"The Renegade"

High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

CROWN POINT (10-27-2003) The poll looked good as No. 8, 9 and 10 all won decisively. If you had Wheeler in your top-10, you can take them out now. The Bearcats had a schedule rated among the 10 weakest in the state. If you go 9-0 and lose in the first week of the tournament, you lost. If you go 0-9 and win the sectional, you won. That's the way it is. The rest of the LAC Blue Division probably goes home this week. Lots of rematches this week. Merrillville-Chesterton II, Portage-Valpo II, Lowell-Munster II, Andrean-Morton II.

Two big games statewide: In the deep south, Mater Dei (8-2), a newcomer this year in Class 3A, travels to undefeated 3A power Heritage Hills. And everyone in Class 1A will benefit when Seeger (10-0) travels to Pioneer (10-0). The winner figures to meet Bishop Chatard (9-1) in the southern semistate.

As always, 'The Renegade', with no allegiance to any school or any sponsors (not yet, anyway) can tell it like it is about local prep football. All schools in the six county Northwest Indiana region count and records are irrelevant. These are the BEST teams.

1.) Portage (9-1)

Antoine Brown (205 carries, 1,504 yards) did not appear to be totally healthy in the Indians' 24-14 win at Crown point but QB Jake Huston (91-172, 1,550, 11 TDS, 1 INT) and WR Danny Paulsen (31 catches - 506 yards) did. Playing on the road early in the state tournament not only jolts your team into playoff mode, it gets you home games later on. Kicker Mike Hutchins is an unknown weapon for the Indians. He's good from 40 yards in. Portage has to get in high gear before they hit Indiana's Lake County Class 5A 'Axis of Evil' namely Penn (at the regional), Snider (at the semistate) and Ben Davis in the title game.

2.) LaPorte (6-4)

Evansville Memorial (10-0) ended LaPorte's season with a lightning rally from a 10-0 second quarter deficit. At one point in this game, LaPorte led 10-0 and had outgained them 166-9 in total yards. But it all fell apart and the defense-minded Chargers won. LaPorte outgained Memorial for the game 333-210 but committed four turnovers. Jerome Vann ended his career with nine catches for 160 yards. Sophomore Lance Juergensen set a school record for sophs with 93 of 189, 1,500 yards.

3.) ANDREAN (10-0)

The 59ers got a week off and coasted past woefully outmanned Wirt 48-0. Six different 59ers scored TDs. Andrean never punted, threw only six passes and did not turn the ball over. I'm of the opinion that games like this hurt more than help but I'll make an exception here. Andrean had been forced to rally to win in each of the last three weeks. They needed an easy game. The 59ers need a good defensive game and that opportunity presents itself with high-powered but mistake-prone Morton this week. Downstate, unbeaten Twin Lakes (10-0), and two defending state champs (former 2A champ) Bishop Luers (6-4) and 2-time defending 3A champion Bishop Chatard (9-1) are all alive and kicking to stalk the 59ers, who are 37-3 over the last three years.

4.) Chesterton (7-3)

Chesterton is giving up too many rushing yards. Michigan City's Shawn Lee picked up 142 yards on 26 carries in last week's 16-12 Chesterton win. Casey Martin's three-yard run on fourth down with 2:10 left saved the Trojans playoff hopes. Ryan Kelley has been hurt and missed time. The HB-QB could be back against Merrillville in the Section one semifinals. Only 219 total yards for Chesterton last week against a MC team that allows 300 yards a game. Only 216 yards rushing in the last two weeks combined for a team with power, speed and a 6-foot-4 running QB. I don't know why. The Trojans cant get into a lot of 3rd-and-long situations against Merrillville or their season will be over.

5.) LOWELL (9-1)

Lowell has gotten through 10 games with Justin Henley (179 carries, 1,119 yards) Toby Goetz (116 carries, 690 yards) in fairly good health. Henley gained 1,000 for the second consecutive season and threw his 3rd TD pass of the season. Lowell has a 1,000-yard rusher for the 10th time in 11 years. The Devils offensive line pushed for over 400 yards last week against overmatched Lew Wallace. Next generation ball carriers Scott Gray and Jeff Clemens, both sophomores, ran for a combined three TDs. It's all on the line this week at Munster figuratively and literally. The Devils have to dominate both lines because they can't cover Munster' s receivers.

