Week Six Picks:  NW Indiana High School Football

- by Mark Smith

ANALYSIS:  Griffith threw a lot of people off with an inexplicable 10-0 loss to Hobart in week two.  If you throw that game out, the Panthers have been strong in every game.

Elsewhere, rainy, wet conditions held down the scoring in week five. There should've been 32 points in one quarter of Roosevelt and Wirt.  Michigan City has been shut out three weeks in a row.  There were no surprises last week.

WEEK SIX:  The biggest game matches undefeated Portage (5-0) and once-beaten Chesterton. The Trojans were very effective against Valparaiso last week in a 17-10 loss. Spencer West (6-2, 295) sacked Valpo QB Jason Renn three times and the Trojans were able to hold Valpo to just 17 points. Chesterton ha hit an offensive slump. In their last 10 regular quarters, the Trojans have scored only 17 points.  But Chesterton may get injured QB Ryan Kelley back in the lineup after he missed the Valpo game. But the Trojans weren't an offensive machine against good teams with Kelley.  Portage missed DAC leading WR Milton Rivera (20 catches - 186 yards) against Crown Point and it's not known if he'll be back this week. Also, top place-kicker Steve Vaught has not kicked for the last two weeks, although he has played. The Indians could be upset here if they are still shorthanded. The Portage pass defense gave up 250 yards last week against Crown Point but Chesterton is a power team with 1,298 yards rushing in five games.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN:  Portage was tested for the second consecutive week and passed, rallying to win at Crown Point. The light-but-quick Indians defense has give up 550 yards in the last two weeks.   The quickness of the Indians on offense will be difficult for Chesterton to handle if the field is dry. The Trojans defense will score a TD but they can't line up and run over Portage. And Chesterton can't handle the Indians' offense if Vaught and Rivera are at full strength.

Portage 27, Chesterton 10


Other WEEK   SIX (6)   games

The prohibitive favorites are Morton over Calumet, Rensselaer over West Lafayette, Wirt over Horace Mann and Munster over Hammond.  Naming a score would only embarrass the downtrodden in these games.

Wheeler (3-2) 30, Bishop Noll (3-2) 22

A hard one to figure. The Bears Cats are a high-scoring team (30.6 ppg.) and they'll end up outscoring the improving Warriors.

North Judson (5-0) 31, Kankakee Valley (3-2) 6

A mismatch. KV can't stop Judson running the ball.

River Forest (1-4) 20, North Newton (1-4) 14

RF's only win was over Lake Station (1-4) while Newton's only win was against Calumet (1-4).  I think RF has more speed.

East Chicago (0-5) 28, St. Francis DeSales (1-3) 20

The Cardinals shut out Lake Central in the second half last week. They're getting better and an average Hammond team bombed DeSales.

Clark (1-4) 20, Lake Station (1-4) 8

It will be very difficult for the Eagles to score. Clark is a respectable defensive team.

Lake Central (2-3) 16,  Huntington North (2-3) 14

Huntington North has a win over Class 1A Lafayette Catholic but, like LC, they've won their last two. This is a strength-of-schedule pick.

Gavit (0-5) 28, Whiting (2-3) 26

Gavit's got to win sometime. A chilly night will limit Whiting's passing just enough. It's an upset but Gavit shouldn't be 0-5.

Griffith (3-2) 28, Lowell (3-2) 17

The Panthers have three good running backs and improving Lowell is 0-2 on the road and still fumbles too much.

LaPorte (3-2) 13, Merrillville (2-3) 8

The area's traditional defensive powerhouses will keep the score down on a cold night. The Pirates, with a sophomore QB, won't be able to rally.

Andrean (5-0) 27, Highland (4-1) 17

The 59ers didn't help them selves by playing Horace Mann (0-5) last week but Highland's schedule is suspect so far with Calumet and Hammond. They should've beaten shorthanded Lowell by more than 10 points.

Valparaiso  (4-1)  34,  Crown Point (4-1)  21

Both teams will have defensive problems on a dry field but the VHS boys are at home and more experienced.