BEAR NECESSITIES: What you need to take from Week 4

There is always so much to consume on Friday nights. From pork burgers to Chick-fil-A to walking tacos, it can be overwhelming to find that room in your gut for everything.

But enough about food. We also have plenty of football to dissect. Each Saturday, your beloved Blitz will take a look at the Friday that was in prep football, from players that showed out to teams that impressed.

All that and more in Bear Necessities.

SAC

• It was obvious from the opening drive that this year’s Bishop Dwenger vs. Homestead game was going to be different. It wasn’t a given that the Saints were going to win from that drive that secured a field goal, but it did show that BD wasn’t going to be pushed around like they were in the 42-0 blowout in 2017.Bishop Dwenger manhandled Homestead in the trenches on both sides, avenging a loss that some referred to as “embarrassing” at Zollner Stadium 12 months ago.Most of the attention along the offensive line centers on Joe Tippmann, and for good reason. But guys like Luke Wiginton, Nick Hoiser and the rest of those big guys up front set the tone early on and used that momentum to rush for 216 yards against Sparty.
• Look, North Side is still finding its way back to respectability in the SAC, but what Craig Young did for Wayne is still pretty darn impressive. The senior finished with 189 yards of total offense and looked the part of the best player on the field.We have only seen glimpses over the last few years of pure dominance on Friday nights by Young. A great catch here or some serious speed there. But Friday was the full package. One hopes it is just the start of things to come.
• North Side junior Alex Holliday-Robinson may be the best running back no one knows about. The kid carried the load for the Legends offensively despite everyone on the Wayne defense knowing he was going to get the ball. He finished with 125 yards and a score on 24 carries and added 34 yards on a pair of receptions.
• Northrop had not beaten Carroll since 1972 prior to Friday night. Sure, they haven’t played that much over the last 45 years (did not play each other from 1972 to 2010), but the Bruins’ 41-21 victory was a huge boost to Jason Doerffler’s program.Quarterback Bailey Meerzo needs some respect. He now has 927 yards of total offense on the year and 13 total touchdowns. The kid is electric and could lead Northrop to some more big Ws as the season progresses.
• As we debate the hierarchy of teams in the SAC, Snider continues to just go about its business. Following the loss to Carroll in Week 2, the Panthers have pounded Concordia and South Side by a combined score of 92-7.Some wanted to write Snider off before August was even over. Those who know local football knew that was a mistake.
• A year after throwing 17 INTs, Concordia senior QB Jake Byrd has showcased his improved decision making through the first month. While the completion percentage is low (41 percent), Byrd has eight touchdowns against just three picks.
• Homestead wide receivers Trevin Taylor and Griffin Little are impressive in a variety of ways, but perhaps the attribute that stands out the most is their willingness to go over the middle and haul in catches knowing they are going to get hit and hit hard. That commitment to the catch is something you don’t see in high school out of too many guys. Hell, we see NFL wideouts that shy away from contact. Taylor and Little seem to embrace it.

NE8

• Following a 37-0 beat down at the hands of Mississinewa in Week 2, New Haven was 0-2 without leading rusher Stephen Owens. Since then, the ‘Dogs are 2-0 and fresh off a 24-21 win over Leo. A game in which they blew a 17-point lead but bounced back to score the winning touchdown with three minutes left.I will feel a lot better about New Haven if that defense can continue to make big plays.What was most encouraging for New Haven was the defense stepping up to make a big play as Kentrel Thomas picked off an A.J. Restivo pass to clinch the win. The Bulldogs entered the Leo game allowing close to 30 points a game.
• Kaiden Harshberger’s rushing assault continues for East Noble. After Friday’s 165-yard, three-touchdown performance, the senior is averaging over nine yards per carry and has eight scores. With the Knights at Leo for Week 5, will the Lions key on the running game? If they do (they will), can they slow it down?
• The NE8 from top to bottom may be the most entertaining conference in terms of matchups week in and week out. There are no pushovers and there are no games in which you can look at and predict a blowout. If Norwell clipped New Haven next week, would it be shocking? Not to me.

ACAC

• I really feel for Nico Tigulis. The Heritage head coach had his Patriots in the locker room at halftime on Friday sitting on a 20-0 lead over South Adams. It evaporated to the tune of 34 unanswered points by the Starfires.Tigulis left an assistant coaching position with Carroll to be the guy at Heritage. Now in his third year, there is definitely signs of progress. The Pats are going to get there if kids stay committed.
• South Adams lost Nic Stuber for the year last week then got punched in the mouth by Heritage in the first half on Friday. Even so, the Starfires’ youth turned it around in the second half.And how about Christian Summersett going for 207 and three TDs to pick up the slack in Stuber’s absence? Legit.
• Woodlan isn’t as far off as many want to think. They could be rounding into form right around Weeks 8 and 9 with South Adams and AC on the sked.
• Logan Macklin. Jalen Hammond. Parker Bates. Check ‘em out.

NECC

• It has been a tough year for Garrett. One week after showing some life at Churubusco before losing a fourth-quarter lead, the Railroaders looked thoroughly outmatched in losing to Lakeland for the first time since 1999.Garrett has only finished with a losing record once since 2006. With Eastside, West Noble, Angola and Central Noble still to play, it may be tough for the Railroaders to avoid an under-.500 season.With a premium on upperclassmen, coach Chris DePew has had to rely on younger players not just on the field, but in leadership positions. That can be a tough role to be thrust into, particularly when you don’t feel that urgency that a senior has.
• Angola’s defense showed just how good it is as it held West Noble rusher Brandon Pruitt to 19 yards on 25 carries. Pruitt entered the game with 565 yards rushing on the year.

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