"The Renegade"

Pre-season High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report

CROWN POINT (8-17-2004) It's a new high school football season and "He's Baaa-ack!" 'The Renegade' is the notorious, no-holds-barred prognosticator and evaluator of the grid iron, taking an honest, sometimes painful look at the top teams from the region. 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.) Valparaiso (5-6)

Head Coach: Mark Hoffman (185-122, 27 years at Valpo)

VALPARAISO - They appear to have an edge on defending DAC champion Portage going in with 16 returning starters including veteran QB Jon Moon (92-182, 1,292 yards, 11 TDs) and experienced running backs Bo Gillilund (109-613 yards, 9 TDs) and Jeff Brandt (153-1,126 yards, 7 TDs) plus tall wide receiver Colin McShane (39-574 yards, 6 TDs) and three senior offensive

linemen.

Two outside linebackers whose brothers were stars are soph Nate Windsor (6-2, 1900 and Tim Handlon (6-2, 180) and they could flank inside linebackers Bo Gillilund (DAC leading 153 tackles) and Nick Nondorf (5-11, 215). If the D-line, led by senior Bill Danoura (6-1, 225) holds the fort, the Vikings could be on that wagon train headed south in November. With an opening night game at Penn, 0-1 is a definite possibility. But if the big offensive line, which includes center Andrew Whitehead (6-2, 250), guard Bryan Carr (6-0, 260) and tackles Brad Diekow (6-2, 270) and Nate Loden (6-1, 240) is ready at the start, even Penn might be surprised.

2.) MERRILLVILLE (7-5)

Head Coach: Jeff Yelton (46-29, 9 years)

MERRILLVILLE - This team returns all but two key offensive players from a 7-5 season. The offensive line should carry them with center Nate Powell (6-3, 255) between guards Kevin Jordan (5-9, 225) and wrestling star Dexter Larimore (6-3, 255). The tackles, Dave Plasencia (6-2, 225) and Brandon Jordan (6-3, 255) also got experience in 2003. The Pirates return two experienced QBs including 6-4 James Reitz (37-83, 534 yards) and junior Evan Parker (36-81, 438, 4 TDs) , with Reitz very capable of playing wide receiver. But seniors Bart Woodard (14-279 yards) and Kevin Marsh (24-309 yards) also man the wide out slots. Defensively, the Pirates return seven regulars including region interception champ in Woodard (11 interceptions, 91 tackles) and Division I defensive end Michael Neal (6-4, 235), who had 49 tackles and four sacks in 2003. There are a lot of athletes here. Baseball speed merchant Bo McClendon joins varsity basketball starter Dennis Howell in the secondary. Larimore lost the state championship match in wrestling last February at age 16. The biggest question is how good is out-of-state transfer James Aldridge (6-2, 215), reportedly a dominant running back. Senior tackles Joe Purevich (6-3, 275) and Kendall Thomas (6-3, 255) were not starters in 2003 but they could be eventually. Senior kicker Mike Binder, who made three 2003 field goals and his last 14 extra points in 2003, returns and a handful of halfback candidates in Chad Dawson (5-10, 185), Sean Kinsey (6-0, 195) and Jeremy Billingsley (5-10, 185). If the Pirates only open position was running back, it will be a good year because Aldridge very much fills that need. The Pirates don't know it now, but they have a significant chance to be the 5A regional champion in November.

3.) Portage (11-1)

Head Coach: Craig Buzea (91-28, 10 years)

PORTAGE - Portage starts the year with double-barreled statistical dynamite in 2,000-yard rusher Antoine Brown (273, 2,039 yards, 31 TDs) and 2,000-yard passer John Huston (117-217, 2,007, 15 TDs) returning for senior seasons. Add game-breaking senior wide receiver Milton Rivera (27 catches, 626 yards, 23.1 yards per catch) and Portage has better perimeter players than anyone else. The key is the new offensive line, led by senior John Kornacki (6-2, 210), the only returning starter. The Indians lost most of both lines and, while they do have replacements, they are much smaller on both sides of the ball. How the line performs against bigger, more experienced foes will be the difference between 5-4 and 9-0.

Holes on the defense side will be filled, in the secondary, by Brown and Rivera. That will make for some athletic Duneland Conference confrontations with athletic offensive teams like Merrillville, LaPorte and Valparaiso. This is a peak year in the DAC and I think Portage will have trouble late in the year when the weather turns bad and power and punch takes center stage over quickness and speed. But with a high D-1 tailback in Brown (5-10, 185), the DAC sprint champion, and an elite kick returner like Rivera combined with Huston's 12 games of

experience last year, all against 5A schools, this is not a team anybody wants to face on a dry field.

4.) LOWELL (11-1)

Head Coach: Kirk Kennedy (95-51, 13 years)

LOWELL - The Red Devils return 12 starters from a team that lost 20-13 to top-ranked East Noble in the regional in 2003. Lowell will slide speedy option runner Scott Schulz in at QB between fullback-tailback combo Toby Goetz (148-836 yards) and either soph fullback Ethan Winel (5-10, 185) and junior tailback Scott Gray (5-9, 175) , both of whom are very significant prospects. Lowell's undefeated 2002 freshman team is now in the junior class including all-area lock Jeff Clemens (6-0, 170) a strong safety, wide receiver, punter, place kicker and kick returner who will probably be Lowell's MVP. Goetz (6-0, 217) will move from linebacker to defensive end to help replace graduated all-area stars Jim Jeffries and Chris Marzotto.

