The
RENEGADE 2009
NW Indiana High School
Top-10, Week-8 Football Poll
A
USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
10-05-2009
MERRILLVILLE (10-09-2009)
It's the game that can never be played.
Throughout this decade, some have suggested it. But no one seriously
considers it. Both schools would welcome it. And it would draw a
standing room only crowd. Lowell vs. Merrillville. The top 5A
program in this decade against the top 4A program. The undefeated
defending 5A Sectional One champion and leader of the Duneland Athletic
Conference against the undefeated defending 4A Sectional 10 champion and leader
of the Northwest Crossroads Conference. 56-17 in the last six years
against 71-19 in the last seven seasons.
As much as I have said here that I believe the two
schools simply play at a different level, I am told often that both teams play
Crown Point every year and the results aren't that different. Merrillville beat
CP 38-14 this year while Lowell beat them 19-0. Some Lowell folks feel the
team would benefit more by losing to Merrillville than they would by shutting
out Hammond (they've shut them out 3 years in a row) every year and I can't
argue with that.
I almost wish the game could be played, but it truly
can't be. Why? Because Lowell opens the season with Crown Point, a
natural 5A rival that they would be crazy to ever think about dropping for any
reason. Week two for Lowell is Morton and, no matter what Morton coach Roy
Richards may occasionally say, Lowell actually wants Morton on the schedule.
With the size of the school and the speed that the Governors typically have,
Morton is a test Lowell needs in years like this one when the Northwest
Crossroads Conference is somewhat down. And Morton's actually drawing a
few more fans lately.
Would Merrillville wish to play Lowell? Sure, but
it's complicated. The Pirates open the season with Indianapolis 5A
superpower Warren Central and, while they've been smoked like a Christmas Ham
the last two years, it's working for them. After playing Warren Central,
nobody seems big or fast to you after that. Look at the last three seasons
and tell me again how it hurts the Pirates to play Warren Central in the opener.
Merrillville is locked into the DAC in the final seven
weeks of the season and that won't change for the foreseeable future. The
Pirates play Warren Central and then natural rival and neighbor Andrean, a
second week game that's perfect for them. So they're not going to change
that, either.
But if the IHSAA ever ashcans that dinosaur they call
the 'pre-season scrimmage' that they charge paying fans $5 to see... and if they
ever add a 10th game to the football season... Maybe on a Thursday night in
August. A special season opener the night before everyone else begins the
schedule. In front of 8,000 fans at Merrillville. One night only.
Maybe we could see Lowell vs. Merrillville.
Never say never.
The state tournament draw is not until next Tuesday at
6:00 p.m. If it seems to get later and later each season that's because it
does. I don't think the IHSAA wants you to know that a team you may be
facing in week eight will be your post-season foe. It does detract from
that game. That's the only reason to continually push the selection date
back. But it gives us a chance to consider the possibilities.
Let's look at who would be the best possible opponent
for each of our Top-10.
1.) 5A Merrillville (6-1)
2008
(8-5), 2007 (12-2), 2006 (7-5), 2005 (11-3), 2004 (6-5)
MERRILLVILLE: Merrillville shut down Valparaiso 35-7 to take a commanding lead in the DAC. The Pirates trailed 7-0 before dominating with 35 unanswered points.
The Pirates could lose the title by losing to Chesterton on Oct. 16, but I'm not betting on that happening. Zach Raspopovich had a career-best 11 of 17 for 249 yards. Denzel Pierce now has 13 TDs. The only problem for Merrillville is that they have to play some of these same DAC teams again and that never works well for you.
WHO DO THEY WANT: Anyone they haven't already played. That means Munster (5-2) or East Chicago (2-5). The Pirates are playing well, but I don't know if they want a rematch with Chesterton or Portage immediately. Rematches always favor the team that got beat the first time.
2.) 4A Lowell (7-0)
2008 (13-1), 2007 (13-2), 2006 (7-6), 2005
(11-4), 2004 (9-4)
LOWELL: The Devils rolled over Hammond 63-0 in a game that was no contest.
