CP an anchor in running and pass protection. These heights and weights indicate that CP will be a physically imposing team in 2006. The offensive line will average about 245 pounds per man.

The tight end spot features a project, Matt Osojnicki (6-6, 200), a track hurdler, playing just his second year of football. He could be an impact player in CP's three and four wide receiver sets.

Sertich (5-9, 170) at safety and Mike Damjanovic (6-0, 220) at end or linebacker will lead the defense, which won't match the 2005 squad's statistical achievements early, but could get tough late. Ernest (6-2, 175) will probably spend some time at corner and here are eight candidates for five spots in CP's 21st Century '35' (three lineman-five linebacker) defense. There are questions at kicker and all the linebackers are new, but this team should average 28 points a game.

Crown Point is on the doorstep of becoming the dominant team in the DAC. They have consistent depth for two platoons and the junior class is very strong. Whoever the QB is (looks like Mascarello) will probably play for the next two years. Give them a kicker and stability at linebacker and they win the DAC again. I would not pick them to go 9-0 again as Portage, LC, Chesterton and Valparaiso will be stronger than in 2005. Somebody will knock them off once or twice. But with the size of the line, the experience of the backs and the skill level of the receivers, there is the possibility here of a level of multiple offense not seen in this area in Class 5A since the powerful Portage teams of the mid 90s.

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

GRIFFITH - Griffith outscored the opposition 460-64 in 14 games in 2005. They were almost as dominant as they wanted to be. I can't know, but I guess they eased up after leading 10-0 against Northwood, losing 17-10 in the semistate, or they'd have gone 14-0 and won the state title. The Panthers probably still don't know how they lost that Northwood game.

Seven starters return on offense, but in the offensive line, center Zach Udchitz (5-9, 191) and tackle Anthony Zardnt (5-9, 185) are all that played last year. Still, if they can come up with three good linemen (and they usually do), the points should keep coming as 1,000-yard fullback Doug Ashenbaugh (6-3, 185), and potential all-area WR David Alexander (6-3, 171) are all back in 2006. Ashenbaugh carried 161 times for 1,027 yards in 13 games. Alexander caught 20 passes for a ridiculous 460 yards. Matt Alvaraez, a senior HB, may not play this year due to injury.

Defensively, tackles Dan Calhoun (6-1, 221) and Jake Gazarkiewicz (5-11, 271) both return with potential all-state end Ben Geffert (6-5, 255), linebacker Eric Ritter (5-11, 205), linebacker Nate Lehman (6-3, 195) and defensive back Bryant Hobbs (5-11, 175). Geffert made 88 tackles last year and refuses to be blocked one on one. Late word is that Griffith filled their week one vacancy (SB Riley refused to play them anymore) with Lew Wallace. That's going to give the Panthers six home games, an advantage they don't need.

The Panthers need a new QB and it will be converted receiver Corey Nash (5-11, 169). But Griffith runs the same system they have for 10 years and I don't think they need a great QB as much as they need a consistent and mistake-free one. The Panthers don't ask the QB to win the game like they do at CP or Morton or Portage. Griffith will be dominant at mid-season. The Panther pass defense will be tested in week two against Chesterton and again in week eight against Andrean. But, barring a series of injuries, I'm not sure who in the LAC is going to beat them except themselves. Griffith sometimes seems to get overconfident when the wins early come easy.

Andrean in week eight is big swing game, but the Panthers can't just coast and hope to turn it on then. Griffith won't have the passing attack they had in 2005, but that's a plus. The Panthers do the other team a favor when they pass, because the Griffith triple option can be unstoppable when they run it correctly. I've heard about Dre Cobb (5-10, 175), the new tailback and he'll get plenty of chance to prove himself.

Coach Russ Radtke should hang a Northwood jersey up in the locker room from now until November.

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

VALPARAISO - Valparaiso's 5-5 season last year included losses to No. 10 Merrillville, No. 7 Penn, No. 2 Crown Point (twice) and No. 9 LaPorte. So those who did not see them were unaware of how good they were. It won't be a secret this season as the Vikings return 16 starters and a good amount of size.

The Vikings got 1,100 yards rushing from Hollis Ballard (186-1,031 yards, 8 TDs) who will return this season. Valpo also found an excellent place-kicker in Colin Krupchak and they return a fine young QB prospect in junior Alex Sarkisian (6-1, 175) plus WRs Travis Allen (6-5, 195) and Brent Sever (6-3, 195).

Sarkisian was 17-of-25 in the scrimmage against Munster. Ballard (6-1, 175), running behind Logan Kirby (6-1, 210), Tyler Doane (5-10, 220) and Mike Wendahl (6-4, 235) should allow the Vikes to control the ball. You have to run the ball in the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) or you're going to get beaten up.

The defense returns almost everyone including Doane, a junior all-starter at defensive end. Sever and Nick Rodich (6-1, 190) return in the secondary off a team that allowed only 115 points (12.7 per game) during the regular season.