Seniors Larin Childress (5-10, 235) and Randy Lukasik (5-9, 200) are key players in an offensive line which will include two more of those juniors, Jed Travis (5-11, 235) and Randy Layman (6-1, 240). Outside linebacker Jimmy Ritter (6-2, 175) is another talent-laden junior and senior Clayton Miller (6-1, 180) could play on either line. Winel is an accomplished wrestler who could move in at inside linebacker. Other

promising junior backers like Ryan King (5-9, 180) and Chris Lampa (5-11, 160) made the move of Goetz to the D-line an easy one. Clemens is a superior punter who will take over the kicking duties and Schulz is a game-breaking punt returner.

The offensive line is a question mark with three new starters but the skill position talent level is as good as it gets at a small town public school. Lowell still wont throw the ball but they are a bad weather team that runs a true Lake County offense. As good in November as it is in August.

The unknown factor is Gray, a 4.5 sprinter who ran for 900 yards on that undefeated freshman team two years ago. The young man asked for and received Lowell's tradition-rich No. 6 jersey, the one worn by three two-time 1,000-yard rushers (Michael Pickett, Mike French, Justin Henley) before him.

5.) ANDREAN (12-1)

Head Coach: Brett St Germain (1 year, 12-1)

MERRILLVILLE - This team is a lot like Portage starting the season. New boys will man the lines but there will be a lot of skill behind them. Starting quarterback Tommy Finn (114-197, 15 TDs, 5 INTs) returns with D-1 tight end Ty Harangody (40 catches - 506 yards), wide receiver Jake Kocal (17-211 yards) and part-time starting tailback Joaquin Rodriguez (64-340 yards). Returnees Breandan Carragher (6-2, 250) and Mike Wartman (6-2, 215) on the offensive line will team with juniors like Anthony Harris (6-2, 275), Robert Phillips (6-1, 260) and Chris Reardon (5-10, 215) to try to form a good-blocking front.

The 59ers lack of overall size probably won't bother them in the LAC which is not that big a league physically. Outside linebacker Dominic Tournicasa (5-10, 175) recorded 65 tackles last season and defensive end Steve Egan (6-2, 210) added 54. Harangody (6-3, 235) will be an impact player at linebacker. The key is Finn, who also ran 82 times for 892 yards last year and Rodriguez, who has 1,000-yard potential. If those two can get the blocking and the yards, everything else will open up. Harangody may prove impossible to cover in the LAC and the 3A playoffs. This team scored 20 or more points 12 times in 13 games last season and they could again be unstoppable on a dry field in warm weather. Andrean's toughest game may be the opener on the road at Chesterton but if they win that one, they'll be 4-0 hosting Lowell on Sept. 17. What separates Lowell and Andrean from the top three is depth and size, two shortcomings they can never overcome against schools twice their size.

6.) Chesterton (7-4)

Head Coach: John Snyder (19-14 - 3 years)

CHESTERTON - This is another star laden team on the perimeter with big quarterback Casey Martin (6-4, 215) who was 86-161 for 1,269 yards and 11 TDs last year leading the way. Matt Maple can be a WR or a TB and he has the speed you need in the DAC. Two-way star Logan Newkirk (6-1, 175) should roll up big numbers on offense after grabbing seven interceptions on defense in 2003. Maple also picked of five passes and who knows how many mistakes star linebacker Garrett Baker (6-1, 230) forced on his way to 138 tackles in 2003. The Trojans, like Portage, will be smaller in both lines, but don't construe that as being small. Defensive end Heath Cartwright (6-6, 240) and offensive guard Ethan Newman (6-3, 235) anchor the defensive and offensive lines and tight end Ryan Krepp (6-0, 235) will help keep defenders off Martin, who also rushed for 721 yards and 12 TDs last year. Junior Kyle Martin is a dependable place-kicker and Maple is a dangerous punt returner. A very difficult schedule will humble them with powers Andrean, and Griffith coming up before Labor Day. But if they can avoid an 0-2 start, the Trojans should challenge for the DAC title. This is a year when you are going to have to have to score points in the DAC and Chesterton, with no injuries in the offensive line, is equipped to do that.

7.) Griffith (7-5)

Head Coach: Russ Radtke (100-37, 11 years)

GRIFFITH - Here's another team that returns two experienced quarterbacks in junior Matt Nelleman (6-1, 171) and senior Rich Lehman (6-3, 185). In a wishbone or triple-option attack, that is crucial. One or the other can move to tailback with junior Drew Rogowski (5-11, 155). The Panthers return nine starters on defense including linebacker Nick Lam-Chi (6-3, 191), who had 115 tackles in 12 games in 2003. Cornerback Danny Lewis (5-9, 163) had 82 tackles last season but that may not be necessary in 2004. Off an undefeated freshman class comes center Ben Geffert (6-4, 221) and defensive tackle Jake Garzorkiewicz (5-9, 259) to help the lines. The Panthers may be the biggest LAC team with junior Alex Pierson (6-7, 251) and seniors Antonie Rogers (5-9, 251) and Joe Fergurson (6-1, 270) in the lines.

