A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
9-7-2005
MERRILLVILLE
(9-7-2005) I
spoke last week of a changing of the leadership guard in the Duneland Conference
and there are more hints of that in week three. Merrillville, Valparaiso and
Chesterton lost league openers while perennial second division teams Crown Point
and Michigan City moved up to 1-0.
The problem in a big school conference is the long haul and attrition through to injuries. In the LAC Blue Division, for example, Whiting can coast through three or four powerless opponents to stoke up for the big games. Even in the LAC Black, a small school league (800-1500 is small) of some renown, there are Hammond teams Hammond and Morton that cannot abuse your team physically.
In the DAC, all eight teams have depth and size. It's even worse in the Metropolitan Conference in Indianapolis where monster schools like Center Grove and Terre Haute North and Indianapolis North Central are SECOND DIVISION teams to Warren Central, Lawrence North and Ben Davis. Center Grove was 3-0 last year and finished the regular season at 5-4. Elkhart Central was 6-0 and finished 8-2, losing the very first playoff game. The all-time classic is Roncalli which began the 2003 season 0-3 and then won 12 in a row to win the state title. In 2002, Roncalli was 0-4 and won the state title.
The reason you don't get too excited about a team that's 3-0 is that 3-0 only guarantees that you won't be 2-7.
1.) 5A MERRILLVILLE (2-1)
2003 (7-5), 2004 (11-2)
MERRILLVILLE
- It's hard to explain what happened
to Merrillville in Friday's 13-0 loss at Crown Point. The Pirates were held to
under 100 yards rushing and made four turnovers.
You would put more stock in the loss if CP had not now beaten Merrillville for the fourth consecutive season. In three of those four years, the Pirates came back to have a better record than the Bulldogs.
Halfback James Aldridge (6-2, 220), who had totaled six TDs in limited duty against East Chicago and Highland, was held to 43 yards and no TDs on 12 carries.
Merrillville lost 7-3 to Crown Point in 2004 and proceeded to win the next eight games. You never pass judgment (and you rarely move poll positions based on one game) because history tells you that teams bounce back. But the other six DAC schools, by now, have all acquired a tape of the CP-Merrillville game to see if they can do what the Bulldogs did.
2.) 5A Portage (2-1)
2003 (11-2), 2004 (8-4)
PORTAGE
- Here's why you don't
move teams due to one surprise loss. Portage lost to St. Joseph's
in week two and then buried unbeaten Lake Central 33-10 on the road in week
three.
Portage locked down LC with just 184 total yards while building a 26-3 halftime lead.
Portage adopted the 3-5 defensive alignment that Crown Point has used the last two years and held LC to 7-of-21 passing while holding LC under 100 yards rushing. QB Erik Rhein, in his third varsity start, ran for two TDs and threw for two others.
Now, the Indians see if they can handle a rebounding Merrillville in the fourth week. The Pirates beat Portage twice last season (although one game was 44-38 in 3 OTs), but Portage coach Craig Buzea is one of those guys watching that CP-Merrillville tape over and over again this week.
3.) 3A GRIFFITH (3-0)
2003 (4-8), 2004 (9-3)
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| 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 rolled up 400 yards in a 21-0 shutout of Lowell, but the game was not that lopsided. QB Matt Nelleman threw the ball just seven times, but it was his running of the option that wore down Lowell in the second half. WR David Alexander, a coming star, caught two passes for 120 yards. The Panthers held Lowell to less than 100 yards rushing, but the Devils did hit 11 of 27 passes.
Griffith has allowed almost 450 yards passing but sometimes that's the port of last resort. Many good teams give up a lot of passing yards because they shut down the run so well and other teams are always in a comeback mode.
The Panthers have a half dozen high quality underclassmen and they will be favored in their final six regular season games. But Griffith has not trailed in a game yet and they have not faced anyone with a winning record. You know nothing about a team until they fall behind against a winning opponent.