I don't know if Hammond wants to continue playing Lowell.
But I'm curious if Lowell would like to pursue more equal competition. There aren't a lot of teams the Devils could play. All DAC teams are locked into league play after the month of August, which leaves teams like Wheeler, East Chicago or Bowman Academy. Bowman or Boone Grove are probably a decade down the line, but I think a Wheeler-Lowell series is not farfetched. I think the Lowell-Hammond series does not benefit either side and that usually means change is going to occur. Lowell has won 22 regular season games in a row, but they know some of the teams they've played are lamer than Jay Cutler's passing totals. Lowell needs a test and maybe it comes on the road Friday at Munster (5-2).
WHO DO THEY WANT: Kankakee Valley, Riley or Clay (2-5). Even Logansport (5-2), which has stumbled lately.
Lowell does not want to draw Plymouth (7-0) or Concord (6-1) to open the post-season. Why? Because they want Plymouth to draw Concord (6-1) or South Bend Washington (5-2). I don't know if the Devils are good enough to defeat ALL three.
3.) 3A Andrean (5-2)
2008 (6-7), 2007 (9-4), 2006 (8-3), 2005 (8-2), 2004 (13-2)
MERRILLVILLE:
The Niners are quietly putting together a very fine season. The teams they have lost to:
Munster (5-2) and Merrillville (6-1) are quality and Andrean is moving the ball on everyone else.
Last week's 44-9 win over KV featured four more TDs from Richard Schmidt, giving him 17 on the season.
Wheeler's Sam O'Shea has 21 TD passes, but let's be honest.
Schmidt has done his damage against a real schedule.
The Niners have to be very careful going into physical games the final two weeks against Griffith (4-3) and Lowell (7-0).
These games are just for fun. You want to win, but you need ONLY to play well and stay healthy.
If I'm Andrean, I rest all injured players.
Why? Look at the sectional and regional.
WHO DO THEY WANT:
If I'm Andrean, I want anyone, but I want to open on the road. Culver Military (6-1) has played well, but they have not played the schedule Andrean has and I wouldn't want an opening game in Marshall County. Other than that, the Niners should have no fear of anyone in their sectional.
4.) 5A Portage (4-3)
2008 (6-4), 2007 (5-5), 2006 (6-5), 2005 (2-8), 2004 (8-4)
PORTAGE:
Either Portage or Chesterton is the second best team in the DAC and I'm not sure which is best.
The Indians topped Michigan City 21-19 last week although, to be fair, MC did not have starting QB Rodney Washington.
Portage is the best show in the area.
They score a lot (27.4 per game) and they allow a lot (22.3 per game).
The Indians have scored at least 20 points in every game this year,
but they gave up 282 yards rushing last week and they seem almost helpless against the run sometimes.
Jake Dixon (82 carries, 637 yards) and Zach Huston (105 carries, 690 yards) are a pain to play against.
WHO DO THEY WANT: East Chicago (2-5), Lake Central (1-6), Valparaiso (3-4) or Crown Point (3-4).
Valpo is crippled by injuries and LC just can't score (only 78 points all year). Portage defeated CP 43-22 and I'm sure they'd feel confident in a rematch. Don't say it out loud, but Portage will gladly draw anybody but Merrillville.
5.) 5A Chesterton (5-2)
2008 (9-3), 2007 (6-4), 2006 (5-6), 2005 (3-8), 2004 (5-5)
CHESTERTON:
The Trojans were solid in a 40-7 win over Lake Central. Junior QB Jon Watson has 750 yards rushing and 14 TDs. The Trojans defense needs a solid game this week against suddenly-potent Crown Point. But the Trojans, like Portage, have scored 20 or more in every single game this year. This team likes Northwest Indiana weather, too. They're like Lowell and Griffith in that they don't need to throw the ball to win.
WHO DO THEY WANT:
Here's the only team that wouldn't mind playing Merrillville. For one thing, the Trojans probably feel they can run the ball on anyone. Also, Chesterton's final regular season game is Merrillville and they would be at an advantage playing them twice. A rematch always favors the underdog.
