This is part of a series on the state of area football conferences after the first third of the regular season.
By Justin Kenny of Outside the Huddle
Despite being just three weeks into the season, heavy favorites have already emerged in both divisions of the Northeast Corner Conference.
Proving it is far from a one-year wonder, Angola has one of the most impressive early-season resumes in the area. An 11-point victory over DeKalb to open the season was followed by a shutout of Leo and a convincing road win at Jimtown.
After the magical 12-1 season of 2017, could the Hornets (3-0) go unbeaten again in the regular season and win a second-straight sectional title for the first time since 1991-92?
Coach Andy Thomas will not let his team think about that just yet with unbeaten West Noble coming to town Friday, perhaps the lone threat to Angola’s reign in the NECC Big Division.
Churubusco (3-0) may look the part of the cream of the crop in the NECC Small Division, but do not discount both Eastside (1-2) and Central Noble (2-1). The trio of teams shared the division title in 2017, with the Blazers on a “Drive for Five” as they seek a fifth-consecutive Small Division championship.
The offensive MVP thus far in the conference? It is tough to ignore West Noble’s Brandon Pruitt, who has rushed for 565 yards and five touchdowns through the first three games.
Also hard to ignore for early MVP, Angola’s QB Jarrett Gibson’s:
Pass: 266 yds, 1 TD, 1 int
Rush: 505 yds, 5 TD
against 3 quality opponents!