"The Renegade"

Week 16: High School Final Top-5 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report

12-2-2004

CROWN POINT (12-2-2004) - There is a tendency to say that the team that wins the state title is the No. 1 team but, of course, in Class sports, that's not often the reality.

As good as state champ Andrean was against 3A competition, it's debatable whether they even finish in the top half of the big school Duneland Conference. They'd have no chance against Merrillville, which had five D-1 players. Andrean would have little chance against Portage or Valparaiso, who could have run on them consistently. They'd have had a 50-50 chance against LaPorte and Crown Point (CP-Andrean would have been the most entertaining game of the year) and they were lucky to beat Chesterton.

But those are all 5A schools and Andrean is 3A and that's why we have class sports. It's a good idea, whatever anyone tells you. High school sports are supposed to create the ultimate legitimate athletic competition for the greatest number of kids. That's what it's done. I didn't hear one Andrean person who was disappointed that the 59ers didn't get a shot at Roncalli (the 4A champ) or Warren Central (the 5A winner). And I highly doubt that either 1A king Seeger or 2A winner Tri-West were itching for a shot at Andrean. Five classes is probably one too few. There obviously should be six. But class sports makes the football tournament work. Bring on Class 6A. Because it's really not fair for East Chicago (enrollment: 1400) to play Portage (Enrollment 2,500) in the state tournament.

But next time you hear someone whine about class sports in basketball, understand that if not for class sports playoffs in football, NW Indiana (Lake, Porter, Starke, Newton, LaPorte and Jasper counties) would have NO state titles in the last quarter century. Not even one.

Before we move on to 'Indiana's game' let's look at the Top-5 one more time and give them a final word and a look ahead.

1.) MERRILLVILLE (11-2)

Head Coach: Jeff Yelton (57-31, 9 years)

MERRILLVILLE - Anybody around here who thinks they were better than Merrillville didn't play them. You can't do it over, but if James Aldridge (281 carries, 2,067 yards) doesn't get hurt on the opening play of the game, The Pirates might have worn down Penn in the regional title game. Next season, Evan Parker (76-144, 1,277) returns at QB and he'll be much better with an entire off season to work. I think Beau McClendon can be switched to WR and with Dexter Larimore anchoring the defensive line, and Rayshon Richardson and Chad Dawson returning at LB, Merrillville will be fine.

Fine should translate into the DAC favorite. Only three DAC teams return their starting QB (Crown Point, LaPorte and Merrillville) and only one (CP does return a 1,000-yard receiver in Matt Ernest) returns a 1,000-yard rusher. Merrillville had a very good year (DAC and Sectional 1 titles) and is in very good shape.

Penn will be stronger in 2005 than they were this year but Snider won't be. There is a chance that the Pirates could be the Merrillville-based team playing indoors next November.

2.) Portage (8-4)

Head Coach: Craig Buzea (99-32, 10 years)

PORTAGE - 8-4 is a pretty good season, especially with two losses to Merrillville (11-2). HB Justin Smith (29 carries, 117 yards vs. Merrillville) will be back to run the ball. TE Jeff Disney and WR Shane Dixon (17-310 yards) will be back to catch it. Right now, I'm not sure who'll be throwing it, but Portage almost always finds a QB.

Antoine Brown (303 caries, 1,574 yards) carried 273 times for 2,039 yards in 2003. Yeah, he broke his leg in November and that diminishes his college value. But maybe the new coach at Indiana will want him. The Hoosiers aren't overloaded with talent.

There were a half dozen 230-270 pounders on the 2004 Portage roster in 2004 who were not seniors. I would expect a very solid offensive line is already under construction.