4.) 5A LaPorte (3-0)
2003 (4-8), 2004 (9-3)
LaPORTE
- Lance (Sonny) Juergensen's 99-yard
TD pass to Chase Coburn was the difference in LaPorte' s 21-14 home win over
Valparaiso Friday. Juergensen (6-of-12, 222 yards, 2 TDs) hit the big play with
his side ahead 14-7 in the final minute of the third
quarter.
Junior HB Airrence Shark carried 17 times for 105 yards. LaPorte gave up 289 yards on 52 carries and 21 first downs so everything isn't beautiful for the Slicers. But 3-0 is 3-0 and they get a shot at Chesterton (0-3) this coming week so 4-0 is certainly a possibility with the offensive skill Laporte has.
But don't get too excited yet. The final four games of LaPorte's schedule (winning teams Merrillville, CP, Michigan City and Portage) is enough to stand up and slap anybody down.
5.) 5A CROWN POINT (3-0)
2003 (5-5), 2004 (4-7)
 |
| QB Blake Mascarella pitches football to Donny Keiser #37, as Ryan Forney #12 and Ryan Walsh #80 hold off the Brickies' defensive rush, 8-26-2005 at Crown Point. |
CROWN POINT - With six weeks left in the season, there are six coaching staffs trying to figure out what to do with Crown Point's three linemen, five linebacker '35' defense.
Crown Point's 13-0 upset of third-ranked Merrillville might be misnamed. When you beat the same team four years in a row it's hard to keep calling it an upset.
The '35' defense with linebackers Chris Schillo, Nick Ciochina, Vince Lewis, Chris Wilson and Jordan Rhye held the Pirates to eight first downs and 166 total yards. I'm surprised, but CP did win 7-3 at Merrillville last September.
No one has scored on CP in the first half this season and they have consecutive shutouts of Hobart (2-1) and Merrillville (2-1). Is it the team or is it the scheme? Probably a little of both, but a lot of these same boys played on the 4-7 Bulldogs last year.
Rookie QB Blake Mascarello is still involved in on-the-job training, but he did hit 6-of-10 for 110 yards and the sophomore baseball pitcher did run for a second quarter TD. Mascarello has thrown only 24 passes but the big deal is that none have been intercepted.
Senior Donny Keiser kicked two more field goals and he has seven three-pointers to lead NW Indiana kickers.
CP has many unsung heroes in the offensive and defensive line but they now become a new team. When the state poll comes out this week, Crown Point may be in the top five in Class 5A for the first time in school history. Right up there with Warren Central and Fort Wayne Snider and all the other monster football schools. But after being underdogs for three weeks, the Bulldogs will now be favored on the road Friday at Lake Central (2-1).
They have to keep playing like they're a team fighting to survive without their two best offensive players (QB Matt Jansen and WR Matt Ernest). CP is winning despite scoring only five TDs in three games and you cant live like that for very long.
I'll say the same thing here I said about Griffith. The Bulldogs have not trailed at any time this season. You know nothing about a team until they fall behind against a quality opponent.
6.) 4A HOBART (2-1)
2003 (5-7), 2004 (9-2)
 |
| QB Josh Miracle #18 drops back to pass in Hobart's 26-0 loss to Crown Point, 8-26-2005. |
HOBART - I would still tend to discard Hobart's 26-0 loss to Crown Point on Aug. 26 The Brickies gained 426 total yards in a 52-19 rout of Hammond high last week. Last week I said that Hobart should play star linebacker Richard Mitchell (6-2, 215) at full back and run him 20 times. Coach Wally McCormack had a better idea. He gave the ball to junior Steve Gascy (6-1, 200), who carried 20 times for 141 yards and 5 TDs against Hammond. A big back running behind Hobart's big line will become more of a factor as the weather turns.
The Brickies' pass defense did give up 20 of 37 for 278 yards, so they do have something to work on this week. I still think this is a powerhouse team. Hobart travels to Highland (3-1) this week with a chance to go 3-1 but Highland's offensive strength (passing) is Hobart's defensive weakness.
