USA-365's Week-10 NW Indiana High School Football Poll

MERRILLVILLE (10-25-2005) Predicted poor October weather did not materialize and scores went through the roof on opening night of the 2005 Indiana state high school football playoffs.

In 5A Sectional one, all four winning teams scored 40 or more points and in 5A Sectional 2, all four wining teams scored at least 45 points. In Sectional three, Snider, Homestead and Marion all scored exactly 42 points. North Judson, Griffith, Rensselaer and West Central all scored seven touchdowns. Downstate, Logansport dropped 65 points on Columbia City and Warren Central bounced back from their first loss in two years to beat Broad Ripple 75-14.

Some of these point parties occur because teams simply, like the University of Illinois, are too lame for the game. But some of this point-frenzy is because of the format that feeds weak teams up to powerhouses and allows everyone to reach the post-season. No one can be happy with teams getting slaughtered in their final high school game. Change is necessary, but we all know that the IHSAA is about as slow to get started as the Bears' Cedric Benson. Still, change is gonna come. When we get to 320 teams (Indiana is at 311 teams now with three more becoming playoff eligible in 2006) state wide, there MUST be a change in the post-season football format and it won't be a minute too soon.

The second week of the state tournament is usually very tough on favorites who still need two wins to take the sectional title. There's a real tendency to look ahead, especially if the No. 1 contender is in the other side of the bracket. The sectional semifinal week is unique because, for the first time all season, other players from other schools start to show up in the stands. Half of the state's teams were eliminated in week 10 and those boys become paying customers at other games the next Friday, boosting attendance. Maybe that's some thing the IHSAA should consider when someone suggests that some classes (1A and 2A) of the playoffs be held on Friday and others (3A, 4A and 5A) be held on Saturday, as they are at the state finals. If the IHSAA would ever break from tradition and try marketing their product (the state tournament) it would be a lot more popular.

MERRILLVILLE - Merrillville got out the whipping stick on Lake Central in a 41-3 rout. The Pirates have allowed 97 points all season and have held six teams to seven points or less. Merrillville grabbed three more pass interceptions, giving them 14 in the last four weeks and LC was held to 43 yards rushing. All-stater James Aldridge (160 carries, 1,027 yards, 16 TDs) gained 133 yards on 21 carries. Bo McLendon returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a 7-0 Pirate lead.

The Pirates' total of 189 yards rushing is still not where it should be. the Pirates average 190 yards per game rushing, which is low for an 8-2 team. Merrillville did not commit a turnover and that has been an issue. The Pirates lost a total of nine turnovers in their two losses. It is very surprising that with a 19-4 record in the last two years, the Pirates are given very little chance to win the sectional by local media. Merrillville is often a victim of its own expectations. Since they have been a very talented squad for three years, they have been branded as underachievers, even though they have losses in overtime to LaPorte (9-1) and on the road at Crown Point (10-0).

One of the more insane comparisons in NW Indiana in many years is the school of thought that because Griffith scored on Merrillville in the pre-season scrimmage, that Griffith has an equal or better team. That's like saying that Cheryl Crow is a better cyclist than Lance Armstrong because she beat him in a race last Sunday at the park with the kids.

Anyone who thinks Griffith could run the ball on Merrillville in a REAL GAME is either from Griffith, hasn't seen Merrillville or has gotten into some of that 'loco weed' they found over in Porter County. Could Merrillville lose to Michigan City Friday. Only if they turn the ball over four times.

The Bulldogs' Matt Ernest #15 goes up into the air to pull down a Matt Jansen pass as Ryan Forney #12 runs a counter pass pattern against Valparaiso in CP's 45-20 win 10-21-2005.

CROWN POINT - The Bulldogs are getting better offensively every week and they scored almost at will on Valparaiso in a 45-20 playoff victory last Friday. Matt Jansen tossed two TD passes to junior end Matt Ernest and ran for a third score. Donny Keiser kicked what is believed to be a state record-breaking 14th field goal.

The Bulldogs have averaged 40 points per game since Jansen returned at quarterback after six games on the disabled list. Matt Ernest has caught 11 passes in two games since he returned after missing seven games with injury. CP's defense gave up three TDs for just the second time this season and that is a concern, but the Bulldogs led 21-0 at the half.

CP has never won more than 10 games in a row, but they should go 11-0 in a home game against Chesterton (3-7) this Friday (Oct. 28). The question of whether CP is better than Merrillville is irrelevant because the real question is will they beat Merrillville on Nov. 4 if the Pirates beat Michigan City this week.