Griffith's 7-5 record on the field (they had to forfeit 3 games) was deceptive because they lost to Munster and Andrean in overtime. True,

two-time 1,000-yard rusher Jack Kosinski graduated, but that shouldn't matter. It isn't true that ANY back with a good QB and a good line can run wild in the option but any good back can. This team was over 40 points six times last year and the QBs return. This is Lowell in different color uniforms. Griffith can always run the ball.

8.) LaPorte (6-4)

Head Coach: Bob Schellinger (55-54, 6 years)

LaPORTE - Here's another DAC team that's strong on offense and questionable on defense. QB Lance Juergensen (93-189, 1,500 yards) is back, but he'll need new receivers to help replace record breaker Jerome Vann, now at Western Michigan University. The Slicers should be able to construct an offensive line around returning starters Buzz Schoff (5-10, 221) and Andy Nielsen (5-11, 233). Tailback Derrick Sims (161 carries, 758 yards) returns, but he'll have to share the ball with sophomore Airrence Shark (5-10, 200), a big-time prospect. Seniors Tony Dubbs (6-2, 200) and Blake Hindsley (5-11, 200) will be the main targets for Juergensen, who leads a junior class that was undefeated in 2002. Why is LaPorte not higher in the top-10. Because they lost nine starters off their defense. Usually, you can't replace an entire unit and be as good as you were in the DAC. LaPorte will also be much smaller than Merrillville and Crown Point and Valparaiso. But LaPorte's defense never was based on size. They run around and blitz a lot to confuse the offensive line. The Slicers can do that with young players as well as old players. If LaPorte can score 20 points a game (and they can), they can play enough tricks on defense to stay above .500. The Slicers are fortunate to open with New Prairie and Elkhart Central. Those are good teams but they aren't Valparaiso and Chesterton, teams LaPorte sees in weeks three and four.

9.) CROWN POINT (5-5)

Head Coach: Chip Pettit (14-17, 3 Years)

CROWN POINT - Crown Point lost a lot of their offense from 2003's .500 team, but the Bulldogs were held to 17 points or less six times so maybe a little change is good here. CP's new quarterback is tall left-hander Matt Jansen (6-2, 175), who has good potential if the line, led by all-area guard Steve Ellingsen (6-4, 280) and junior Marcus Robinson (6-2, 260) can protect him.

Tailback-place-kicker Donny Keiser (77 - 384 yards) hopes to improve on his numbers but that's going to depend on the line as well. The defense should be solid with LB Vince Lewis (6-0, 215) who had 65 tackles in 2003. Safety Mike Smith (5-11, 160) had 51 tackles last year and he'll probably double as a wide receiver this year. CP defensive end Justin Sprehe (6-3, 210) had 62 tackles and seven sacks last year while LB Jordan Rhye (5-11, 185) added 37 tackles.

Keiser and punter Nick Soltis (31.3 yds. per kick) make special teams a plus. Crown Point uses lots of wide receivers so they won't be out of games. That means everybody from junior Tommy Isailovich (5-11, 180) to sophomore Matt Ernest (6-2, 160) should see the ball come their way as long as the line can block a little. The physical strength in the lines of CP has improved and, with stronger, more physical lineman comes the 'success express' roaring down the tracks. Unfortunately, the 'Victory Train' has not yet arrived at the station in CP.

If the defense has some experience and the offense has promise, what's the problem? Well, the schedule, for one. The Bulldogs' two nonconference games are defending 4A sectional champion Lowell and a steadily improving Hobart team. Add that to seven DAC games facing some of the elite athletes in the northern part of the state, and Crown Point will be fortunate to improve on last year's record.

10.) Hobart (5-7)

Head Coach: Wally McCormack (5-7, 1 year)

HOBART - Start with Marc Drobac (178-755 yards, 11 TDs) and TJ Pope (77-433 yards, 3 TDs) running behind a line led by 6-4, 350-pound junior Adam Bailey and you've got the start of a power offense. Two-way lineman Kevin LaFortune (6-3, 215) leads the defense with 41 tackles in 2003. Drobac (6-0, 200) had 71 tackles at strong safety last year and Pope made 42 stops from his defensive end position. Senior Kyle Gonzalez (6-3, 175) will probably take over at QB and he should be able to diversify the offense. Gonzales is also a solid place-kicker with a 40-yard boot against Griffith last October.

The Brickies return four of six across the offensive front including center Tim Kreig (6-0, 220) and tight end Dan Soderquist (6-5, 220). Hobart lost twice to Lowell in 2003 but they may get two more tries in 2004. Hobart and Crown Point have the same schedule anchor. The Brickie nonconference games are against CP and Portage and the LAC slate includes state-ranked Andrean, Lowell and Griffith. Hobart has the ability to beat Andrean, Lowell or Griffith but probably not all three. With one upset among that Big-3, the Brickies will finish above .500.