"The Renegade"

Week 4: High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report

9-6-2004

CROWN POINT (9-6-2004) Valparaiso now becomes the 'flex' team in the poll. They are 1-2 officially but both losses are in overtime which, is truthfully, two ties. How they are rated depends on how much you know about them. Most polls are simple-minded. If you win, you rise and if you lose, you fall. One poll had Whiting at No. 10 last week and did not include Crown Point. That's the same Crown Point that beat Class 5A No. 4 Merrillville Saturday night. Merrillville, with three division I players on defense and one or two more on offense, would beat Whiting 76-0 and both sides know it. Understand that when you look at local Northwest Indiana polls, or in polls anywhere, they are made largely to suck up to local teams. In Indianapolis, two classic games featured 5A No. 1 Warren Central beating 5A No. 2 Ben Davis 31-28 and 4A No. 1 Roncalli beating 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard 10-7.

The heat has been a major factor in northern Indiana for the last two weeks and it should break this week, allowing for better football.

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)

Head Coach: Craig Buzea (91-28, 10 years)

PORTAGE - Portage crushed Lake Central 35-7 with elite performances from QB John Huston (13-of-17, 200 yards) and HB Antoine Brown (24 carries, 178 yards, 3 TDs). Huston does not have an interception this season.

Note also that the two teams Portage beat, Hobart and East Chicago, won big last week making Portage's 34-7 win over Hobart and Portage's 54-23 win over East Chicago look much better. Teams that play them talk of the speed of their defense and the difficulty in blocking them.

I do not feel this team has been challenged by an equal as of yet and I have serious doubts about whether Portage can block the defensive front of Merrillville, which comes to Portage this Friday (Sept.10). This is the Indians' first true test and this is without question the game of the week.

STATUS: Solid. Steady as she goes.

2.) Valparaiso (1-2)

Head Coach: Mark Hoffman (185-122, 27 years at Valpo)

VALPARAISO - Reports were that Valparaiso had the center-QB exchange break down and they dropped the ball seven times, losing two fumbles. The Vikings also missed three field goals, two of which would have won the game. Still, 444 total yards indicates the power here. Jon Moon was 17 of 26 for 256 yards and three TDs. Valparaiso rolled up 24 first downs. They drop in the poll because they must find a reliable kicker and LaPorte's 14 of 18 passing is worrisome for a team that must meet good passing teams like Crown Point. Chesterton and Portage.

I will say this again. An overtime game is, by definition, a tie. For purposes of judging this team they have not been beaten yet. Valpo teams traditionally start slow and Michigan City could pay the price this weekend.

STATUS: Wounded. In need of a bounce back.

3.) MERRILLVILLE (2-1)

Head Coach: Jeff Yelton (46-29, 9 years)

MERRILLVILLE - Merrillville had the ball inside the Crown Point 30-yard line five times and came away with no touchdowns and one field goal. It would take too long to explain how right here. Tailback James Aldridge carried 26 times for 115 yards but his key fumble was one of many miscues for the home team. The Pirates' defense remained solid, allowing just 210 total yards to a high-powered air game of CP and Portage is very similar to Crown Point.

QB Jimmy Reitz does not seem confident and the Pirates other QB Evan Parker is injured. This is the moment of truth for Merrillville. The Pirates should have beaten Crown Point and that adds extra fire to this week's showdown with 5A No. 4 Portage. Portage has elite offensive personnel but they do not match up well with Merrillville.

Sometimes you need a loss to push your team. For Merrillville, this is one of those times.

STATUS: Wounded. In need of a bounce back.

4.) ANDREAN (3-0)

Head Coach: Brett St Germain (1 year, 12-1)

MERRILLVILLE - Andrean was not that impressive in a 21-6 win over Morton, a team they should have defeated by a larger score. The 59ers' defense remained solid, and Andrean has allowed just 26 points in three games. The 59ers cannot draw 11 penalties as they did in this contest. Still, QB Tommy Finn was 10-of-17 with no interceptions for the second game.

