USA-365's Week-9 NW Indiana High School Football Poll

MERRILLVILLE (10-18-2005) The big news last week was state-wide, where 5A No. 1 Warren Central got smoked 33-14 by Lawrence North in that vicious Indianapolis Metro league. It proves that anybody can lose. Warren Central had won the last two Class 5A state titles and they were ranked No,.1 in the nation before last Friday (10-14-2005). One thing to remember, though. WC's leading rusher and top scorer did not play because he was attending a funeral out of state. WC, which gained 370 yards rushing anyway, fumbled six times without him. On top of that, Bishop Chatard, one of the 3A title favorites and a seven-time state champion, got shanghaied 35-12 in Cincinnati by traditional power (but only .500 this year) Elder high. It gives hope to others in the 3A and 5A brackets (like Griffith, Merrillville and Crown Point in NW Indiana) that those two Indy metro monsters can be overcome. The downside is, the foes Warren Central and Chatard are playing are far greater than what Crown Point and Griffith are facing.

Surprisingly, Class 2A superpower Tri-West also got beat, 39-36 by 3A Danville. Tri-West was 15-0 last year and has won the last two Class 2A state titles. Class 1A No. 1 Pioneer edged 1A No. 4 West Central 21-20 in a battle of unbeaten teams. In the Northern Lakes Conference, Plymouth completed a 9-0 season which means the Pilgrims are still on line to face the winner of 4A Sectional nine at the regional level if they can defeat last year's 4A runner up Wawasee (7-2) in 4A Sectional 10.

Losing the final game of the season can demoralize a team that wasn't really that good or it can refocus a team that was coasting and living on press clippings.

In NW Indiana, unbeaten Whiting and Griffith (9-0) do not have competitive foes in either the sectional quarterfinals or semifinals so they'll cruise into November. The spotlight in week 10 will be on Crown Point (9-0), unbeaten for the first time in 18 years, trying to stay that way on the road against longtime rival Valparaiso (5-4), which has allowed only 115 points (12. 7) all year.

The cliche is that everyone's record is now 0-0, but that especially true of the 9-0 teams, which may all be having ego problems at this point. It's hard for boys who have won nine weeks in a row to accept the fact that they are starting from scratch and one bad game sends them to the "Loser's Hall-of-Fame," which has a special wing for undefeated teams that lose at the sectional level. If your team has reached any of its top goals for this season, you are in trouble because nobody's won anything yet.

MERRILLVILLE - Merrillville ran up a 21-0 first quarter lead on Chesterton and coasted to a 35-23 win that was not as close as the score would suggest. The Pirates got 222 yards rushing from all-stater James Aldridge, firing up a struggling running game. Anthony Curry caught a 39-yard TD pass and ran an interception back 27 yards for a TD. Merrillville's defense has 11 interceptions in the last three games and the Pirates have allowed just 94 points and 1750 total yards all season.

The losses are to Crown Point (9-0) and LaPorte (8-1), the latter 38-35 in overtime. Four of the wins are by shutout. Simple-minded polls (like the state AP and coaches poll, voted on by people who are hundreds of miles away and have not seen half of the teams involved play) are based solely on how many wins you have. More thoughtful polls are based on how good the team is. The question has been asked and answered. Privately, no one claims to have better players, man-for-man than Merrillville, the defending big school NW Indiana sectional champion. No one.

I've heard barroom-style talk that Griffith would beat Merrillville easily, but you haven't heard that from anybody on the Panther coaching staff and you won't. It's easy for fans, players and local hangers on to talk when your team doesn't play the tough schools. Merrillville has two openings on their schedule for next year after they spanked East Chicago and Highland by a combined score of 129-0. in 2005. Trust me. Neither opening will be filled by Griffith, which beat South Bend Riley (8-42 over the last 5 years) this preseason or anybody else in NW Indiana because nobody is all that eager to play Merrillville.

Unfortunately for Lake Central (2-7), they don't have a choice but to host Merrillville to start the playoffs Friday. The Pirates got a very good draw in sectional one. They have routed all three of the other teams in their half of the eight-team sectional bracket.

