'Playoff Opening Night' - WEEK 10 (Ten) Recap - (10-19-2007) -  The biggest surprise to me was Winamac beating Seeger.  Seeger had a strong year while Winamac was 2-5 at one time.  But the 36-32 road win was a major upset in 2A.  Admittedly, picking North Newton to win was a shot in the dark.  Turns out it wasn't much of a shot and it was very dark.  The pick of winless Washington over KV almost happened.  KV won 20-18 on the final play of the game.  Adams came on strong to beat Elkhart Memorial and I should have known that, because Adams almost beat Penn the week before.  Got to watch out for Adams.  And since Valpo beat Portage 28-25 three weeks after Portage beat Valpo 28-25, I guess it's fair to say that game could have gone either way.  23 of 28 is okay, but it should have been 25 of 28... in honor of the Portage-Valpo game.

2007 (Week 1)  8 of 13   =  66.7%
2007 (Week 2)  8 of 11   =  72.7%
2007 (Week 3)  8 of 12   =  66.7%
2007 (Week 4)  10 of 11   =  90.9%
2007 (Week 5)  6 of 10  =  60.0%
2007 (Week 6)  6 of 10  =  60.0%
2007 (Week 7) 10 of 10  =  100.0%
2007 (Week 8)  6 of 10  =  60.0%
2007 (Week 9)  9 of 10  =  90.0%

Playoffs
2007 (week 10) 23 of 28   =  82.1%

2007 (Regular Season) 71 of 97 = 73.2%
2007 (playoffs) 23 of 28 = 82.2%
2007 (overall) 94 of 125 = 75.2%

2006 (final) OVERALL :  166 of 217 = 76.4% 
2005 (final) OVERALL:  170 of 233 = 72.9%

MERRILLVILLE (10-26-2007) - The Indiana State tournament truly begins in the sectional semifinals because we've eliminated most of the teams that shouldn't be in the post-season.  The geographic craziness of the new 4A sectional 10 kicks in as Concord travels 100 miles to Kankakee Valley, while Lowell heads 60 miles east to Plymouth.  Travel of that distance usually doesn't kick in until the regional level.  But I guess larger schools can't complain too much.  There's a 1A game this week that sends LaVille to South Newton.  LaVille is a dozen miles south of South Bend, while South Newton (Kentland) is about 40 miles northwest of Lafayette.  That's what?  140 miles?

The difference is again Hobart, which is in 4A, Sectional 9, while Lowell, which is south and west of Hobart... must travel east in 4A, Sectional 10.  It was thought that Lowell and KV would be in sectional 10 for just two years, because Griffith feels they will return to 3A by the fall of 2009.  But nobody really knows where they are going in the 2009 playoffs because more and more football folks believe that Class 6A is coming and that would shake everybody up.

The biggest upset last week was undefeated Lafayette Catholic (9-1) losing to Clinton Central in the sectional quarterfinals 28-26.  West Lafayette (8-2) also lost, but WL lost its starting quarterback to injury earlier this month.  All 10 teams in the Class 5A coaches poll survived the first round last week, but that is not possible this Friday (10-26-2007) because No. 4 Merrillville hosts No. 10 Crown Point.  All the No. 1 teams (Sheridan, Jimtown, Heritage Hills, Bishop Dwenger and Pike) won in the first round.

Class 1A Sectional 33: LaVille (3-7) at South Newton (9-1)

KENTLAND - LaVille isn't very good and they have to leave sometime Thursday to get to Kentland.  South Newton averages 46.5 points per game.  LaVille has allowed twice as many points as they have scored and they have as much chance of winning this game as the Colorado Rockies do of winning the World Series.

South Newton 51, LaVille 12

Class 1A Sectional 33: Triton (4-6) at Whiting (8-2)

WHITING - You'll see Whiting's record elsewhere as 5-5 but that's bogus because they forfeited three games due to an ineligible player.  They will also get several players back off a misbehaving suspension this week.  Bad news for Triton, which doesn't belong in the post-season. They are being forced to travel two hours to take an ugly beat down.

Whiting 42, Triton 8

Class 2A Sectional 25: Winamac (5-5) at Delphi (3-7)

DELPHI - These teams are about 30 miles apart and this game might be closer than that.  I'm still shocked that Winamac took out Seeger last week, while Delphi romped over North Newton.  Play the roll.  Winamac's got something that isn't obvious.

Winamac 23, Delphi 16

Class 2A Sectional 25: Rensselaer (4-6) at Wheeler (9-1)

UNION TOWNSHIP - Rensselaer is a tough team, but much more so at home.  I think Wheeler has a lot to prove and it's a lot easier to do that at home.  Bad weather makes this a lot closer, but Wheeler has a multiple offense.  They got 22 first downs against North Judson.  Rensselaer is driving two hours.