Every win buys experience time for new QB Josh Miracle and young up-and-comers like freshman WR Bobby James. The Brickies goal is to be 6-0 in the LAC the night (Oct. 14) that Griffith gets to Hobart.
7.) 5A VALPARAISO (1-2)
2003 (5-6), 2004 (6-5)
VALPARAISO
- I'm not greatly surprised Valpo is
1-2 against Penn and LaPorte, but now's the time to get going.
The Vikings gained 360 yards and gained 22 first downs, but lost 21-14 at LaPorte. Also, the VHS defense gave up 10 points to Penn, just six to Roosevelt and 21 at LaPorte.
The Vikings may have found a new runner in junior Hollis Ballard (5-11, 160) who carried 33 times for 225 yards, but he was stopped on 4th-and 1 at the goal line in the final minute of the third quarter before LaPorte hit a 99-yard TD pass to take a 21-7 lead.
Here's another team that is buying time for new QB Carl Hoefler (6-2, 213) who was just 7-of-16 last week.
The matchup of reborn Michigan City (3-0) and the very hungry Vikings this week (Sept. 9) in Valparaiso is the most pivotal (for both teams) match of the week.
8.) 3A ANDREAN (3-0)
2003 (12-1), 2004 (13-2)
MERRILLVILLE
- The 59ers out-scored Morton 35-20
last week in a game that was inconclusive for both sides. Andrean got 431 yards
of total offense against the suspect Morton defense including
three TD passes for junior QB Jesse Repay, who completed 13 of 31 for 164 yards.
Fullback Alex Kadish gained 185 yards on 15 carries but, again, this was not the
'Steel Curtain' they were going against defensively.
The first four 2005 games for Andrean are pretty soft and that is of great benefit to them. The 59ers needed this time to get new players settled in position.
But there are storm clouds on the horizon. Much like LaPorte and Michigan City, the final five Andrean games are a murderer's row of Al Capone proportions. Once the 59ers beat Hammond (0-3) Friday (and if they don't, we won't be talking about them much anymore at all), the 59ers have a dangerous Lowell team and then four winning teams in Highland (2-1), Munster (2-1), Hobart (2-1) and Griffith (3-0).
Good start for the 59ers, but they know they've proven nothing yet.
9.) 5A MICHIGAN CITY (3-0)
2003 (3-7), 2004 (4-6)
MICHIGAN
CITY - HB Robert Fics had big fun,
gaining 361 yards and six TDs in 34 carries against winless Chesterton in a
49-35 win.
MC is 3-0 for the first time since the consolidation of Elston and Rogers into Michigan City high in 1995.
Fics (5-9, 170) has 14 TDs and 750 yards and, with all due respect to young Robert, he's nowhere near as great a player as those numbers would indicate. What you're seeing is a dominating offensive line smacking down all comers to clear the path for an experienced, speedy halfback.
Seniors Matt Bannwart (6-0, 230), Jason Bendix (6-0, 220), Steve Nietzel (6-2, 320), Graham Block (5-11, 255) and Will Dabowski (6-1, 225) are making it happen up front.
The offense has hidden a porous pass defense that got smoked out for 322 yards last week by Chesterton soph QB Adam Brietweiser. The Wolves also gave up 225 yards passing to Clay.
The winning ends Friday at Valparaiso if the Wolves can't come up with some semblance of a pass defense.
10.) 4A LOWELL (1-2)
2003 (11-2), 2004 (9-4)
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| Lowell's Ryan King #54 stops a Griffith ballcarrier as Christopher Lampa #24 and Michael Staniewicz #76 assist on the play, 9-2-2005. |
LOWELL - Lowell had chances to challenge Griffith, but despite two long sustained drives, they were blanked by Griffith 21-0 in a game they could have won.