Valparaiso opens with Penn again so things won't look good immediately. But I thought Valpo was the third best team in the DAC last year, which basically means they were the third best team in NW Indiana. It's hard to tell what Merrillville has and athletically, they are probably superior to Valpo. But only Merrillville and Crown Point broke down this defense in 2006 and the Valpo defenders should be better in 2006. Valparaiso always finds out how good they are on opening night and they make corrections with a rout of Gary Roosevelt in week two. Here is the No. 1 contender to Crown Point's DAC title.

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

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers don't have to bounce back in 2006 because they were 8-2. The 2004 state championship team also lost twice and the defeats were worse than the 2005 losses. With QB Jesse Repay (97-162, 1,248 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs) and receivers George Dravet and Ron Burton coming back, the 59er offense, which was lacking at times in 2005, will be much-improved.

The 59ers need more of a running game to control the clock and Chandler Bowens (5-5, 150) may grow into a 1,000-yard man. Linebacker Matt Ryan returns to lead the defense after being the 59ers' third leading tackler in 2005 and Bobby Puchalski anchors the line although, if this weight is accurate, Lamont Taylor (5-11, 305) is a serious anchor.

Coaches say that juniors aren't juniors anymore after they play nine or 10 games but they know that's not really true. The difference between juniors and seniors in football is confidence and physical size. Ryan (6-0, 195), Mackin (6-3, 235) and Puchalski (6-3, 235) are all bigger than they were in 2005 and size does matter.

Remember, Lowell lost fewer games in 2004 than they did in 2005 when they won the state title. The key is a returning starting QB and Andrean has that. The 59ers do ask the QB to be a spectacular player and Repay certainly can be that. Chesterton will test the defensive secondary and the pass rush on opening night, but the Niners scrimmage Penn so they won't be shocked by Chesterton's level of offensive talent.

Andrean has won so many games the last three years they know that the final score in August and September is not the most important thing in the world. The 59ers are looking at two games against Griffith and they only need to win the second one.

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

MERRILLVILLE - Merrillville lost 15 starters from last year's regional championship team and there's a tendency to think less of them. But the Pirates return three offensive linemen in Brandon Usher (5-10, 240), Doug Spencer (5-11, 230) and Cordero Acre (6-3, 265) and that's going to result in a stable offense for senior rookie QB Josh Raspopovich (6-4, 195), described as a better-than average thrower. Eric Williams is a ball carrying (55-373 yards last year) and pass catching (14 catches, 125 yards) threat who should total well over 1,000 yards if he stays healthy behind this line.

In a league of quality passing teams (Chesterton, Crown Point), Merrillville returns both corner backs in Drew Dawson (5-8, 145) and Steve Burney (6-1, 165). The newcomers on defense reportedly have size and speed, but almost no experience. Kicker Ryan Stokes is good from 40 yards in. He hit a 36-yarder last season. I would totally ignore the scrimmage where Griffith out played Merrillville. Griffith outplayed Merrillville in the scrimmage in 2005, as well. The Pirates did fine. They don't prepare for Griffith.

There is the core of a good team here and you would predict a slow start, but East Chicago is the first opponent and Highland is the week two foe. Merrillville is athletically superior to those teams, but they need to improve a lot in those eight quarters. The Pirates will clearly be more effective late in the year than they will be at the start. But if Merrillville is 4-1 after five games, they should be very happy with that.

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

HOBART - The Brickies could become an offensive powerhouse with Junior QB Josh Miracle (127-261, 1,603 yards, 12 TDs, 17 INTs) and top receivers Bobby James (43-571 yards) and Michael Brown (43-547 yards) both back.

I liked what little I saw of junior Andrew Jackson (6-2, 235) at tailback and I believe half of the offensive line returns. There's a chance Jackson could move into the line or to tight end and block for junior Jeremy Coons (113 -476 yards, 4 TDs), but I'd like to see the Brickies make him the dominant back. I wouldn't be shocked to see Bobby James (6-3, 205) moved into the backfield eventually, but he'll be at WR this year. James is only a sophomore, but he's the future of Hobart football.

With Lowell and Morton a notch less, Hobart will contend for the league title in 2006 and they get 16 starters back to take a shot at it. But nobody cares about the LAC title. Two state champs have come from the LAC in the last two years and neither won the league chairmanship.

The Brickies are 1-5 against Lowell in the last 3 years and that's where their ultimate focus must lie. Hobart has top-10 teams Crown Point, Griffith and Andrean on the schedule, but they certainly know that the road to the high country goes through Lowell and you have to stop the run to beat the Devils. Lowell has eliminated Hobart from the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and the Brickies probably are very much tired of that.

