"The Renegade"

Week 8: High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report

10-4-2004

CROWN POINT (10-4-2004) - Merrillville left little doubt as to which team is having the best season. When the season began, Portage and Valparaiso were considered the top two teams in the DAC and Merrillville has beaten both of them by two TDs or more. Before folks get carried away with state hopes, they should look at what Penn did to undefeated Elkhart Central (50-21) last Friday and check the record of Fort Wayne Snider (7-0), which averages 60 points per game. Whiting (7-0) is not dominating the way they were earlier in the year but that's good. They want to roll next month, not now. The big showdown this week will be ignored by northwest Indiana media as it sends Class 1A No. 1 Sheridan to Rensselaer (7-0).

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.) MERRILLVILLE (6-1)

Head Coach: Jeff Yelton (52-30, 9 years)

MERRILLVILLE - Another excellent game by junior quarterback Evan Parker, who rushed 13 times for 162 yards in the 45-14 win over a Valparaiso team that had not lost a game in regulation this year. With the addition of junior tailback James Aldridge (162 carries, 1,239 yards, 12 TDs), everyone agrees that Merrillville has the best players. The question has always been consistency and turnovers. The Pirates have allowed 10 points per game. Nobody runs on them (Valpo had 18 yards) no one has scored more than 17 points against them. They seem perfectly situated for November. But they have to get there. They also have to deal with Chesterton on Oct. 15.

STATUS: DOMINATING... You wish the title game was tomorrow.

2.) Valparaiso (4-3)

Head Coach: Mark Hoffman (189-124, 27 years at Valpo)

VALPARAISO - The loss of top tackler Bo Gilliland (ACL – season ending surgery) was big for the Vikings, but that doesn't explain a 31-point defeat at Merrillville. The Vikings' offensive line had no success against the powerful Merrillville front. QB Jon Moon was 14-of-30 for 171 yards, but he was throwing from behind early in the game. Valpo gets another major test this week against rival Portage (5-2) and the back-to-back nature of these blockbusters may be too much for them. Still, it would be a mistake to write off this team with so much experience, good size and speed.

STATUS: WOUNDED... and there are more bears in the woods.

3.) Portage (5-2)

Head Coach: Craig Buzea (96-30, 10 years)

PORTAGE - The 27-14 win over Michigan City is a little deceptive because Portage led 21-0 after one quarter. HB Antoine Brown (164, 1,023, 16 TDs) and WR Milt Rivera (43 catches, 671 yards) are still in top form and QB Jake Huston (74 of 131, 970 yards, 7TDs, 8 INTs) did not throw an interception at Michigan City. This team is a lot smaller than Valparaiso and Merrillville and they probably can't beat both of them in the sectional. The Indians would need to face only one of them.

STATUS: STEADY... But there are storm clouds on the horizon.

4.) Chesterton (5-2)

CHESTERTON - Chesterton rolled over Lake Central 42-14 with 337 yards of total offense. QB Casey Martin (70 of 129, 949 yards) has now thrown for 11 touchdowns. The Trojans are still largely an unknown quality and quantity. They should have beaten Andrean (6-1) but they were smoked by Valparaiso (4-3). The come from behind win over Portage says they have the composure to rally, but Portage outplayed them. The Trojans have also lost two starters to injury.

The task this week is not to overlook a road game against Crown Point (never overlook a road game) and earn the home finale for the DAC title against Merrillville.

STATUS: MOVIN' ON UP... but times are about to get tough.

5.) ANDREAN (6-1)

Head Coach: Brett St Germain (1 year, 18-2)

MERRILLVILLE - Andrean bounced back from the loss to Hobart and rolled over Highland 38-0. The big stats was just 50 rushing yards allowed. That's after giving up 500 in two weeks against Lowell and Hobart. The run defense is all that matters this week as the 59ers travel to Griffith, which averages over 300 rushing yards a game. Andrean has won 45 of 50 games and they have not had a turnover for two weeks in a row.

STATUS: ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL... But the trail gets rocky this week.

6.) LOWELL (5-2)

Head Coach: Kirk Kennedy (100-53, 13 years)

LOWELL - The Devils were strong in a 36-7 win over injury-depleted Munster. Toby Goetz scored five times and he has 21 TDs this season. QB Scott Schulz is 8-for-8 combined in the last two weeks. FB Ethan Winel broke his left hand but he's still playing. Lowell has no other serious injuries and that must continue with a 46-man roster in Class 4A. The Devils host Hobart (6-1) in a certain playoff preview this week. Lowell's speed against Hobart's size is a good contrast.

STATUS: ONE OF THE BEST... But it's time for a test.

7.) Griffith (6-1)

GRIFFITH - Griffith's high-powered offense (285 points – 40.7 per game) smacked down Hammond 49-6 last week in the final walk-over game before Andrean (6-1) and Hobart (6-1). This team is unproven. Take away the 21-20 win over Lowell and the entire year is suspect. But you keep thinking, this has always been a bad weather team and the bad weather is coming. They shouldn't make too much of this week's game with Andrean (6-1) because the match up with Andrean next month is the one that counts. The Panthers' offensive line must win this game.

STATUS: ANXIOUS... Ready to rumble.

8.) Hobart (6-1)

9.) CROWN POINT (2-5)

CROWN POINT – The Bulldogs led LaPorte most of the game, but gave up two TDs in the final two minutes to lose 37-23 at LaPorte. Tailback Jon Sertich carried 20 times for 275 yards but QB Matt Jansen was just 7-of-21 for 62 yards last week. Those two numbers are connected. Everyone prepares for the CP passing and Sertich (90 carries, 577 yards) is taking advantage of that. CP has lost five starters to injury and they have allowed 700 totals yards in the last two weeks. Those two numbers are connected as well. CP's win over Merrillvile (6-1) looks better all the time. The Bulldogs' losses have all been to winning teams and another one, Chesterton (5-2) comes in Friday.

STATUS: HARD TIMES... Looking for just one more big win.

10.) LaPorte (4-3)

LaPORTE –I don't think LaPorte is better than CP because of Friday's 37-23 win. CP led the entire game.

Soph RB Airrence Shark (103 carries, 613 yards) carried 23 times for 198 yards and 4 TDs, including the two winning scores in the final two minutes. Remember, LaPorte has played without their starting QB all season. Anthony Dubbs was just 3-of-9 last week with two interceptions. The rivalry game with up-and-coming Michigan City is Friday.

STATUS: STILL HARD TO FIGURE... Two more weeks of tests.

11.) East Chicago (5-2)
Head Coach: Mark Hidalgo (31-29, 4 years)

EAST CHICAGO - QB David Rodriguez completed 16 of 28 for 336 yards at St. Joseph's in a 32-16 victory. Tailback Sammy Daniels did not arrive at the game (a doctors appointment) until halftime and he still scored twice. EC has not defeated a winning team yet and that's why they're not higher in this poll. Too many soft games like this week against Wirt.

STATUS: COASTING... It's just too easy right now.

Out of town schedule...

Sheridan (7-0) at Rensselaer (7-0)

Friday, Oct. 8 at Rensselaer

RENSSELAER:  The biggest test of the season for the Bombers who feature HB Andrew Malone (97 carries for 756 yards) and QB Jake Kiger (52 of 104, 5 TDs, plus 124 carries for 869 yards) who take on the Blackhawks, who have allowed only 61 points all season and average 44 points per game.

Sheridan held a good 3A team, Twin Lakes, to a minus 5 yards rushing in good weather. The Bombers' rushing game against the Blackhawks' defense is the feature here in this match up of two of the 27 unbeaten teams remaining in Indiana.