What did they need to see that they saw against Morton? Tailback Joaquin Rodriguez carried 15 times for 100 yards. That's big for the 59er offensive line which will need to control the ball in October and November.

But, I'll say this again. Morton is not one of the top four teams in the LAC Black Division. Andrean averages 23 points a game and that's not enough considering where it is they want to go. The 59ers, while solid so far, have to put more points on the board against this caliber of team because their goal should not be (and isn't) to win the LAC. They want to be state finals contenders.

STATUS: STEADY. But storm clouds on the horizon.

5.) LOWELL (2-1)

Head Coach: Kirk Kennedy (95-51, 13 years)

LOWELL - Whatever the reason, you can't lead 14-0 after one quarter and lose. It simply cannot happen to a team with high hopes. The Red Devils aren't that much better than Griffith but they should have buried them once they were up 14-0. Halfback Toby Goetz recorded his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game and the Red Devils didn't turn the ball over once in the 21-20 loss. They were right to go for a two-point conversion in the final two minutes trailing 21-20. You don't play for a tie unless you just don't think you're any good. Scott Schulz tossed a key 6-yard TD pass to Jeff Clemens and Schulz ran for a score. Lowell looks good and should be 3-0. There's no reason to worry. But there has to be a sense of urgency when you take a big lead on the road. You have to want to bury the opposition or they will come back.

The only people who feel worse about Lowell's narrow loss last week are the Morton Governors, who must travel to Lowell this week. The last 14-point lead that Lowell let get away was against Morton two years ago. The Devils will be reminded of that this week.

STATUS: WOUNDED. In need of a bounce back.

6.) Chesterton (2-1)

Head Coach: John Snyder (19-14 - 3 years)

CHESTERTON - Chesterton laid the smack down on Michigan City 48-0 last week, but it's questionable how good MC is. Casey Martin made it look easy, hitting 12 of 14 passes for 201 yards and three TDs. Remember, Chesterton is a 4^th down double pass deflection away from being 3-0. Casey Werner ran for TDs of 20, 32 and 80 yards. The Trojans did give up 227 yards on the ground which is the reason that optimism is not skyrocketing, but the offense for Chesterton might be the best they've had in many years. Michigan City is the worst team in the DAC. The next six weeks will be tougher for the Trojans starting with a difficult trip to rejuvenated LaPorte this week.

STATUS: ON THE RISE. You don't really want to face them right now.

7.) Griffith (2-1)

Head Coach: Russ Radtke (100-37, 11 years)

GRIFFITH - Griffith was fortunate to rally from 14-0 behind and then hold on for a 21-20 victory at home over rival Lowell. Two years ago, Griffith lost 21-20 to Lowell when THEY missed a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. DE Nick Lam Chi returns next week, but the Panthers lose halfback Drew Rogowski for a week. Rogowski was ejected against Lowell and will have to sit out (by IHSAA rules) the game at Munster this week.

Griffith's 32-21 loss to Chesterton does not look bad right now, but two more key fumbles for Griffith leave doubt about their strength. Still, we are seeing now that this is not a strong year in the LAC Black. Griffith must win their next four games and they should. Look at the schedule. Pain is coming soon. Either for Griffith's foes or for them.

STATUS: UNCLEAR. They are lucky to be 2-1.

8.) CROWN POINT (1-2)

Head Coach: Chip Pettit (14-17, 3 Years)

CROWN POINT - A great victory for Crown Point against undefeated Merrillville. An 80-yard pass from Matt Jansen to Matt Ernest was the only TD in a 7-3 win on the road. CP's 3-5-3 defense held Merrillville, which had scored 96 points in two weeks, to just 171 total yards.