The Bulldogs don't want Chesterton's Alex Beierwalter throwing for 280 yards like he did against them on Oct. 7. They allow 150 yards passing per game and that's an uncomfortably high total. But there's no question that the sky is the limit for the now-healthy Bulldog passing attack, which consistently uses all the WRs and RBs. It's not like they're the White Sox pulling victories out of their rear end. The CP of October is much superior to the CP of August. You do worry they do not have any playoff experience and may not know how to handle the off-the-field aspects of playing in late October and early November.

Griffith's David Alexander #20 moves in to tackle Lowell's RB Scott Gray #6 in the Panther's 21-0 win at Lowell, 9-2-2005.

GRIFFITH - Griffith ran out to a 36-0 first quarter lead and dusted off Clark 64-7. Drew Rogowski scored three TDs. He is second in NW Indiana with 25 touchdowns, but he's playing with what appears to be as cast on his left hand. So I don't know how many times they want him carrying the ball this week against Gavit. The Panthers average 275 yards rushing and Matt Nelleman has thrown for 16 TDs with just two interceptions.

The truth is, nobody knows how good Griffith is. Some of the numbers are a little inflated due to games against Riley (2-8), Chesterton (3-7), Hammond (1-9) and Clark (3-7). With all due respect to Lowell (6-4), Andrean (8-2) and Morton (7-3), the Panthers haven't played an experienced, balanced offensive team all season and the state playoff draw says they might not for awhile.

With Andrean (8-2), New Prairie (6-4), Mishawaka Marian (8-2) all out of the tournament, it appears that only a better-than-average Twin Lakes (8-2) team stands between the Panthers and a date with either Heritage Hills (9-1) or Bishop Chatard (8-2) in the state title game on Nov. 26. Can a team go 14 games without a real serious test? Gavit and Morton (the probable next two foes) combined could not stay within 20 points of Griffith unless the Panthers fumble four times. Griffith is accustomed to hype with everyone telling them that every other game is the game of the century. It's highly unlikely they'll lose at the sectional level. For the next two weeks, the only team that can beat Griffith is Griffith.

RB Airrence Shark #34 scored a TD against CP on 15 carries for 52 yards for LaPorte, but the Slicers lost 35-14 to the Bulldogs, 9-30-2005.

LaPORTE - LaPorte scored early and often against overmatched South Bend Clay to open the state tourney with a 52-14 rout. Lance Juergensen hit 8 of 12 passes for 134 yards, 100-yard rusher Airrence Shark ran for his 14th TD and kicker Nick Ford booted a 42-yard field goal. The Slicers average 37 points and 350 yards a game. 6-foot-4 WR Kris Staats also went over 1,000 yards.

I don't know what Elkhart Memorial, which hasn't beaten anybody with a winning record, can possibly do about any of this in Friday's Sectional 2 semifinal (10-28-05) game. What worries you is 266 yards rushing for Clay. Everyone has run on LaPorte. They have given up 185 yards rushing per game and they seem to be unable to do anything about that weakness.

But 37 points a game goes a long way, until they get hit with a bad weather night. Or until they hit Penn. Is this the year somebody beats Penn in Sectional two?

LaPorte plays that Arena Football defense where you score 50 points, give up 35 and then talk about what a great effort you had.

Valparaiso's Hollis Ballard #23, who had over 1,100 yards rushing this season, returns for the Vikings as a senior running back in 2006.

VALPARAISO - Valparaiso ended the season with losses to No. 10 Merrillville, No. 9 Portage, No. 7 Penn and two losses to No. 2 Crown Point, the last one 45-20 last Friday (10-21-5). This was a good team that hit some serious opposition.

The Vikings did get 1,100 yards rushing from junior Hollis Ballard who will return in 2006. The Vikings averaged 300 yards a game and they found an excellent place-kicker in Colin Krupchak. VHS loses fullback Aaron Biggs (800 rushing yards) and star lineman Paul Kasperan (6-5, 280) plus QB Carl Hoefler. But Valpo never is without players. They'll return a full compliment of receivers, a young QB prospect in Alex Sarkasian (6-1, 163) and about half of their linemen.

The schedule doesn't change next season for Valpo, but the results just might. Truthfully, this will be looked back on as a good year even though the Vikings don't think that way now. Would Valparaiso beat Andrean, Lowell or Morton? I think they'd be favored by at least 10.

Andrean's QB Jesse Repay #12 throws pass in direction of John Kennedy #11 in 7-0 win over Lowell, 9-16-2005.

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers lost a 10-8 lead in the fourth quarter and lost in sectional play at Morton 24-10. It's the first time in five years that the 59ers have not won the sectional title.

Defensive back Chris Skinner could not play due to an injury suffered in the Griffith game on Oct. 7, but that may not have been the difference. Andrean had some major off-the-field issues (un-related to any present player) that had to upset the squad. The 59ers were not sharp in the final two games and actually should have lost to Munster on Oct. 14.