6.) Griffith (6-4)

Remember, with two overtime losses to Munster and Andrean, the Panthers are truly 6-2-2. In three of their four losses. Griffith led with five minutes to play. They're almost 9-1.
The Panthers have eight 300-yard rushing games this season and six in a row after last week's 56-0 rout of outclassed Clark. Running the ball is what wins consistently, especially in the playoffs. Special teams helps. Jack Kosinski (147 carries, 1,540 yards, 17 TDs) gained 162 yards on eight carries last week. Griffith is the number one rushing team in northwest Indiana (350 yards per game) and that is a special weakness for Morton, this week's foe. As the weather gets worse, the 'Ground War' attacks of Griffith and Lowell don't seem so one-dimensional. Next foe Gavit is 7-3, but that's a 'Wheeler' 7-3. It's against a very, very soft schedule. The Glads can't hang with Griffith.

7.) MERRILLVILLE (6-4)

Merrillville has held Chesterton and Lake Central to a combined 130 yards rushing in the last two weeks and that's the kind of run defense the Pirates traditionally have. LC is not a power but Merrillville gained 408 yards last week and beat the Indians 42-12. Brandon Mosely (145 carries, 1,008 yards) will be hard to stop for Chesterton (7-3) in the section 1 semifinals. Junior QB Jimmy Reitz is back but he is limited to WR. Soph QB Evan Parker was 11-of-17 for 173 yards last week with four TDs. Bart Woodward leads NW Indiana with 8 interceptions. Three turnovers last week is worrisome and next foe Chesterton will play with desperation this Friday in the Section one semifinals.

8.) CROWN POINT (5-5)

CP played with pride in a 24-14 loss to Portage, nearly avenging a 56-0 loss at Portage earlier in the season. Senior QB Matt Cowan ran for 100 and passed for 100 in his final game. Cowan may be the first Bulldog QB in recent history to lead the team in rushing. He carried 20 times for 148 yards against Portage last week. WR Aaron Miller finished with a school-record 60 catches in 10 games. CP is 13-8 in the last four seasons and four of the losses are to Portage. The Bulldogs have only beaten Portage once in 10 years and, unless John Huston and Antoine Brown transfer between now and August, look for that trend to continue.

9.) Valparaiso (5-5)

Valparaiso slapped around East Chicago, even after the Cardinals grabbed a quick TD in the first minute. The Vikings loaded up for 400 yards rushing as linebacker-turned-halfback Bo Gillilund (79 carries, 593 yards) had another 100-yard game. Junior Jeff Brandt (141 carries, 981 yards) is about to eclipse 1,000. The Vikings really don't have the experience to take out Portage (9-1) but these are big rivals and this is the second meeting between the two.

10.) Munster (8-2)

Munster averages 32 points a game but did they really give up 300 yards to Gary West Side. The passing of Wally Cirafesi (83 of 150, 1,399 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs) and the catching of Bart Banach (16 TD catches) gives the Mustangs a chance, especially on their home field against Lowell (9-1). But Munster appears to have problems stopping the run and Lowell averages 250 yards per game rushing. The Mustangs have to limit Lowell's rushing first downs without gambling defensively and giving up touchdowns.

JUDGMENT Day is coming....

for Bishop Noll (7-3)

The Warriors have lost only to Griffith (6-4), Andrean (10-0) and Wheeler (9-1). They have a wonderful wishbone running attack and are the only northwest Indiana team with two 1,000-yard rushers in Eric Schreiber and Bobby Kimp. But except for Gavit (7-3), another team that has played a very questionable schedule, Noll has not met a winning team. Now they host North Judson (6-4) for the first time ever. The Blue Jays have scored 209 points in their last six games and lost only 28-0 to 3A No. 3 Twin Lakes (10-0) There is a school of thought that Class 2A is an easier bracket than 3A. Actually, that's not really true. Central Noble (10-0), Jimtown (9-1), Garrett (9-1) and Fort Wayne Harding (9-1) are all in the north half of the 2A bracket. But Noll won't have to worry about any of those schools unless they play better this week than they did in last Friday weak 34-17 win at sub-.500 North Newton.