The CP passing offense was stopped for the first time, but Jansen had an off night missing open receivers. The return of LB Chris Schillo (he missed the 1^st 2 games) was a big lift. Depth is still a problem defensively but the spread attack of CP is very difficult to prepare for. The Bulldogs have led all three games they have played in the fourth quarter.

STATUS: ON THE RISE. But there are hurricane caliber storm clouds on the horizon.

9.) Hobart (2-1)

Head Coach: Wally McCormack (5-7, 1 year)

HOBART - Hobart showed they have enough to compete for the LAC Black title by blowing out pretender Hammond high 46-0. Anyone who says there isn't a talent difference between the DAC and the LAC should examine this game. Hobart is still a DAC team. Their seniors grew up in the DAC and played DAC foes. Hammond, which was held to just 29 total yards, could not hang with them and Highland (this Friday's foe) will not be able to either. The Brickies' line play has been good. If their depth holds up, it will stay that way. Remember, the Brickies opened with two DAC schools and they more than held their own. When Hobart moved to the LAC, it was said they would one day soon compete for the league title. Not everyone realizes it yet, but 'one day soon' is here.

STATUS: ON THE RISE. You don't want to play them right now.

10.) LaPorte (2-1)

Head Coach: Bob Schellinger (55-54, 6 years)

LaPORTE - How do you explain this team? Struggle with New Prairie. Lose to Elkhart Central, which is tougher than New Prairie. Beat Valparaiso, who is tougher than Elkhart Central AND New Prairie. Back-up QB Tony Dubbs helped pull off the upset of the week, hitting 14 of 18 passes in a 27-21 OT win. Culver transfer Josh Salary ran 15 times for 106 yards. This team made a couple of changes in the offensive line and this was a big upset. But it was truthfully just a tie and they gave up almost 450 yards. The Slicers must play better than this to have a winning season and I think they know it. Chesterton at LaPorte (Sept. 10) is the most interesting game of the week. Both teams are talented enough to win and both could win big.

STATUS: UNCLEAR. Different boys seem to show up every week.

11.) Munster (2-1)

Leroy Marsh (163-97, 21 years)

MUNSTER - Hard times come home as Highland rallies to upset the Mustangs 17-16. That does not bode well for upcoming games with Griffith, Lowell and Andrean who are all superior to Highland. On top of that, ace fullback Prince Kwateng suffered a leg injury in practice and is out indefinitely. Munster led Highland 16-7 with six minutes to play and the game got away. Highland gained 355 total yards on a defense that should not allow that much to anything but top teams. It's judgment day for Munster as Griffith (2-1) and Hobart (2-1) are next.

STATUS: WOUNDED. They are at a cross roads.

Out of town scoreboard...

Team	1	2	3	4	F
3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard (2-1)	7	0	0	0	7
4A No. 1 Roncalli (3-0)	0	7	0	3	10

INDIANAPOLIS - A monster game that truthfully cannot be encouraging to future foes of either team.

How did three-time defending 3A champ Bishop Chatard get stopped? 2,500-yard rusher Dray Mason left the game after the first series with a sprained ankle. But no Indiana school has beaten Chatard since 2001. Roncalli's defense held strong in a big game.

Chatard's 235-pound fullback Frank Halliburton ran 52 yards for a TD on the first play of the game but that was all the Trojans would get. Roncalli's 2,000-yard rusher Tim Sergi carried 24 times for 83 yards and he scored on a 13-yard second quarter run. The game-winning field goal came from 32 yards out in the fourth quarter.

Roncalli has beaten Center Grove, Franklin Central and now Chatard. The Rebels shutout East Noble in the 4A state title game last year. Chatard hasn't lost to a Class 3A school in four years. They could fall again at superpower Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder on Sept. 17 but what happens when they start playing 3A teams again?

Again, Andrean is playing Morton. Griffith is playing Lowell. Chatard is facing 5A Reitz (2-1), the 4A state champion and a top-10 6A team from Ohio. Is there a little difference in strength of schedule here?