3.) Valparaiso (6-5)

Head Coach: Mark Hoffman (191-127 in 28th year at Valparaiso, 193-135 in 29th year overall)

VALPARAISO - A disappointing season. Some injuries and close losses, including two losses to Portage, one to Merrillville and one in OT to Penn. I believe the backup QBs to replace graduating Jon Moon (119-231, 1,721, 20 TDs, 7 INTs) are Carl Hoefler (6-2, 214) and Nate Windsor (6-1, 187). HB Gilbert Allen (6-1, 187) carried 135 times for 743 yards and he returns behind an offensive line that should be big. Some of the prospects they have are Tim Handlon (6-1, 185), who played LB and may go to RB. Soph Travis Allen (6-5, 192) has great size at TE as does freshman offensive lineman Brad Van Senus (6-4, 213), whose brother Bill is a 7-foot college basketball player. This team will be heard from in 2005 and 2006.

4.) ANDREAN (13-2)

Head Coach: Brett St Germain (25-3 in 2nd year at Andrean)

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers' Class 3A state title will create a surge of new players coming to Andrean if coach Brett St. Germain stays. How good a coach Brett St. Germain is will be will be determined when he has less offensive talent than he had in 2004. But he knew how to handle key losses with quiet, careful prodding and he also knew how to handle team success with candor and humility. Now-junior Adam Shingle appears to be first in line to replace graduating all-stater Tommy Finn (225-366, 3,380 yards, 35 TDs, 7 INTs). DB-WR Chris Skinner (19-214 yards, 4 interceptions) returns as does LB Garrett Klein (109 tackles) and lineman James Ohrn (6-2, 270), Anthony Harris (6-4, 270) and Brendan Carragher (6-2,255). Throw in big FB-LB Kellen Mackin (6-2, 220) and Andrean will win more than they lost in 2005.

A simplified version of the passing attack that carried the 59ers to the state title should work again, especially in the run-oriented Lake Athletic Conference.

As for Tommy Finn? Mark my words, Tommy Finn will be playing division I baseball in the fall of 2005.

5.) LOWELL (9-4)

Head Coach: Kirk Kennedy (104-55 in 14th year at Lowell)

LOWELL - Here's the intriguing team going into next season. Losing QB sure-handed Scott Schulz and all-state power tailback Toby Goetz (276 carries, 1,939) will be seen as creating large question marks for 2005. But in Jeff Clemens (61-751, 23 TDs) and Scott Gray (50-381 yards), Lowell has two players who can fill the double halfback set they used very successfully in 1999 when they went to the semistate. Clemens, who is an all-state safety and an all-area caliber punter needs to regain his touch as a place-kicker to give Lowell the ability to score in 3s. Senior-to-be Jimmy Ritter (6-1, 165) and junior to be Jon Cap (6-0, 150) are among the candidates for the open QB post. Under coach Kirk Kennedy, Lowell will never be a passing team but the Devils will throw more in 2005. Chris Lampa returns as a good WR.

Lowell does an amazing job of finding capable linemen so they should find two to go with Jed Travis (5-10,240), Randy Layman (6-0, 235) and Ryan King (5-10, 180).

I think star wrestler Ethan Winel (5-10, 193) will eventually be a fine defensive lineman and short yardage fullback. The linebackers, King, 2004's leading tackler, Ritter, Lampa and possibly Gray (5-8, 180) will be a strength. Lowell's quick 2004 defense may be even quicker in 2005. The reason Lowell didn't play Roncalli for the 4A state title was that they could not find defensive backs. Players like Mike Koza (5-8, 150), Mike Dowling (5-9, 150), Joe Wojcik (6-0, 172) and anybody else who volunteers simply must prevent more pass completions. Even with Andrean's Tommy Finn and Wawasee's Kyle Lantz, the passers that doomed the Devils in 2004, moving on to college, improvement in the secondary will determine how long Lowell stays alive in 2005.

NORTHWEST INDIANA running backs (FINAL - 2004)

1. James Aldridge (MERRILLVILLE) 276 carries, 2,061 yards
2. Toby Goetz (LOWELL) 276 carries, 1,939 yards
3. Sam Daniels (East Chicago) 186 carries, 1,918 yards
4. Antoine Brown (Portage) 303 carries, 1,574 yards
5. Jacob Kiger (Renssealer) 220 carries, 1,573 yards