The Red Devils threw 27 passes last week, the most ever in coach Kirk Kennedy's 15 years. That speaks highly of new QB Jimmy Ritter and all NW Indiana receiver Jeff Clemens. But what isn't being said is that Lowell has been held under 100 yards rushing for the second time this year. They haven't been below 100 yards rushing twice since they were 2-8 in 1998.
To be fair, the two defenses that stopped them are Griffith (3-0) and Crown Point (3-0), very strong squads. But if Lowell can't run, they can't win. The offensive line is at full strength, but now the rest of the team isn't. Clemens (2 cracked ribs) and star two-way FB-LB Ethan Winel (leg) suffered injuries against Griffith and may be out or will play hurt until October.
Lowell can recover
in time to battle Hobart for the 4A sectional nine title. But for now, this is a
football emergency. Everybody has injured players. The Red Devils, with Morton
and Andrean coming up next, are staring at a 1-4 start unless the offensive line
starts opening a few more holes and their pass defense can come up with two very
big games.
On the outside looking in...
11.)
2A RENSSELAER (3-0)
2003 (8-5), 2004 (11-1)
RENSSELAER
- The Bombers shut down North Judson
24-0 in a dominating performance against an arch rival, avenging Judson's win
over Rensselaer in the sectional last year.
All-stater Jake Kiger fired three long TD passes and also ran for 56 yards. WR Addrian Frederick caught six passes for 106 yards and the Bombers snatched four interceptions.
Unlike many NW Indiana teams, Rensselaer pays the price schedule-wise with games against Class 3A Twin Lakes, Benton Central and Tipton (3-0), Rensselaer's 2A foe Friday night.
Too bad Kiger, who
scored 250 points last season, will not play one game in Lake or Porter County
in his senior season.
12.) 1A WHITING (3-0)
2003 (4-7), 2004 (11-1)
WHITING
- Whiting had another scrimmage with a
40-0 victory over totally out manned Calumet. Senior
QB Matt Kobli was 8-of-14 for 306 yards and 3 TDs.
Next up: Totally out manned Lake Station (1-2). Lake Station's 46-3 loss at Kankakee Valley reportedly was stopped with nine minutes left last week when the Eagles suffered some injuries and didn't have enough players to safely continue. At this point, other than weak Bishop Noll (2-1), the other eight teams on Whiting's schedule are 1-2 or 0-3.
Why aren't they in the Top-10. It's hard to take them seriously. Look at the computer rankings. Of 312 schools playing football, Whiting's schedule was ranked 299th last week. No one Whiting has played as of yet has won so much as one game. That's not their fault, but it still remains very much the truth.
While Pioneer (3-0) and West Central (3-0) are at least facing winning squads (those two 1A teams meet on the final night of the regular season – Oct. 14), the Oilers are looking for a challenge. Sept. 30 at Gavit and Oct. 14 against Kankakee Valley could fill the bill.
WEEK THREE (3) NOTES
Northwood kicker Ryan Burkhart, who booted a school-record 53-yard field goal two weeks ago, has accepted a scholarship to Notre Dame joining the state's top two running back prospects James Aldridge of Merrillville and Luke Schmidt of undefeated Jasper (3-0), already committed to the Irish.
Warren Central routed rival Ben Davis 31-13 last week to go to 3-0. The nation's No. 3 team is averaging 54 points a game. Three-time defending 4A champ Roncalli fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and lost 14-7 to seven-time 3A champ Bishop Chatard.
71-year Route 30 rivals Plymouth and Warsaw went to double overtime last week before Plymouth won 30-23. This score may sound familiar but defending southern 3A semistate champ Heritage Hills (2-1) beat winless Pike Central 82-0 in southern Indiana's pocket conference. That's the same score by which Merrillville beat East Chicago on Aug. 19.
Culver Academy, which has not won more than seven games in any of the past 10 seasons, is 3-0 heading to North Judson this week.
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Revised: September 08, 2005
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