The Bulldogs' Jeremy Plummer #1 is about to throw a block on LaPorte's Andrew Muller #66 on punt return by Ryan Forney #12 that went 55 yards to set up CP's second TD in their 35-14 win over LaPorte 9-30-2005.

CROWN POINT - The Bulldogs dropped the big one, 47-7, on a very inept Michigan City team last week to complete just their third undefeated regular season in the history of the school. QB Matt Jansen tossed two TDs passes and junior all-NW Indiana receiver Matt Ernest grabbed five passes for 106 yards in his first game after coming off the injured list.

The Bulldogs are now at full strength and more formidable than they have been all season. CP held Michigan City to less than 10 yards rushing. The Bulldogs still have the No.1 rushing defense in NW Indiana and the No. 1 scoring defense among 5A teams state wide.

Senior Donny Keiser kicked his state record-tying 13th field goal in the rout of MC. The Bulldogs were 0-10 just five years ago and ended a 22-game losing streak four years ago this month. The Bulldogs are giving up 150 yards passing per game and while it hasn't been enough to beat them it is unsettling. Better than Merrillville because the Bulldogs beat the Pirates 13-0 in Crown Point in early September? Didn't the Cubs win the season series from the White Sox this year? How'd that work out for them? One early season game means nothing.

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 won the Lake Athletic Conference title for the first time in five years with a 35-10 win over Hobart. Drew Rogowski ran 46 yards in the first quarter for his 22nd TD of the year. The Panthers held Hobart to just 56 yards rushing and led 28-3 in the second quarter. This was not an impressive performance, though, with three Griffith turnovers and 10 penalties for 130 yards lost.

Still, it's almost all good for Griffith at the 2/3 mark of the season (they hope to play 15 games). The Panthers got challenged the final two weeks of the year and they responded with road wins. The good times will roll on as the Panthers play in weak Class 3A Sectional 17 which has only two other winning teams Andrean (8-1) and Morton (6-3), who play each other in the quarterfinals. Griffith could play their JV and reach the sectional finals on Nov. 4, so their biggest problem right now is getting the boys to invest mentally in practice the next two weeks when everyone is telling them how unbeatable they are. The Panthers' one flaw is the pass defense, which gave up almost 200 yards at Hobart. That and a non conference schedule which includes 'powerhouses' Chesterton (2-7) and South Bend Riley (2-7) is why Griffith is third in this poll.

RB Airrence Shark #34 scored a TD against CP on 15 carries for 52 yards for LaPorte, but the Slicers lost 35-14 to the Bulldogs, 9-30-2005.

LaPORTE - LaPorte was dishwater on defense in a 49-42 win over Portage. LaPorte QB Lance Juergensen zapped the Indians with 16 completions in 27 attempts for 366 yards and six TDs. But the Slicers' stoppers got sliced and diced for 575 total yards and 25 first downs. The Slicers finished one of their best seasons at 8-1, but let's not sugar coat things.

LaPorte allows 24 points a game and has given up more than 24 four times this season. LaPorte has to avoid anticipating a Nov. 4 meeting with perennial sectional champion Penn (7-2). Clay (3-6), which allows 37 points a game, has no answer for LaPorte's offense on Oct. 21.

But the Slicers don't have to be told that teams that give up 77 points in the final two games of the regular season won't be playing much longer if they don't get a lot better defensively.

Valparaiso's Aaron Biggs #34 had 12 carries for 112 yard Sept. 23 against CP's top-rated scoring defense.

VALPARAISO - Valpo shut down Lake Central 24-0 last Friday to finish the season with seven consecutive shutout quarters on defense. Playing eight 5A schools, Valpo has allowed just 115 points all year. By contrast, LaPorte, against much the same schedule (not including Penn), has allowed 210 points. This team would win the LAC Black Division.

Speedy halfback Hollis Ballard (5-11, 160) has six 100-yard games and is over 1,000 yards for the season while hard-running Aaron Biggs (5-8, 183) is over 650 yards. Valpo had 219 yards rushing last week on 39 carries against Lake Central and the line, led by senior D-1 lineman Paul Kasperan (6-5, 280) is aided by big tight end Jackson Phelps (6-3, 220). Kicker Tony Hite hit from 24 yards against LC, his second field goal in four weeks. Place-kicking was a major Valpo problem last year and they have clearly cured it. Junior Colin Krupchak has made 22 extra points in a row.