With a senior QB and significant skill players, this simply has to be the year Hobart takes down Lowell in Sectional 17, but the big dogs walk late. The Brickies close the season at Lowell on Oct. 6 and at Griffith on Oct. 13 and those are back-to-back final exams. Hobart has to stop the run on those nights or they'll be watching the regional championship game from the stands.

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

CHESTERTON - This team should move up this year if they can run the ball to compliment junior quarterback Alex Beierwalter (158-291, 2,060 yards in 2005) and keep their defense off the field. Beierwalter (6-2, 195) threw the ball too much (26 times a games) last year for Chesterton to win consistently and I think the Trojans know that. All his receivers return but junior linemen Sam Harmison (6-1, 302) and Mark Vandenburgh (6-3, 302) have to help the offensive line control the ball, because Beierwalter can't throw two out of every three downs against DAC caliber pass rushes and secondaries.

TJ Doyle (6-2, 215) will back up a line that has four returning starters, but again, just because guys return on defense, does not mean they will stop people they didn't stop 12 months earlier. You'd like to give the Trojans a 6-3 record this year, but to get there they're going to have to beat Griffith, Crown Point, Merrillville or Valparaiso, all teams that beat them decisively in 2005.

Trojan games will be very exciting, because even though the defense returns eight starters, they return eight starters off a group that gave up almost 400 yards a game. The Trojans have Andrean and Griffith right off the bat and if they can split those two, this should be a very good year for them.

8.) 5A Portage
2005 (2-8), 2004 (8-4), 2003 (11-2)

PORTAGE - The improvement of 16 returning starters will erase the 2-8 record, but like Chesterton, just staying in school 12 months doesn't automatically make you a better player. Vance Johnston will probably be the new QB and he has a lot of experienced receivers in Billy Doll (5-11, 160) and Bob Barnas (6-2, 190). Senior running back Nate Milligan (5-10, 180) will run behind Jordan Davis (6-2, 245) and Tony Bohling (6-2, 250).

Portage lost five games by 10 points or less. They should have a winning season, especially with eight defensive starters back, including corner back Albert Evans (6-1, 190). Milligan and Doll are two-way players.

South Bend Washington, South Bend St. Joe and Lake Central at the start of the season give Portage a chance to get off to a fast start. This defense should have good speed and that will help when the big teams come to town in the second half of the year.

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

LOWELL - The Red Devils should have a solid defense by mid-season and the running game will get going. Defensively, the ends should be Mike Staniewicz (6-7, 265) and Jeff Barker (6-5, 187) and Josh Kuiper will play some linebacker and safety in Lowell's 4-4 defense after he had 71 tackles in 2005.

Halfbacks Steffan Peck (5-6, 165) and Max Znika (6-0, 175) both did well in secondary roles last season and should be able to gain significant numbers in 2006. Fullback Danny Remboski (6-0, 191) should add the tough yards and blocking punch. The entire Lowell offense is based on the offensive line and running game. Staniewicz is a quality blocker and Lowell has some decent size among the new linemen like Andrew Steuer (6-0, 222) and Geno Wentworth (6-2, 225). Barker is the tight end and he'll be a big goal line threat.

The key to the whole thing will be Kuiper at quarterback. He's a better than average passer and a three-sport leader who is a point guard and catcher, the leadership positions in basketball and baseball. It would be surprising if he did not do well at QB. Lowell returns experienced kicker David Lang who will add points on stalled drives and defensive back Lukas Palmer figures to move into a significant role.

Here's the reality about Lowell. They have a lot of time to get better. The Devils open with Crown Point and Griffith in the first three games and it would be a major upset if they won either one. Game four is Morton and game five is Andrean. Lowell needs to find a way to be 2-3 or 3-2 after five games. The state title team went 1-4 and came back to excel, but I'm not sure this team can ride that horse. If the Devils can avoid injury and play well in week five against Andrean, they will again accelerate down the stretch and play Hobart for the sectional championship.

10.) 5A LaPorte
2005 (9-2), 2004 (7-4), 2003 (6-4)

LaPORTE - The Slicers are new at a lot of positions, but running back is not one of them. Senior Airrence Shark (6-0, 222) is a two-time 1,000-yard rusher who will give defenders a hard time. He gained 85 yards on 10 carries in the scrimmage. Senor Grant Hofder (6-1, 210) leads a largely new offensive line, which may include Tyler James (6-3, 280) and Ricky Salary (5-9, 251) but Shark doesn't need much. Senior quarterback Adam Creed (6-1, 165) has good potential.

Defensive starters should include tackle Darren Kincaid (6-6, 240). The Slicers were good in the scrimmage against Logansport and they always play the blitzing '46' defense, which relies on speed more than strength. LaPorte will be a little conservative this season, but I like their offensive line blocking ability on a lot of schools on their schedule that have had to rebuild their defensive fronts.

This is not a DAC title contender, but they have a running game and a run defense. The Slicers have a major upset in them. It's just a matter of who.