Wheeler 28, Rensselaer 14

Class 3A Sectional 18: (SB) St. Joseph's (8-2) at Culver Academy (6-4)

CULVER - St. Joe just blew out Tippecanoe Valley last week 35-6 like they didn't matter.  TV averages 37 points a game, but St. Joe halfback Jordan Taylor has rushed for 1,500 yards and the Indians burnt TV like a bad French fry.  Culver Academy has lost four, but those four teams have a combined won-loss record of 33-7.  This is a close pick because Culver's results are hard to read.  But St. Joe has had an excellent year and they can run the ball.

St. Joseph's 21, Culver Academy 14

Class 3A Sectional 18: John Glenn (6-4) at Northwood (6-4)

NAPPANNEE - Northwood has a very deceptive record.  They average almost 30 points per game and they've lost two games by one point.  The Panthers are two years removed from a state title and the QB Skyler Titus, is still alive and well and leading a three-game winning streak.  Glenn can score some points here, but they've played too many 1A teams.

Northwood 56, John Glenn 21

Class 3A Sectional 17: Calumet (4-6) at Clark (7-3)

HAMMOND - Wrong place at the wrong time for Calumet.  The Warriors can't handle the Pioneer passing game.  Calumet needs a monsoon so they can match running against running game.  Without that, the scoreboard will light up like it was IU playing defense.

Clark 63, Calumet 27

Class 3A Sectional 17: Knox (6-4) at Andrean (7-3)

MERRILLVILLE - Knox just does not play the level of competition that Andrean plays.  The Redskins play three 1A schools, while Andean plays two 5A teams.  At home for the first time in four weeks, the Niners will toast the Knox defense like it was Wonder Bread on Sunday morning.

Andrean 49, Knox 7

Class 4A Sectional 9: Highland (1-9) at Griffith (7-3)

GRIFFITH - Highland's gonna feel like the Colorado Rockies.  The Trojans got that one win of the season last week and now, it's time to go.  This is an unfortunate matchup.  Let's just hope nobody gets hurt.  The Black Panther Party will take over the streets on this night.

Griffith 56, Highland 0

Class 4A Sectional 9: Hammond (9-1) at Hobart (7-3)

HOBART - This is a 10-point game on the computer and it looks like Hammond will get a relatively dry field to run on.  They must make it a horizontal game with short passes and reverses.  I don't know if they have enough plays to keep Hobart hopping.  If they play straight-ahead smash mouth, the Brickies win big.  Hobart is still hungry for that sectional title and this is where they get serious.

Hobart 42, Hammond 21

Class 4A Sectional 10: Kankakee Valley (4-6) at Concord (7-3)

ELKHART - Good Golly, Miss Molly.  This is a vivid mismatch.  KV struggled to beat a winless team last week.  Concord uses four wide receivers and attacks like the US Air Force.  There'll be no place to hide for the Kougars, who are way out of their league here.  Unless it rains, Concord can score as often as they want to.

Concord 57, Kankakee Valley 16

Class 4A Sectional 10: Lowell (9-1) at Plymouth (5-5)

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth runs the ball with big John Popi who has 600 yards rushing the last four weeks.  But the Rocks can't pass and they have to outrun Lowell, which has peaked with blowout wins over Andrean 31-3 and Logansport 54-13.  Lowell has very high expectations and they face a series of road games.  It's time to get real.

Lowell 27, Plymouth 7

Class 5A Sectional 2: Goshen (7-3) at (SB) Adams (5-5)

SOUTH BEND - Adams has made a real charge at playoff time.  They lost just 14-7 two weeks ago to Penn (10-0) and they scored 48 points on Elkhart Memorial last week.  Goshen survived 10 penalties last week in a 23-8 loss to Riley.  Something's gotten into Adams.  Don't go against them now.

Adams 41, Goshen 28

Class 5A Sectional 2: Penn (10-0) at Mishawaka (7-3)

MISHAWAKA - Mishawaka hasn't beaten Penn in 30 years, so this game will have extra emotion, especially after Penn won the regular season meeting just 20-13.  The Kingsmen, who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the two state polls, have had offensive problems in recent weeks.  But Mishawaka gave up 230 yards rushing to LaPorte last week.  I think Mishawka had their chance to beat Penn and they didn't get it done.

Penn 27, Mishawaka 14

Class 5A Sectional 1: Lake Central (6-4) at Valparaiso (6-4)

VALPARAISO - Lake Central has to control the ball and keep Valparaiso's passing attack off the field.  But I didn't see enough of an attack from LC last week in the 10-7 win over Michigan City.  If Valpo gets 12 possessions, they'll eventually win.

Valparaiso 28, Lake Central 17

Class 5A Sectional 1: Crown Point (8-2) at Merrillville (9-1)

MERRILLVILLE - The best game of the night.  Arch-rivals meeting for the eighth time in four years and for the fourth time in the the last four playoffs.  Co-DAC champs head to head and CP's big offensive line and 1700-yard rusher Russell Chick must win the battle against Merrillville's defense, which has locked up Griffith, Valparaiso and Warren Central.  CP won the earlier match in overtime 20-17.  Merrillville, at home, is healthier now, and in good weather, they'll hold on in the end.

Merrillville 24, Crown Point 20

Copyright © 2007 USA-365.com and Meyer Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp.  All rights reserved.
Revised: October 26, 2007 .