Coach Mark Hoffman has low-browed his team all year publicly and it has been successful. Area media has Lowell, Morton and Whiting ranked ahead of Valpo, three teams that simply could not beat them under any circumstances. It will be a match of strength against strength when Crown Point's top-rated run-defense gets off the bus for Friday night's Class 5A Sectional one quarterfinal.

Andrean's QB Jesse Repay #12 throws pass in direction of John Kennedy #11 in 7-0 win over Lowell, 9-16-2005.

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers were lucky to beat Munster 35-28 in overtime Friday after the 59ers blocked a game-winning Munster field goal attempt with three seconds left in regulation time. A halfback pass from Johnny Kennedy to George Dravet in the second overtime broke a 28-28 tie.

Andrean gave up a season-high 330 total yards. None of the reports on this game explained what happened to 59er QB Jesse Repay. Andrean threw the ball only five times last Friday (10-14-5) all night after Repay had thrown 137 times in eight games. 59er WR-DB Chris Skinner did not play after a leg injury on Oct. 7 against Griffith. It isn't certain when he'll be back.

Andrean may have overlooked Munster but they won't take Morton (6-3) lightly in the state tourney opener this week. This team does not have much playoff experience and a road game against a team they've already beaten is a big test. Morton is always a little overrated, but at this point, Andrean may be as well.

Michigan City's QB Kevin Collyard #18 takes snap from shotgun formation against CP, where he was 11 of 17 for 175 yards passing. But bad snaps and sacks resulted in 6 carries for minus 45 yards in their 47-7 loss to CP on 10-14-2005.

MICHIGAN CITY - Michigan City got toasted 47-7 at Crown Point Friday, seven days after a 42-10 pasting at LaPorte. But go back to what I said two weeks ago.

Everybody should have known that the top-10 Slicers and Bulldogs would whip Michigan City like a government mule. The Wolves' season is not over. Michigan City is looking at a home game with East Chicago (3-6) in 5A Sectional one before the expected home game against Merrillville (7-2).

The Wolves have two weeks to get ready for Merrillville because they don't have to spend a lot of time on East Chicago, which is very young and not physical. Now the bad news. MC had six bad snaps from center against Crown Point and they were again helpless against the pass, allowing 208 yards. 1,700-yard rusher Ryan Fics appeared to be slightly injured in the third quarter but he doesn't have to play against East Chicago. The Wolves' biggest problem is how badly are their feelings hurt by two serious butt-kicking losses.

Lowell's Jeff Clemens #2 near the Brickie Bowl scoreboard showing what proved to be the final score, a 14-7 win over Hobart, 10-7-2005.

LOWELL - Lowell rolled to their fourth consecutive victory behind 311 yards rushing in a 41-14 victory over Highland. Halfback Scott Gray posted his third 200-yard game of the season after Jeff Clemens ran the opening kickoff back 85 yards for a touchdown. QB Jimmy Ritter was 3-of-3 passing and ran 13 yards for a TD.

This was a significant win as Highland had a good passing game and had been competitive at times this year. The Devils held Trojan star QB Andrew Helmer to 11 of 21 for 158 yards, a decent job against a top player. Lowell got the yellow brick road sectional draw. They get a weak Gary school, Roosevelt (3-5) on the road, which could lead to home games in the sectional semifinals and finals.

Why aren't they ahead of Michigan City, which has submerged in the lasts two weeks? It's a close call but the reality is, MC is much bigger physically (320-pound tackle and 225-pound fullback) and has faced a tougher schedule. But Lowell figures to be playing on November 4 and Michigan City, frankly, does not.

QB Josh Miracle #18 passes over Lowell's Jeff Barker #34 in Hobart's 14-7 loss to Lowell, 10-7-2005.

HOBART - If you want to know who's good, ask Hobart. They have lost to Crown Point (9-0), Griffith (9-0), Andrean (8-1), Morton (6-3) and Lowell (5-4). The Brickies gave up 288 yards to Griffith last week in a 35-10 loss, but Hobart only ran for 56 yards which has been the Brickies' problem all season. When Hobart is forced to the air, they are only sporadically successful and they lose control of the clock.

