Week 14 Picks:  2004 NW Indiana High School Football

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

November 16, 2004

WEEK THIRTEEN (13) ANALYSIS:

Logansport over Muncie Central is a pure upset. Both are North Central Conference teams and Muncie won the earlier meeting by 27 points. Warren Central came from two touchdowns behind to beat Ben Davis in what must have been a classic game. Glenn shouldn't have beaten North Judson, but they did. Heritage and Eastbrook could have gone either way. Lowell might have rallied to beat Wawasee if 23-TD man Jeff Clemens had not gotten hurt. I'm amazed anyone thought Merrillville could win at Penn in the Pirates' first-ever game there. That's a very tall order. Snider spotted Carmel 2 TDs and rolled on them. Chatard gave up the opening seven points and then scored 38 in a row.

Seeger is probably the biggest favorite the rest of the way because they have leveled the playing field all by themselves. The Patriots have already beaten No. 2 Pioneer, No. 8 Lafayette Catholic and No. 5 Sheridan.

(Week One) 11 of 14, 78.5%

(Week Two) 8 of 13, 61.5%

(Week Three) 8 of 12, 66.7%

(Week Four) 11 of 12, 91.7%

(Week Five) 10 of 12, 83.3%

(Week Six) 7 of 12, 58.3 %

(Week Seven) 8 of 12, 66.7%

(Week Eight) 7 of 12, 58.3%

(Week Nine) 8 of 12, 66.7%

(Week Ten) 23 of 30, 66.7%

(Week Eleven) 15 of 20, 75.0%

(Week Twelve) 14 of 20, 70.0%

(Week Thirteen) 13 of 20, 65.0%

REGULAR SEASON: 77-111, 69.4%

PLAYOFFS: 65-90, 72.2%

2004 TOTAL: 142 of 202, 70.6%

WEEK FOURTEEN (14), Semistates: Nov. 19, 2004

Class 1A Semistates

Seeger (13-0) 35, West Central (11-2) 7

SEEGER - Well, at least West Central got to win their final home game. This appears to be a mismatch. The Trojans rush for 300 yards a game but they've allowed 16 points a game. Seeger averages 46 points a game and sprinter Eli Cook (42 TDs) is considered a once-in-a generation player. Seeger has not lost a home game since September of 2000. The Patriots have won 117 of their last 138 games and 27 of their last 28. This is the first semistate game ever for West Central.

Ritter (9-4) 28, Linton (11-2) 21

LINTON – Never go against the Indianapolis Catholic schools. Linton has won nine in a row since a 2-2 start with tailback Adam Brewer having run for 1,600 yards. Ritter took 2A power North Judson to OT and them smoked out undefeated Shenandoah 26-15 last week after frying Park Tudor 38-0 in the sectional championship game. Strength of schedule is paying off and do I have to say it again? Never go against the Indianapolis Catholic schools.

Class 2A Semistates

Eastbrook (13-0) 20, John Glenn (10-3) 7

WALKERTON - This has to be the end of the road for Glenn even with halfback Randy Hernandez at 2200 yards rushing and counting. Did Hernandez really rush for 400 yards on 47 carries against Eastside? Eastbrook has won 70% of their games in the last 15 years and they smoked out unbeaten Heritage 27-19 last week. watch this one closely, though, Glenn is at home and they shouldn't have come this far.

Tri-West (13-0) 27, Brownstown (12-1) 21

BROWNSTOWN – The defending state champion is led by QB Tyler Bruce (139-of 243, 2,279 yards, 24 TDs) and the Bruins 21^st Century offense. Tri-West spreads the field and challenges you to do something about it. This could be Tri-West's last chance to lose. Their 'west coast' attack works well indoors.

Class 3A Semistates

Bishop Chatard (11-2) 31, Heritage Hills (13-0) 7

INDIANAPOLIS - Heritage Hills has been eliminated by Chatard in EACH of the last three seasons and I would assume they are quite bitter about it. But Chatard has won eight games in a row by 30 points and their two losses are to defending state champions of Indiana (Roncalli- 4A) and Ohio (Elder – 6A). Heritage Hills has gone 13-1 in each of the last three seasons and don't kid yourself, they are staring down the barrel of 13-1 this week. This is a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 but its not like that. No. 2 has played an elite schedule while No. 1 has played southern Indiana good old boys.

