There hasn’t been much movement in the Blitz Power Poll the last few weeks.
Is that because I am being proven how smart I am with how games are turning out?
Has to be.
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Bishop Dwenger
WHY #1?
Why wouldn’t they be? Undefeated and ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, the Saints have answered each challenge presented before them thus far.
The question remains how the quarterback situation will work itself out. Many have said that Brenden Lytle adds more mobility to the position, but facts tell different. Patrick O’Keefe is a better scrambler in terms of being a true running threat than Lytle. Yet Lytle seems to be the guy, at least for now.
A big challenge comes this week against Snider, particularly for the offense. That unit must become more balanced for a deep postseason run to come to fruition.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
No. 1 reigns supreme.
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WAYNE
WHY #2?
The Generals just love to make things interesting, don’t they? A seven-point victory over Concordia last Friday wasn’t overly impressive, but a win is a win.
After the emotional victory over Snider in Week 6, a letdown was almost a given. But good teams find ways to win games even when they aren’t playing their best football. Wayne is a good team.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Week 1 shutout loss to Bishop Dwenger is a big reason. Might we see a rematch in the playoffs? #YesPlease
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SNIDER
WHY #3?
Jon Barnes Jr. had a coming-out party of sorts against Northrop, throwing for 157 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-21 victory.
Was it a precursor of things to come? While Snider’s defense is stout, the Panthers are going to have to score a lot of points in order to get out of sectionals, let alone go deeper in 6A. A potent Barnes Jr. would go a long way.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
With a loss to Wayne, the Panthers really can’t move up any higher than their current No. 3, although a win over Dwenger this week would make Blitz do some hard thinking.
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HOMESTEAD
WHY #4?
People want to scoff at the Spartans and their 4-3 record, but closer dissection of their season shows that they are better than many think. Homestead played Snider and Dwenger tough and fell to Luers by two in a shootout.
The Spartans dominated their rival from the opening kickoff in a 38-17 thrashing of Carroll last week. Blitz really likes this team in that 6A sectional right now.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The aforementioned losses are a big reason for it.
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BISHOP LUERS
WHY #5?
Blitz just can’t drop the Knights after the loss they suffered last Friday. After falling behind a couple scores to Dwenger, Bishop Luers fought back to pull to within two before falling short on the two-point conversion try late.
What may have been most encouraging from Week 7 was the play of the defense. The much-maligned unit gave up a season low in points. If the trend continues, Luers is a definite threat in 3A.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Yes, the Knights have a win over the team that is one spot higher in this poll. But they also have a loss to a North Side team that isn’t in the conversation for the top 15.
6. ANGOLA
WHY #6
The Hornets have not given up more than 14 points in a game since DeKalb dropped 20 in Week 1.
The quality of competition is not good, but you cannot blame Angola for that. Factor in that Garrett and Eastside are down to where they traditionally are and the Hornets should be 9-0 going into the postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
But how does Angola stack up against teams from the SAC? We will get an answer in the postseason, book it.
7. EAST NOBLE
WHY #7?
Bailey Parker has not thrown an interception since Week 2, amassing seven touchdowns over the same time period. Factor in the nearly 600 yards rushing for the junior signal caller and the Knights have another blossoming stud on their hands at the position.
Taking care of business against Columbia City cemented East Noble as the premier team in the NE8.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Are the Knights better than say, Angola? We may not have long to wait to get an answer. Sectional 19 is brutal and the draw is coming up on Sunday.
8. ADAMS CENTRAL
WHY #8?
OK, it is time to give the Flying Jets from love. Bluffton is a sneaky-good team that could give AC some trouble this week, and of course Woodlan is capable of doing some damage in Week 9, but this team should be 9-0 entering the postseason.
A senior-laden team that has experienced studs on both sides of the ball can be very dangerous in the postseason. Consider AC that team.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Strength of schedule against higher-class teams isn’t there. But hey, it doesn’t have to be when you play 1A come mid-October.
9. CONCORDIA
WHY #9?
A five-loss team in the top 10? You betcha.
The Cadets put a scare into Wayne last week even without starting quarterback Jake Byrd. It was the latest in a series of games in which Concordia has taken top SAC teams to the brink, falling by two to Homestead in Week 2 and by four in double OT to Luers in Week 4.
Blitz is still convinced that this squad can make some noise in the postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Well for starters, they have five losses.
10. NORTHROP
WHY #10?
Maybe Blitz is a tad biased because of the whole Bruins thing. Hey, maybe I could be the centerpiece of a new Northrop HS logo?
I will make some calls.
On the football field, Seth Pearson filled in admirably for Bailey Meerzo at quarterback for the second straight week. It is expected that Meerzo will be back at some point in the regular season with the senior nursing an injury.
This team is a threat to everyone it plays because of the offense.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A 2-5 team can’t get too much love.
NEXT FIVE
11. Carroll
12. Leo
13. Columbia City
14. New Haven
15. Churubusco
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