The Brickies have a difficult game to open the state playoffs at Highland, but the winner gets a Gary school, either Lew Wallace (2-6) or West Side (3-5). Here's where you have to get away from the won-loss record and use some common sense. If Whiting or Morton had played Crown Point (9-0) in the pre-season instead of Hammond high (0-9) or River Forest (1-8), what do you think their record would be now? During then regular season, it's not about who you beat, its about who you play. Hobart is still a co-favorite with Lowell to win 4A Sectional nine and be playing undefeated Plymouth (9-0) on Nov. 11.

PORTAGE - I'm obligated to tell the truth here. Portage would beat Morton, Rensselaer or Whiting and they all know it.
The Indians completed one of their worst regular seasons with a 49-42 loss at LaPorte, but the Indians appeared to have solved some problems. Somewhere, Portage found a kicker. Vance Johnston was 6-of-6 in extra points on the road. QB Erik Rhein, who had been inconsistent, may yet be. But he had a high side of 25 of 42 for a school-record 486 yards and no interceptions at LaPorte, stunning totals for a QB who was 78 of 156 for 1,071 yards in the first eight games. WR Shane Dixon (41 catches, 762 yards) might be the best pass catcher in the DAC this year.

The Indians did give up 366 yards passing to LaPorte's Lance Juergensen but they also picked off two passes. Portage has lost six in a row, but they have five losses by 10 points or less.

Let me repeat, this poll is not based on wins and losses, but who is the better team. There's no chance that Whiting or Morton defeats Portage one time in 10. Trouble is, Portage plays Chesterton (2-7), who has QB Adam Beierwalter (145 of 266, 1,869 yards) ready to go in the Class 5A Sectional one quarterfinals this weekend.

RENSSELAER - The Bombers bounced back from a 35-32 loss to Sheridan to snuff out Benton Central 25-0. Senior Jake Kiger ran for two TDs and kicked two field goals and the Rensselaer defense held BC to just 55 yards rushing. The Bombers allow only 10 points a game so they had to rebound from the 35 points allowed on the ground at Sheridan. The Bombers are at home against Wheeler (5-4) in a tough 2A sectional quarterfinal opener. You like Rensselaer's playoff chances until you look at Jimtown (8-1) at the regional and Lewis Cass (9-0) at the semistate. Rensselaer beating Portage? Only if they played the game in Rensselaer on a Sunday. But Portage loses a lot of close games and Rensselaer does not.

HAMMOND - Morton did not recover well from the 31-14 loss at Highland. The Governors beat Hammond 20-0 but Hammond is winless. The Governors, who clinched a winning season for the first time in three years, may have been looking ahead to the 3A Sectional 17 quarterfinal home game with Andrean (8-1) this week. Morton has injury problems and they'll need all hands on deck against the 59ers, who stopped them 35-20 in September. The Governor's QB Robert Dutton will look to take advantage of the Andrean secondary, which may be without senior Chris Skinner. But what Morton really needs is fans. I do not know why local people in Hammond do not follow their sons at the football games, especially when the team wins. Could Morton beat Rensselaer? Both teams' weakness is run defense and Morton can't run the ball. Probably not.

WHITING - Whiting smoked out Kankakee Valley 35-7 to win the LAC Blue Division title. It was 28-0 after three quarters as the Kougars (6-3), who had played only one winning team (Wheeler (5-4) all year, were tossed aside as expected. The Oilers gained a total of 300 yards and QB Matt Kobli tossed three TD passes. The biggest stat in this game was only 115 yards rushing for the Kougars, a supposed Whiting weakness. The Oilers stay at home for a Sectional one quarterfinal game against River Forest (1-8), followed by a semifinal game against Lake Station (2-7) or LaVille (3-6). Looming in the other half of the bracket is West Central (8-1), which lost only 21-20 to Pioneer (9-0) last week. There is still the wish that the Oilers had played a tougher schedule, but there's nothing they can do about that now. The Oilers should be spending three weeks getting ready for West Central.

USA-365's

Week 9: NW Indiana High School Top-10 Football Poll