It's difficult to rank Andrean because they almost certainly had a better team than Morton, but the Governors were ready to play in week 10... and the 59ers, for whatever reason, were not. Some will consider this an off-season, but actually, the 2004 state championship team also lost twice and the defeats were worse than the 2005 losses. With QB Jesse Repay and receiver Ron Burton coming back in 2006, the 59er offense, which was lacking in 2005, will be much-improved. If this is a down year for Andrean, then a lot of schools need to get down.

Michigan City's QB Kevin Collyard #18 takes snap from shotgun formation against CP, where he was 11 of 17 for 175 yards passing. But bad snaps and sacks resulted in 6 carries for minus 45 yards in their 47-7 loss to CP on 10-14-2005.

MICHIGAN CITY - Ryan Fics got 80 yards on 15 carries, but he wasn't needed in MC's 42-14 rout of out-manned East Chicago Central. The Wolves recovered big time from back-to-back blowout losses to No. 9 LaPorte and No. 2 Crown Point. QB Kevin Collyard was 6-of-10 for 145 yards and he's improving as a passer. Trouble is, he needs to improve a lot this week when the Wolves host defending sectional champ Merrillville, which has 14 interceptions in the Pirates' last four games.

MC needs to look at this one as the Super Bowl. They've clinched a winning record for the first time since the consolidation of Rogers and Elston in 1995 so a goal has been met. But the hard truth is, MC hasn't beaten anybody with a winning record. Merrillville beat MC 42-7 on Sept. 16 but the Wolves are big and physical enough to do better than that. MC hasn't run the ball well in two weeks and that can't go on.

Assuming they can avoid special teams meltdowns, it comes down to how balanced MC can be offensively and frankly, how much Merrillville is looking ahead to the game with Crown Point on Nov. 4.

Lowell's QB Jimmy Ritter #7 loads to fire a pass at the Brickie Bowl in a 14-7 win over Hobart, 10-7-2005.

LOWELL - Lowell coasted past Gary Roosevelt 41-6, leading 27-0 after one quarter. This is a game that certainly doesn't help you this season, but might help in future years because everybody on the bench gets to play. Halfback Scott Gray (207 carries, 1,452 yards, 18 TDs) who has been playing with a slight shoulder separation, carried 12 times for 97 yards. Note how the top running backs like Gray, Michigan City's Ryan Fics and Griffith's Drew Rogowski are collecting injuries after 10 weeks of play. They probably aren't alone. If you're still playing after three months and you're not injured, you haven't been playing very much.

Lowell QB Jimmy Ritter tossed two touchdowns to senior Jeff Clemens (32 catches, 469 yards), a scoring source the Devils want to try sparingly but a path they do want to take in the weeks to come as teams stack defenses against Gray. Sophomore Steffan Peck scored one TD on offense and another on defense. Lowell has won five games in a row. Lowell has allowed more than 14 points just twice in 10 games, but the Devils want to control the ball to keep Kankakee Valley's option attack off the field Friday night in the Sectional nine semifinals.

They won't say it out loud, but some at Lowell will be watching for the score of the game between 2003 state finalist East Noble (8-2) and Class 4A No. 5 Plymouth (10-0) Friday. There is a thought that it is Lowell's past (Noble beat them in the 2003 regional) and future colliding. As well as the Devils have done in recent weeks, Lowell has not had a good season yet. They also have not defeated a winning team all year and when you've won your sectional title two years in a row, something less is, just that. Something less. KV has given up 20 points per game, 82 in their last three games and they have never beaten Lowell. If Lowell can survive what should be a very spirited start by the visitors this week, that shouldn't change.

QB Josh Miracle #18 passes over Lowell's Jeff Barker #34 in Hobart's 14-7 loss to Lowell, 10-7-2005.

HOBART - The Brickies duplicated their earlier victory over Highland, beating the Trojans 24-21 last week in the Sectional 9 quarterfinals. Junior QB Josh Miracle hit 12 of 21 for 217 yards and 2 TDs as the Brickies advanced to what should be another victory over Gary West Side this week. This was the pivotal game in Hobart's season. A loss and a 4-6 final record and they'd walk away losers. But the Brickies keep their sectional championship hopes alive. Freshman receiver Bobby James (36 catches, 415 yards) has probably set Hobart freshman records for pass catching. The Brickies keep shuffling running backs due to injuries and Ryan Vaclavik came off the injured list to score a TD last week replacing injured sophomore Andrew Jackson.

