"The Renegade"

High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

CROWN POINT (10-5-2003) Munster was somewhat unlucky to lose on a last-second field goal 22-20 to Lowell but they were never higher than ninth in this poll. Valpo's win justified a 2-4 team being in the poll. It's more and more obvious that even though Andrean beat Chesterton in August, that Chesterton is a significantly better team. From an 0-2 and 1-3 start LaPorte has proven they are an elite team. The state tournament draw comes out Tuesday and there's every possibility that the 1-2 teams could be matched in the first round.

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 (7-0)

QB John Huston was 17 of 27 for 338 in the 47-13 rout at Michigan City. Antoine Brown (126 carries, 1,120 yards) scored three more TDs to give him 20 this season. Milton Rivera has 13 catches for 291 yards in four games.

The Indians look overpowering but LaPorte is looming large on Oct. 17.

2.) Chesterton (5-2)

Chesterton gained 438 yards in a 45-7 walkover a shorthanded Lake Central team. QB Casey Martin (113 carries, 451 yards) carried 22 times for 123 yards. The Trojans have outscored the opposition 75-28 in the fourth quarter. Fullback Jim Sosnowski returned to the lineup with 43 yards on six carries. The Trojans have lost only on the road at Andrean (7-0) and Portage (7-0) and they easily could have won both games.

3.) ANDREAN (7-0)

Andrean mounted their biggest rally of the season to reject the upset bid of Highland 24-21. The 59ers were jolted by 25 of 37 passing for 255 yards by Kris Boyd. But Tommy Finn ran 38 yards for one TD and passed 31 yards to Nick Stockwell for another. There is a theory that playing close games will help the 59ers in the playoffs, but it's hard to tell because the 59ers didn't really fall behind in the 2002 playoffs until the final game. The 59ers have outscored the opposition 49-7 in the final quarter this year. A tough final two weeks puts the 59ers in against rival Griffith and state-rated Munster.

4.) LaPorte (4-3)

LaPorte is finally playing like they're supposed to, and they've allowed only 14 points in the last three games. Halfback Gerald Sims (109 carries, 534 yards) carried on seven plays in a row for the clinching TD in the Slicers' 24-7 victory at Crown Point while 250-pound fullback Kyle Cepeda (94 carries, 508 yards) has seven TDs in his last three games. Soph QB Lance Juergensen has thrown just 32 times in the Slicers three game winning streak indicating that LaPorte has changed their style of play despite having two future college WRs. No reflection on Lowell (drops to No. 5 this week), but there's no way they beat LaPorte.

5.) LOWELL (6-1)

Justin Henley (118 carries, 820 yards) carried 33 times for 270 yards, but it was Korey Kildaras' 4th down 30-yard field goal with no time outs and the clock running to win at Munster 22-20. The Devils gave up 9-of-15 for 202 yards by Munster senior Wally Cirafesi. Lowell has 1,378 yards rushing against a schedule that includes the top-3 LAC Black teams and Crown Point. The Red Devils still don't throw the ball effectively so they can't fall more than 7 points behind. But the Devils appear ready for the 4A playoffs.

6.) CROWN POINT (4-3)

I admit this is a guess because CP didn't look good in the 24-7 loss to LaPorte. The Bulldogs have defeated Merrillville, Hobart and Valparaiso, three decent teams. The losses have been to LaPorte (4-3), Portage (7-0) and Lowell (6-1), three good teams. But only 26 yards rushing last week and seven turnovers. Defensively, they were good against LaPorte and LC and Hobart. Not so good against Lowell, Portage and Merrillville. They're not going to be great, but they're not ever going to be bad, either.

7.) Griffith (4-3)

Jack Kosinski (113 carries, 1,056 yards) went over the 1,000-yard mark in the 57-7 win over Hammond. Another 386 yards rushing for the Panthers who have held the last two foes to one TD each in the last two weeks. No fumbles lost in two weeks is another positive sign for Griffith and, counting the 49-42 OT loss to Munster, the record is actually 4-2-1 with losses only to Lowell (6-1) and Chesterton (5-2), two powers. The game with Andrean is very telling because the 59ers appear vulnerable and Griffith is clearly charging.

8.) MERRILLVILLE (3-4)

The Pirates giving up 300 yards rushing to Valparaiso indicates a problem, especially after LaPorte got 323 yards the week before. But look at the losses. A 2-point loss to Valparaiso. A one-point loss to Crown Point. They could easily be 5-2. Brandon Mosely gained a career-high 215 yards on 29 carries against Valpo. The Pirates are still without QB Jimmy Reitz (separated shoulder) so I don't know what is next for Merrillville.

9.) Munster (6-1)

Munster still hasn't beaten a winning team after the 22-20 loss to Lowell, but they played Lowell even. The Mustangs seem to have everything offensively ,but I don't understand the problems with the run. Lowell got 315 rushing yards against Munster. Griffith got 316 yards rushing against the Mustangs. Watching Munster, it's hard to see why. They appear fairly big and strong. It wouldn't matter except that Munster may see Lowell again. The passing of Wally Cirafesi (62 of 113, 971 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs) and the catching of Bart Banach (13 TD catches) continues to impress on offense.

10.) Valparaiso (3-4)

The four VHS losses are to unpredictable LaPorte (4-3) and Crown Point (4-3) and powers Chesterton (5-2) and Penn (6-1). The Valpo loss to CP was in OT. A move of putting LB Bo Gilliland into the backfield paid off with 181 yards on 16 carries against Merrillville. Valparaiso has gained over 300 total yards five times in seven games. The Vikings just have to survive this week at Portage (7-0).

JUDGMENT Day is coming....

for Highland (3-4)

The Trojans led Andrean 21-10, but lost 24-21 to Andrean. Highland has lost four games by seven points or less but that "we've-been-close" mantra only goes so far. The Trojans now must beat Morton before they travel to Lowell (6-1) for the season finale. Losing close games means you're a quality, competitive loser but, if you don't win one close game eventually, you're just a loser and the season is over.