STATE
FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
by Mark Smith
There is no need for every team in Indiana to make the state playoffs in
football. If you had a system where the top 32 teams qualified for a
five-week tournament, you could ad a regular season game and allow 160 of the
state's approximately 300 teams could play in a high quality tournament instead
of one that is occasionally exciting but too long. With that aside, here's what
this year' state tournament looks like.
CLASS 5A, Sectional 1
Lew
Wallace at Valparaiso
Merrillville
at Lake Central
Portage at East Chicago
Chesterton
at Crown Point
You've got to like Valparaiso (6-1) here. A soft opener against Wallace and two teams (LC or Merrillville) they've pounded in the second round. Chesterton might have the best chance of beating Valparaiso but Chesterton, which beat Portage 42-40, probably can't do that again. Crown Point could beat Chesterton and Portage but they have major problems competing with Valparaiso.
WHO'LL
WIN? Valparaiso
They have far too much experience and they only have to win two games.
CLASS 5A, Sectional 2
LaPorte
at Elkhart Central
Penn
at Elkhart Memorial
Mishawaka at (SB) Riley
Goshen
at Michigan City
Goshen (7-0) is undefeated but not dominating (outscored 7 teams 150-46) but you have to respect them, especially with Michigan City (2-5) as their opening game. LaPorte (4-3) has played lost two overtime games so they're a lucky bounce away from being 6-1. They'll smoke Elkhart Central (2-5) Mishawaka (4-3) could upset Goshen in the second round.
WHO'LL
WIN? Penn
They've got too much defense for LaPorte and too much offense for Goshen. Plus
Penn wants a state playoff rematch with Valparaiso very much.
CLASS 4A, Sectional 9
Roosevelt
at LOWELL
Morton
at Highland
Griffith at Munster
Hammond
at Gary West Sid
Griffith beat Munster 14-3 earlier this year but Munster will win a rematch and they'll crush Gary West Side or Hammond. Lowell gets a walkover against Roosevelt and they should beat the Morton/Highland winner. Morton (6-1) has a chance to beat Lowell but their schedule is so much weaker than Lowell's.
WHO'LL
WIN? Munster
They've got the will to get their offense rolling against Lowell and they've got
enough experience to win at Lowell in the sectional title game.
CLASS 4A, Sectional 10
Hobart
at (SB) Clay
Logansport
(bye)
(SB) Washington at Kankakee Valley
Plymouth at (SB) Adams
Clay (5-2) had allowed only 59 points in seven games. No. 11 Plymouth (5-2) has allowed 179 points in seven games. Washington is 2-5 and I think Kankakee Valley will beat them. Logansport is 0-7 and the Hobart-Clay winner will stomp them.
WHO'LL WIN? Hobart
The Brickies have played six 5A teams and held their own. Hobart is the sentimental favorite but they've also played the most difficult schedule. The Brickies can beat Plymouth in the title game.
CLASS 3A, Sectional 17
Wirt
at ANDREAN
Bishop
Noll at Calumet
Clark at New Prairie
Gavit
at Horace Mann
Andrean (8-0) can't lose to Wirt and Bishop Noll lost to the 59ers 42-0. Clark (3-4) and New Prairie (4-3) is a good match-up but Gavit (1-6) and Horace Mann (0-7) is not.
WHO'LL
WIN? ANDREAN
A collective all-star team from the other seven schools could not beat Andrean.
CLASS 3A, Sectional 18
Twin
Lakes at (Kokomo) Western
Benton Central at West
Lafayette
Maconaquah at Northwestern
Frankfort
at Peru
Benton Central's QB had 14 interceptions after seven weeks but they have been in the top-10 for two years. Western and Frankfort are both 6-1. Frankfort lost to undefeated Danville (7-0) 27-12. Twin Lakes (6-1) beat Benton Central 23-20. Frankfort beat Western 14-7 in the season opener.
WHO'LL WIN? Frankfort
A good draw and experience as the defending sectional champ should help
Frankfort.
CLASS
2A, Sectional 25
Rochester
at North Judson
Wheeler
at Rensselaer
North Newton at Knox
Winamac
at Glenn
Two
top-10 teams here in North Judson (7-0) and Rensselaer (6-1)and they'll meet in
the semifinals. North Judson won the earlier meeting 32-0 and there's no reason
to believe that the second match will be anything different. Knox is 3-4 and has
scored only 75 points, Glenn is 4-3, but they'll be listed as 0-7 because of
four forfeits. Winamac had only scored 72 points after seven games and North
Newton is 2-5.
WHO'LL WIN? North Judson
North Judson has allowed only 13 points all season. They remember
that Rensselaer beat them last year.
CLASS 2A, Sectional 26
Alexandria
at Oak Hill
Eastbrook
at Eastern (Howard Co.)
Mississinewa at Lewis Cass
North
Miami at Delphi
Eastbrook
(6-1) is in the top-10. North Miami is 2-5, Oak Hill is 4-3
WHO'LL WIN? Eastbrook was 13-1 last year and they returned
12 starters. It will be a shock if they lose to anybody else here.
CLASS 1A, Sectional 17
Triton
at West Central
Whiting
at River Forest
South Central at Culver
Laville
at Lake Station
There are no top-10 teams here. Whiting (4-3) is doing well but they have a warm-weather offense. River Forest (1-6) and South Central (1-6) are down. LaVille is 4-3 on the field and they should beast Lake Station. Triton and West Central are both 1-6. It looks like a Culver-Whiting showdown for the fourth year in a row.
WHO'LL
WIN? WHITING
If they don't get a monsoon or a hurricane on sectional title night, I think
Whiting finally beats Culver.
CLASS 1A, Sectional 34
Fremont
at Adams Central
Madison-Grant
at Northfield
Southern Wells at Taylor
Southwood
(bye)
Southwood is 6-1 and they get a week off. Fremont has allowed 234 points in seven games. Northfield is 1-6. Looks like Adams Cental against Southwood.
WHO'LL
WIN? Southwood
Southwood returned 10 defensive players off a 5-5 team. They lost in the
sectional quarterfinals last year and they're back to go all the way.
(We'd welcome fans' e-mail predictions and comments at usa365@ameritech.net )