Hobart's 367 total yards was one of their best production levels of the year. Even when all else fails, the Brickies still have Adam Bailey (6-4, 330) to run behind and Richard Mitchell (6-2, 215) ready to stop your run.

Hobart and Lowell are like Florida and hurricanes. They keep finding a way to run into each other. The Brickies get a sixth game with Lowell in three years if they get past a West Side squad they beat 50-6 in August.

HAMMOND - Morton finally got by Andrean 24-10 with a fourth quarter rally in the sectional quartefinals in Hammond Friday night. The Governors have been opportunistic this season, taking down some teams that were not at 100% when they faced them. But injuries don't give games away. They only represent an opportunity. A team has to be in the right frame of mind to take advantage of its chances and Morton was ready. Senior Robert Dutton iced the game with a late interception and a 60-yard runback with his side leading just 16-10.

Morton rushed for 160 yards on Andrean, a small but significant total. The Governors had averaged only 170 yards rushing all season against weaker squads. This is a confusing team because they lost by 17 to Highland and beat Andean by 14 although those scores were deceptive on both nights. Morton has beaten Andrean (8-2), Lowell (6-4) and Hobart (5-5) in the same season but all of those three teams beat Highland, the same team that beat Morton by 17. That makes about as much sense as US foreign policy.

And that's why Morton is still behind three teams they've beaten. Morton is like the Chicago Bears. Are they getting better or just getting luckier? The Governors played Andrean without top two-way player Chris Skinner on the field for the 59ers. They met Lowell with two-way stars Ethan Winel and Jeff Clemens on the sidelines. They rallied from 14 down to beat Hobart, which was without two or three players. I'm not convinced this is Roy Richards best team (the 2002 squad was) or that sectional rival Griffith (10-0) has anything to worry about. That team got to the sectional championship game. These Governors are not there yet. But the fans are not there yet.

This is America - 2005. We don't care about civil liberties anymore. Morton students should be kidnapped, held against their will and then released Friday night at 7 p.m. inside the football field. Look at the home grandstand at Griffith and then look at the home grandstand at Morton. Morton is a bigger school than Griffith is. Even if the Governor fans do, Morton knows they can't overlook sometimes bitter rival Hammond high, a team they beat only 20-0 two weeks ago, in the 3A Sectional 17 semifinals this Friday.

PORTAGE - I still think Portage is better than Morton, especially if Erik Rhein was to hit 23 of 36 for 344 yards and four TDs like he did in last week's 45-28 loss to Chesterton. I'm sure I'll find out in the off-season what actually went on at Portage this year. There were lots of personnel problems that hid the efforts of Rhein (128 of 235, 1,901 yards, 17 TDs) and WR Shane Dixon (48 catches, 862 yards), both of whom are seniors. This team averaged 21 points and gave up 25 a game. Portage averaged 360 yards gained per game and gave up about 260 per game. Those numbers alone indicate that Portage should have done better. But 2-8 is 2-8. A lot of players won't be back for Portage next year, but I get the feeling that may be a good thing. Portage's seven-game losing streak is their longest since the Indians went 0-9 in 1955. The Indians actually could have won five of those seven. Of course, when you start talking about what you could have won and what you should have won, you start sounding like Purdue. Or the Houston Astros.

RENSSELAER - The Bombers smoked out Wheeler 50-0 in a game I thought would be close. Senior all-stater Jake Kiger had 400 yards of total offense as the Bombers dropped the big one on Wheeler (5-5), who had averaged 330 yards per game. It's all on the line next week as Rensselaer travels to North Judson (6-4). The Bombers could play four road games on the way to the state finals and the path (which includes Jimtown, which has four consecutive shutouts) is very formidable. Judson eliminated Rensselaer in 2004 and the Bombers have waited 365 days for a rematch which occurs Friday. Now is when we find out if playing four 3A teams helps you in the 2A playoffs.

WHITING - Whiting rested QB Matt Kobli in an easy 43-0 rout of out-manned River Forest. Hugo Torres scored twice as the Oilers outgained RF 335-30. Whiting is surely looking ahead to West Central (9-1) on Nov. 4, but they must beware of a possible ambush at LaVille (4-6). It's almost a two hour drive and a Friday night game. I do not know how seriously Kobli is injured (he played only on offense against RF) but he probably has two weeks to get ready for West Central. It's hard to take one your bigger players off the defense in a playoff game. But when its your QB, Whiting coach Jeff Cain is wise to take Kobli (6-3, 185) out of the defensive secondary until he is truly needed there. The Oilers have done everything they can against the schedule they have played. But if you look at the computer rankings, sectional rival (and probable Nov. 4 foe) West Central is rated 11 points better than the Oilers. We just won't know if Whiting is ready for prime time until kickoff time.

USA-365's

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