"The Renegade"

High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

CROWN POINT (9-7-2003) The top four teams win so there's no need to change them. The DAC which lost four games in week one, had two of those teams (CP and Chesterton) improve to 2-1. Remember how we talked about how Valparaiso would ride the roller coaster for four weeks and end up 2-2. There are still doubts about the combined 8-1 record of Andrean, Munster and Crown Point... while Chesterton has outgained every foe and has to be eyeing a Sept. 26 date at Portage. Remember where the 59ers have to go this year. They must beat Bishop Luers (2-1) to go to the state finals for an impressive (only Hobart has done it) 3rd year in a row and I don't think they're playing at that level. I think Andrean is best in the LAC. I know Portage is best in the DAC.

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 (3-0)

Antoine Brown has carried 59 times for 497 yards and the junior has scored 11 TDs.
Junior QB Jake Hutson is 23-of-41 for 367 yards with NO interceptions.

Averaging 42 points in three wins, somebody has to prove them can stop the Indians. Portage will be slowed this week at Merrillville.

2.) Chesterton (2-1)

Chesterton has gained over 1,000 yards in three games and they should be 3-0. The Trojans have gained at least 100 yards rushing AND passing in all three games so far. Only Portage, Chesterton and Crown Point have done that. The Trojans will face a big test at LaPorte Friday but remember what's coming. With a line that averages over 250 pounds per man, this is a bad weather team and bad weather is coming.

3.) ANDREAN (3-0)

Andrean crushed Morton with the 59ers best defensive effort of the year. The Niners exposed Morton as a pretender who'd been living off a weak schedule totally dominating the game. The 59ers gained 295 yards rushing against Morton but they still need to gain a lot of yards against a good defensive team. They don't always like it but Andrean is an elite private school and will always be held to a higher standard than other schools their size.

4.) LOWELL (3-0)

Lowell has outscored three foes 95-14 but the win over Griffith came too easily. The Devils have posted two consecutive shutouts and they have a quick defense that sabotaged Griffith'' running game. But the Devils have something to prove this week. They gave away a 24-21 playoff game at Morton last November and the rematch is this Friday (Sept.12) in Hammond. If the Devils cant beat Morton, they aren't as good as a lot of us think they are.

5.) MERRILLVILLE (2-1)

Merrillville led Crown Point by seven points with less than a minute to play (for the second consecutive year) and lost. The Pirates passing attack was dishwater weak (3 of 12, 30 yards) in Crown Point.

It's going to take a lot for Merrillville to hang with Portage this week but they are the first Portage foe with the talent to beat them.

6.) LaPorte (1-2)

LaPorte appeared to solve their QB problems with the insertion of sophomore QB Lance Jurgensen, who passed like Sonny Jurgensen. (That's an old NFL player, kids) Jurgensen completed 12 of 28 for 241 yards including 10 to all-state receiver Jerome Vann for 214 yards. LaPorte is better than everybody in the Lake Conference and they still have the capability to give Penn a serious battle next month in the sectional. I'm not sure they're ready for a very strong Chesterton team next Friday, though.

7.) CROWN POINT (2-1)

I sense Crown Point was as lucky as Notre Dame was against Washington State but they played with late game pride just like the Fighting Irish did last week. The key will be whether they want to brag and feel good about a 23-22 last second win... or whether they see the next two weeks (road games at LC and Portage) as a chance to elevate their season from good to great. Injuries are piling up and LC is hungry for a win.

8.) Valparaiso (1-2)

Forget the losses to Penn and LaPorte. Before the season began, you'd mark those two off as losses. Forget the win over Roosevelt and this week's game against Michigan City. The Vikes figure to be 2-2.

QB John Moon was 10 of 16 last week for 193 yards, but he threw 3 interceptions. Still, this team needs experience and they're getting it.

9.) Griffith (1-2)

The 33-0 loss at Lowell is not a serious blow unless the Panthers have lost QB Rich Lehmann, who was knocked out of the game in the third quarter. Griffith's defense only gave up 256 total yards at Lowell. They actually played well despite the score. The Panthers have too many offensive weapons to lose to many and remember, they are 3A and they are playing 4A and 5A teams. They'll give Munster a close game Friday.

10.) Lake Central (1-2)

Lake Central can't be penalized for not beating Loyola Academy and Portage, two of the top teams in two states. But they need to win this week if they want to finish the season with a winning record.

It's alarming that LC has given up 800 yards rushing in three weeks. But anybody who argues that non-top-10s Rensselaer, Munster or River Forest could beat LC should be laughed off and locked out back at this point.

NEXT in Line.....
is Munster (3-0)

Munster keeps winning but 14-9 over Highland isn't impressive and wins over Wirt and KV just aren't any big deal. Now they may get to play Griffith without the Panthers' starting QB. The ponies' luck is holding. I'm not saying they haven't done anything. I'm just saying they haven't proven anything. It's not about who you beat. It's about who you Munster still has Lowell (3-0) and Andrean (3-0) left to play.

JUDGMENT Day is coming....
for Rensselaer (3-0)

The Bombers have a shiny record and they should lay some smack on Tipton this week and they did win 14-0 at North Judson, a tough place to play.

But undefeated Twin Lakes (3-0) has outscored foes 136-7 in three games and they are headed for Rensselaer on Sept.19.