Week 8 Picks:  2004 NW Indiana High School Football

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

October 6, 2004

WEEK SEVEN (7) ANALYSIS:

Merrillville dominated the first quarter, leading 21-0 and broke down Valparaiso in a major victory. The question will be, “Can the Pirates be consistent?" Valpo did not play with confidence and appeared somewhat intimidated.

Wheeler clearly still hasn't recovered from losing a 13 point lead in the final 60 seconds against Calumet last month. CP led most of the game against LaPorte and gave up two TDs in the last three minutes to lose. And I've got to check the schedule closer.

*Lafayette Catholic DIDN'T PLAY River Forest last week. They played South Central. RF lost to Coloma, Michigan 71-24. I wish they HAD played Lafayette Catholic.

(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%

2004 Season to date, 63 of 87, 72.4%

WEEK EIGHT (8): Oct. 8, 2004

North Judson (6-1) 35, River Forest (2-5) 21

Last week's 47-point loss in Michigan was a little over the top. RF passer Matt Bigott had three passes intercepted AND run back for TDs. It was 7-7 when the first pick went to the house. The score was 48-24 when consecutive passes were run back for TDs. Then there was a safety and the RF kick got run back for another TD. 24 points in a couple of minutes. The Ingots will play much better this week but it may not matter. Judson's only loss was 20-17 in overtime to Rensselaer. North Judson has rushed for 2,000 yards in seven games. RF can't stop them. They can only hope to outscore them.

Munster (3-4) 28, Hammond (2-5) 6

This is when it gets tough for the teams with small rosters. They get beat up and worn down. Munster is still playing hard even though they are without two key players. The Mustangs are stronger in the lines and this is Munster's homecoming. Hammond has lost five in a row and they need a lot of turnovers to win this one.

Kankakee Valley (4-3) 28, Wheeler (2-5) 14

KV is charging as they should be. The Kougars are the biggest school in the LAC Blue Division and they've won three in a row since Noll scored two late TDs to beat them 28-17. KV averages 200 yards rushing per game. Wheeler has given up 144 points in the last three games and they allowed 336 yards rushing to Lake Station last week.

These two teams were considered equals early in the year but they're going in opposite directions and that probably won't change on this night.

Gavit (3-4) 33, Lake Station (3-4) 20

Gavit has come to life behind QB Jake Galik (98 of 187, 1,448 17 TDs, 16 INTs), who was 21 of 36 last week against Whiting throwing for 257 yards despite 4 interceptions. Lake Station doesn't have the pass defense to stop Galik in good weather. Gavit's Victor Alaya (5-10, 185) can be a big threat. Lake Station has won two consecutive games for the first time in many years and they have a chance here if they can control the ball and the clock. HB Neil Anderson is over 900 yards and there's no need to stop giving him the ball. Still, Lake Station wouldn't mind if it rained Friday.

LaPorte (4-3) 38, Michigan City (2-5) 24

The top LaPorte County rivalry resumes as Michigan City feels this may be the year they get LaPorte County rival LaPorte. MC had to feel good after losing ONLY 27-16 to Portage last week after years of being blown out by the Indians. LaPorte was about to lose to CP when Airrence Shark broke a 65-yard run to put the Slicers ahead with 2:33 to play. Shark (5-9, 200) has gained 613 yards on 104 carries and he's still got a shot at 1,000 yards as a sophomore. Michigan City has a solid run defense but they've completed only 30 passes all season. Pass defense is LaPorte's weakness. It will be interesting to see how both teams react to drawing teams that have already beaten them decisively in this month's state tournament. MC drew Valparaiso (4-3). LaPorte drew Elkhart Central (6-1).

Gary West Side (5-2) 24, Gary Roosevelt (3-3) 12

Did West Side really beat Roosevelt 78-0 at West Side last year? I'm afraid they did. It was 70-0 after three quarters. The rematch is Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and it might be worth heading over to the giant Roosevelt stadium to see. Things have changed. West Side is 5-2 but they've been blown out the last two weeks by a combined score of 100-32.

Roosevelt has won three in a row and there's little doubt they have this date circled on the calendar. These teams also drew each other to open the state playoffs on Oct. 29, but this is a rare case where that won't matter. West Side and Roosevelt know they aren't going anywhere in the state playoffs in a bracket with Lowell and Hobart. This game, for the Gary city title, is their Super Bowl. And that score: 78-0.

Morton (2-5) 35, Highland (3-4) 28

This is a pivotal game for both teams. Highland drew KV and they have a chance to get to the 4A Sectional nine title game if they can turn around their play. Morton has lost five in a row in their painful conversion from the LAC Blue Division to the LAC Black Division. Morton also drew a playoff game (Wirt) that they can win. But the Governors have been overwhelmed on defense in the LAC allowing 201 points in five league games.

