"The Renegade"

High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

CROWN POINT (8-31-2003) The poll stays steady this week as the top six teams won. Even though Andrean defeated Chesterton, everybody who saw the game knows Chesterton is the better team. We don't get to find out whether Lowell and Andrean could actually beat Merrillville and I don't now why Andrean doesn't play Merrillville. Week 3 begins league play and it gets very real for teams like Michigan City (2-0) in the big school Duneland Conference. For some LAC Blue Division teams that started like IU did Saturday, getting to lay among themselves will give them hope. This early in the season, wins and losses are irrelevant, anyway. It's all about how you play.

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 (2-0)

Portage has gained almost 800 yards total in wins over Hobart and East Chicago
Halfback Antoine Brown has 5 rushing TDs and QB Jake Huston is 17 of 26 for 277 yards. The only flaw so far is a tendency to start slow. Portage has given up a first quarter TD in both games so far. They do have 12 penalties in 2 games. But we're nit-picking. Somebody's got to stop this offense.

2.) Chesterton (1-1)

Chesterton has gained over 700 yards against Andrean and Griffith but they needed 20 fourth quarter points against Griffith to be .500. But the Trojans have played without starting senior QB Ryan Kelley, the QB they had planned on all summer. In that respect, they have done extremely well. Chesterton is 31 of 54 passing for 358 yards, a tremendous improvement over last year when they passed for less than 1,000 yards all year. Plus, this is a big, physical bad weather team. The best is yet to come.

3.) ANDREAN (2-0)

Andrean sleepwalked through the first half last week, trailing 9-7 at Bishop Noll. The 59ers also have start faster in games. Andrean still has the top skill players this side of Portage. The 59ers have given up 350 yards rushing and that is clearly their weakness. New QB Tommy Finn is 15 of 26 with no interceptions. The 59ers host Morton (2-0) this week but the Governors gave up too many points last week to be taken seriously.

4.) LOWELL (2-0)

Lowell has outscored two foes 62-14 and have rushed for over 400 yards so far. Justin Henley has two 100 yards games and the formerly turnover-prone Devils have only one fumble and no interceptions this season. Soph kicker Jeff Clemens was 6-of-6 on extra points last week. QB Chuck Thompson was 6 of 7 last week for 80 yards. Neither CP or Calumet scored in the first half against the Devils. Showdown with Griffith is set for Friday.

5.) Griffith (1-1)

Griffith Throw out the 32-20 loss against Class 5A Chesterton. The Panthers led 20-18 with four minutes left and Griffith isn't supposed to beat Chesterton anyway. Griffith has run for a region-leading 650 yards in two weeks. The Panthers have lost three fumbles but they have committed 12 penalties. The Panthers have completed just 2 passes in 2 games and they have allowed 300 yards rushing, not a good sign for the Lowell game Friday.

6.) MERRILLVILLE (2-0)

The Pirates have rushed for 500 yards in 2 weeks but the opposition (Dunbar and EC) was not strong. Jimmy Reitz is 9 of 20 for 185 yards and Jerry Williams has run for four TDs. The 289 yards rushing by Dunbar is worrisome, but I don't know how deep the Pirates got into the bench after they jumped to a 28-0 first quarter lead. Newcomer Bar Woodward has caught two TD passes. The Pirates know the first big test is on the road at Crown Point this week.

7.) Valparaiso (1-1)

Valparaiso looks to be on schedule. They lost 27-7 to a Penn team that lost 27-24 to state champ Ben Davis last week. Valpo beat Roosevelt 47-0 last week, but everybody beats Roosevelt. Junior Jeff Brandt, a 180-pound halfback, ran for 200 yards and scored four TDs last week. Outsiders talk about all the people who have graduated but the boys who are now getting a chance don't care about that. Valpo faces a pivotal game at LaPorte this week against the Slicers' confusion-creating defenses.

8.) Lake Central (1-1)

Lake Central got buried 35-14 at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill Saturday but that was expected. They needed that game to get ready for the DAC. Portage (Friday's foe) doesn't look that tough after you face a 2300-kid Catholic school. The jury is still out and a loss to Portage this week won't declare LC guilty. The Indians did gain 292 yards at Loyola after rolling up 317 against Riley. It is scary that Loyola ran for 337 yards against the LC defense. Kicker Andrew Lawrence is 6-of-6 in extra points with two field goals.

9.) CROWN POINT (1-1)

Crown Point beat Hobart 30-13 as Aaron Miller scored twice. But the Bulldogs had everything going for them last week and that won't be the case this Friday against Merrillville. Like Portage and Chesterton, the Bulldogs have gained over 100 yards rushing AND passing in both games so far. Soph Kicker Donny Keiser hit a 34-yard field foal in his first attempt last week. Matt Cowan has been very good completing 24 of 44 for 316 yards and 4 TDs in two games. The Bulldogs have allowed over 400 yards rushing though...and that does not bode well for this week's game against running back-heavy Merrillville.

10.) LaPorte (0-2)

LaPorte, a high-powered offensive team in theory, lost 13-10 against Elkhart Central after falling 28-3 against New Prairie. This team is hard to understand right now, but the defensive improvement gives them a chance this week in a must-win game against Valparaiso. New QB Anthony Dubbs still struggles, but they won't move Kevin Brandy (last year's QB) back over center and they shouldn't. All is forgiven and forgotten if the Slicers beat Valparaiso this Friday

NEXT in Line.....
Munster (2-0)

Munster hasn't really played a game yet. They outscored Wirt 29-0 before a power failure ended Friday's game with 3:41 left in the half. This, after a 48-0 victory over out-manned Kankakee Valley.

There's no way to know how they'll play in a real game, which is what they get Friday against arch-rival Highland (2-0).

JUDGMENT Day is coming....
Clark (1-1)

Clark did a lot of talking in the paper last week after beating Hammond 34-7. Now, they've got to back it up against Wheeler (2-0) and region rush leader Andrew Patten (6-0, 200), who has carried 43 times for 343 yards and seven TDs in 2 weeks. Hammond will go 0-10 (look at their schedule). The Pioneers, who did not complete a pass last week and have five turnovers in two games, will have to play significantly better than they have to avoid going 1-2.