Chatard is marching towards history. No Indiana school has ever won four consecutive state titles. Only Andrean can stop them.

Andrean (11-2) 42, New Prairie (12-1) 28

NEW CARLISLE – New Prairie is a difficult team to play and Andrean must beware on the road. The problem is, the Cougars have faced largely rushing teams in Jimtown, Northwood and Norwell and I don't know where they'll find the secondary people to handle Andrean's Air Force. Has Andrean really scored 210 points in four playoff games? Is 59er QB Tommy Finn really at 197-of-325 for 2,957 yards and 31 TDs? Andrean is the first northwest Indiana team in history with two 1,000-yard pass receivers. This won't be a blowout and the 59ers will trail early, but New Prairie cannot defense Andrean all night.

Class 4A Semistates

Wawasee (12-1) 30, Logansport (11-2) 20

SYRACUSE - You're still going to have to explain to me how Logansport can lost 41-14 to Muncie Central in September and then turn around and beat them 20-11 for the regional title last week. I'll say what I said last week. Logansport is from the football-weak North Central Conference while Wawasee is from the football-strong Northern Lakes Conference. The spread offense of Wawasee is very tough if you have not seen it. No one has held Wawasee under 20 points this season and i think Logansport has wildly overachieved here.

(Indianapolis) Roncalli (11-2) 20, Columbus East (12-1) 14

INDIANAPOLIS - Roncalli has lost only to Cathedral and Mooresville and they avenged both losses in the post-season. Roncalli's schedule is far superior's to Columbus East's slate including a victory over 3A superpower Chatard. There is not that much difference between these two teams on the computer but Columbus East barely survived last week against Boonville (7-6) and Roncalli is, well, another of those dreaded Indianapolis Catholic schools.

Class 5A Semistates

Warren Central (12-1) 28, Columbus North (12-1) 26

COLUMBUS – This will be much closer than the ratings say. Central does not always play well outside of Indianapolis and Columbus North rolled over Castle 24-0 last week. This is a potential upset because Central is between what they believe are games with Carmel and a title game with Fort Wayne Snider. Warren Central will overlook Columbus North, you watch.

(FW) Snider (13-0) 35, Penn (12-1) 21

FORT WAYNE - Away from home, there is not much Penn can do here. Snider's junior QB MiQuale Lewis has rushed for 1,600 yards and 32 TDs. The Greyhounds have dogged opponents for 56 points a game. Penn is quick but they need three or four turnovers here. Penn is an elite specials teams squad and Snider is a prolific punt return team. Here is the best matchup of the week. Very proud programs battling for a ticket to the state finals.

Taking a closer look at 3A...    

Bishop Chatard 38, New Palestine 7

11-12-4 at New Palestine

BISHOP CHATARD (11-2) 7-8-20-3 = 38

NEW PALESTINE (10-3) 7-0-0-0 = 7

NEW PALESTINE – The 3A state champions won their 23^rd consecutive playoff game and forced seven punts from New Palestine (10-3) to win going away for the eighth week in a row.

Despite 10 first half penalties, Chatard led 15-7 at the half and the Trojans blew the game open in the third quarter.

Chatard halfback Dray Mason went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row (he also gained 960 yards rushing in 2002) with 147 yards on 16 carries.

Mason scored on a 39-yard run early in the third period and fullback Frank Halliburton (6-2, 235) rumbled 39 yards to make it 28-7. Before the period ended, Mason, who will play college football at Purdue the next four years, returned a punt 76 yards to make it 35-7 after three quarters.

Sophomore scoring threat Joe Holland (6-2, 160) gained 74 yards on 16 carries and senior QB Tony Rago hit 5-of-9 for 41 yards.

The Trojans advance to play Heritage Hills (13-0) in Indianapolis on Friday (11-12-4) in the Southern 3A Semistate. Heritage Hills has won their first 13 games three years in a row and then lost to Bishop Chatard. There's not a lot of logic saying that Friday, that streak wont grow to four.

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Revised: November 25, 2004 .