6.) 5A LaPorte (4-3)
2008 (4-8), 2007 (8-3), 2006 (12-1), 2005 (11-1), 2004 (4-7)
LaPORTE: Did I mention last week that LaPorte does not play well at home?. The Slicers are 3-0 at home and 1-3 away from home after a 27-17 loss at Crown Point. The Slicers gave up almost 300 yards and lost leading rushing Nick Latchford (800 yards in 7 games) to a leg injury.
This team had a worse week than the US Olympic Committee
Its not know if he can return for the final two games.
Good news: LaPorte is home the final two weeks against Portage (4-3) and Michigan City (5-2).
WHO DO THEY WANT: They probably don't relish the chance to face Mishawaka (7-0) or Penn (6-1) but the real deal is: If LaPorte draws a home game, they'd be happy whoever it was.
7.) 5A Valparaiso (3-4)
2008 (9-2), 2007 (6-5), 2006 (3-6), 2005 (5-5), 2004 (6-5)
VALPARAISO:
The fortunes here changed quickly.
There's no shame that Valpo lost to Merrillville 35-7 but they also lost HB Nick Thompson for the season with a leg injury.
On top of that, there's word that senior QB Zack Livovich (6-5, 215) might not
get back this season at all.
The Vikings play at Portage this week and that's likely to be another high-scoring shootout.
But Valpo is running out of ammunition.
WHO DO THEY WANT:
Valparaiso needs time for Livovich to get back, so they need the weakest teams they can get early, like Lake Central (1-6) or East Chicago (2-5).
The Vikings can win. There's still a lot of offensive ability here.
Of course, that's what Purdue keeps saying.
8.)
5A Michigan City (5-2)
2008 (4-6), 2007 (2-8), 2006 (1-9), 2005 (6-5), 2004 (4-6)
MICHIGAN CITY:
Michigan City lost 21-19 to Portage and they're down here in the poll because we don't know the condition of QB Rod Washington, who has missed the last two games. Adam Harmon gained 245 yards on 31 carries and he's the first back over 1,000 yards (153 carries, 1,134 yards) this season in NW Indiana. MC closes on the road at LaPorte and Crown Point, but those games aren't an issue as much as good health is.
WHO DO THEY WANT: They want Rodney Washington back healthy, is who they want. Not knowing his injury, MC needs time so a first round game with Goshen (1-6), Elkhart Central (1-6) or Adams (1-6) would not be a bad thing.
9.) 4A Morton (6-1)
2008 (7-5) 2007 (6-4), 2006 (5-5), 2005 (8-4)
HAMMOND:
Morton coasted past Gary West Side 47-18 Friday in a game Morton actually can't afford to be playing this late in the year. The Governors finish the season with home games against Hobart (1-6) and Gavit (2-5) and that's not hard core playoff preparatory competition.
Why doesn't Morton challenge Wheeler?
They both seem to feel the need to prove something.
Let's get together.
WHO DO THEY WANT: I think the Governors are ready for all comers, even Griffith. If I'm Morton, I want to play Griffith right away. Clearly the two best teams in 4A Sectional 9. Let's get it on.
10.) 5A Munster (5-2)
2008 (7-4) , 2007 (3-7), 2006 (5-5), 2005 (3-7)
MUNSTER:
Munster survived 10-7 at Hobart in an age that didn't exactly scream 'We're Top-10'. The Mustangs' season parallels Notre Dame.
The Irish could be 1-4 or 5-0. Munster could be 7-0 or 3-4. Munster has scored just 48 points in the last four weeks, meaning their season could be going the way of Kanye West's singing career.
WHO DO THEY WANT: East Chicago (2-5). Munster doesn't want a rematch with Lake Central, giving LC a chance to salvage their season and there's nobody else in Sectional 1 they can beat. What Munster folks really want is to get their hands on the guy who bumped them up from Class 4A to 5A a couple of years ago.
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Revised: October 05, 2009
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