It was another fascinating week in the SAC, and with it came some shuffling in Blitz’s Power Poll.
When trying to decide just who should be atop the field as the No. 1 team, Blitz found holes in every argument made for a particular team.
Hey, when in doubt, go with your fur-covered gut.
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VACANT
WHY #1?
That’s right, Blitz decided that no one is deserving of the top spot in his poll.
Yes, you can make the case for Snider or even Dwenger despite a loss. But the Panthers still have flaws, as do the Saints.
To be the No. 1 squad in Blitz’s prestigious poll, you have to look the part. Can we honestly sit here and say that any local team really looks the part of a dominant squad at this point?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Perhaps “vacant” will reside here for awhile.
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SNIDER
WHY #2?
The Panthers handed Bishop Dwenger its first loss of the season last week while looking pretty darn impressive offensively. Snider won the battle in the trenches against a physical Saints front, while Jon Barnes Jr. looked good with both his legs and his arm in the victory.
Snider lost to Wayne in Week 6 because the offense could not get anything going against a good defense. That wasn’t the case last Friday. That’s growth, something we have steadily seen all year long out of the Panthers.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Many will have Snider as the No. 1 team this week, but Blitz just can’t do it. A convincing defeat of Luers on Friday could see them ascend to the top.
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BISHOP DWENGER
WHY #3?
Um, because of a loss perhaps?
While the doubters have found some traction after Friday’s defeat, this is still a darn good football team. The defense is the catalyst and will keep the Saints in every game come playoff time.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Dwenger has scored just 28 combined points the last two weeks, including just 13 in the loss to Snider. Patrick O’Keefe is back at quarterback after fighting back from injury and threw some good balls against Snider. It was the offensive line that had trouble with the Panthers, something that will definitely be a point of emphasis in practice this week.
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HOMESTEAD
WHY #4?
Since an anemic offensive output against Snider in a Week 5 loss, the Spartans have demolished North Side, picked apart their rival Carroll and made the plays on the road to knock off Wayne.
You could argue that Homestead has the most momentum of any area team.
With a road game at South this Friday to conclude the regular season, Homestead should enter the postseason on a four-game winning streak and seeking a rematch with the aforementioned Panthers.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
While the offense has averaged over 31 points per game over the recent streak, it struggled to the tune of 17 combined points against Dwenger and Snider earlier in the year.
Is the Homestead offense improved from the first half of the season? I don’t think there is any doubt. Is it at a level to score enough points to beat Snider? We may find out in a few weeks.
5. WAYNE
WHY #5?
A loss to Homestead has the Generals dropping a few spots this week.
If there is any team that would benefit from playing indoors, it would be Wayne, which has had both of its losses come in the wet.
All of a sudden, Friday’s game against Carroll is a big one. The Chargers want to erase the sting of two straight lopsided losses heading into the playoffs, while Wayne wants to get back on the winning track as it looks ahead to a potential sectional title game rematch against Dwenger in early November.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A narrow victory over Concordia followed up by last Friday’s loss has some thinking that Wayne peaked too early when it beat Snider in Week 6. It is up to the coaching staff of the Generals to refocus the team as it eyes the quest to win the program’s first sectional crown in 22 years.
6. BISHOP LUERS
WHY #6?
After five straight games decided by three points or less, Knights Nation could finally exhale on a Friday night with a lopsided win over South last Friday.
Luers remains one of the more overlooked teams in the area, likely because of the surprising loss to North Side in Week 5. But the Knights lost by just two to Dwenger in Week 7 and a solid showing Friday against Snider would earn them more respect.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The 31 points allowed per game the worst among SAC contenders. While the defensive unit has looked better in the last two weeks, it still has a ways to go.
7. ANGOLA
WHY #7?
Angola very well could be one of the top three teams in the area, but it is impossible to tell due to its schedule that is highlighted by a pair of solid NE8 teams. While the offense may not be as powerful as last season, the defense could be better.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Because Blitz is too scared to put a Northeast Corner Conference team higher. #fulldisclosure
8. EAST NOBLE
WHY #8?
The Knights wrapped up the NE8 in style last week, dispatching of New Haven in relatively easy fashion.
East Noble resides in a stacked upper half of Sectional 19, meaning it will definitely have to earn its way forward deep into the postseason. But this team has proved the naysayers wrong all year thus far. It may as well continue.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Perhaps they should be and Blitz is mistaken. Coach Luke Amstutz’s team will definitely have the opportunity to prove me wrong.
9. CONCORDIA
WHY #9?
Whether it is Jake Byrd or Brandon Davis, the Cadets have two quarterbacks who can lead them to victory against almost anyone, especially in 3A.
The Cadets have scored 20 or more points in six of their eight games this season, falling short of that mark only against Snider and Dwenger.
Can we just fast-forward to that Luers-Concordia rematch now?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Five losses is five losses. But the Cadets are in good shape for the playoffs.
10. ADAMS CENTRAL
WHY #10?
Show some love to the Flying Jets, who continue to just wallop one team after another on their schedule.
It stiffens a tad this week with Woodlan in a battle of the ACAC championship. Still, AC looks the part of a team that will be a favorite in every game it plays through regional.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Tough to slot in a 1A team in a poll full of big-school powers. If Blitz graded on a curve, AC would be a lot higher. But those aren’t the rules.
NEXT FIVE
11. NORTHROP
12. LEO
13. CARROLL
14. NEW HAVEN
15. COLUMBIA CITY
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