Robert Duttton's passing should pull this game out in the fourth quarter but it will be very competitive. Everybody runs on Morton but Highland can't run the ball well.

Rensselaer (7-0) 24, Sheridan (7-0) 16

The Bombers take on the No. 1 small school in Indiana. Sheridan runs the ball with few passes. On Sept. 3, Sheridan beat 3A Twin Lakes 29-7 and held them to 81 total yards. They are a very good defensive team but they will be hard-pressed to stop Bomber QB Jacob Kiger (119 carries, 873 yards) and HB Andrew Malone (101 carries, 756 yards).

Both teams have scored 20 or more in EVERY GAME THIS YEAR. I think Rensselaer with Kiger (52 of 104, 987 yards, 5 TDS, 8 INTs) is a little more versatile on offense and has played a tougher schedule.

Chesterton (5-2) 28, Crown Point (2-5) 26

Chesterton has come from behind to win twice, while CP has lost four games in the fourth quarter after they were ahead or tied beginning the final quarter. This is CP's homecoming and their home finale so the Bulldogs, who have lost four starters to injury, will want to play. Chesterton must win to be able to play for the DAC title on Oct. 15 against Merrillville. The Trojans will key on CP's Jon Sertich who ran for a school-record 297 yards on 20 carries last week.

Griffith (6-1) 28, Andrean (6-1) 20

Andrean has defeated Griffith three consecutive times by less than a TD and the Panthers very much want to even the score. These two are at opposite ends of Class 3A sectional 17 so they'll meet in November as well. Andrean QB Tommy Finn (96 of 162, 1,366 years, 12 TDs, 4 INTs) has also run 99 times for 417 yards and Griffith has to either contain him or hog the ball to keep it away from him. I believe they'll do the latter.

There are questions about the 59er defensive front but it may be retooled for the stretch run. Griffith QB Rich Lehman has to be fumble-free.

Valparaiso (4-3) 30, Portage (5-2) 23

A pivotal match up as both side have lost twice in DAC play and the loser Friday will be eliminated from the league title picture. Valparaiso's defense may be undergoing a couple of changes after losing top tackler Bo Gilliland (ACL-season) and losing 45-14 at Merrillville. Portage jumped to a 21-0 lead on Michigan City and won 27-16 but the second half of the season has not gone well for them. Valpo's defense has to get enough penetration on the Portage offensive line to control Antoine Brown (166 rushes for 1,021 yards) and force the Indians to throw. That won't stop them, but it will beat them.

Lowell (5-2) 27, Hobart (6-1) 10

Hobart has to hold the ball and keep it away from Toby Goetz because the Brickies may not be quick enough to stop the big Lowell tailback who has run 155 times for 1,250 yards and 21 TDs. The big Brickie line can get that done for a while with 205-pound senior Marc Drobac (840 yards rushing) rushing behind 340-pound junior Adam Bailey. But this is a bad match up for Hobart, which prefers to play against other big, strong teams they can overpower, not speedy and quick little teams. Once Lowell gets ahead, this game is over. The Brickies do not throw especially well and other than junior Jon Fodrill, they have little speed. And neither side is going to pull any surprises with a state tournament meeting in 4A Sectional nine set for Oct. 29.

Lowell beat Hobart twice last year by a total of 52 points and these are largely the same teams.

OUT OF TOWN...

Class 1A No. 2 Seeger (7-0)

WEST LEBANON - The logic that Class 1A is a good path for Whiting (7-0), West Central (6-1) or any other 1A team in the northern part of the state does not address No. 3 Pioneer (7-0) or No. 2 Seeger (7-0).

Seeger was 14-1 last year before losing to private school power Ritter in the state title game. The Patriots have retooled their offensive line and come back very strong. Seeger has totally dominated the small school Wabash River Conference, scoring 45 points or more in every game and outscoring the opposition 391-20.

Every game, including a 45-20 win over Clinton Central on Aug. 27 (it was 38-14 at the half) has been over at the half in Seeger's favor. Am I sure of that? Clinton Central is the only team to score on Seeger. The Patriots have a five game shutout streak, beating Attica 53-0, Riverton Parke 69-0, Covington 68-0, Fountain Central 69-0 and Turkey Run 48-0. No one scored against Seeger in the month of September.

The Patriots are led by HB Eli Cook (5-10, 160), who has scored 22 TDs and has run four kicks back for TDs. QB Joel Clem (6-0, 170) directs a wing-T offense that is hard to defend. Seeger has three boys over 230 pounds on the line. Linebacker Brandon Fultz (6-1, 210) is an impact defender.

Seeger does play in a 1A league. All the teams they have beaten are Class 1A schools. Watch closely the result of this week's Seeger game on the road at 3A West Lafayette (2-5). Seeger has lost just 21 games in 12 years but the schedule is quite rightfully in question.
Still, 391 to 20?

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Revised: October 06, 2004 .