We are a third of the way through the regular season, with intel from Friday being added from what we gathered through the first two weeks to where we can really begin forming educated opinions about teams.
A glance at the first third of the season will come next week. But let’s first take a glance at what we should take out of Week 3.
SAC
• There was some concern on Friday night with the status of Homestead quarterback Luke Goode, who left the 51-0 drubbing of Bishop Luers with an injury after throwing for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
Blitz has learned that Goode avoided anything serious on Friday and should be good to go going forward. When favoring his arm while leaving the field, some feared not just Goode on the football field, but also Goode on the basketball court, where is rated one of the top players in his class in the state.
But enough hoops talk. Goode will be good to go in a pivotal Week 4 game at Bishop Dwenger.
• If you would have compiled a list in the preseason of the top 20 wide receivers in the area, Blitz doubts anyone would have had Layton Mitchell of Carroll on it.
Yet three weeks into the season, Mitchell is arguably one of, if not THE, most dangerous receivers around. The senior snagged two more touchdown passes from Jeffrey Becker in Friday’s rout of North Side. He now has five TDs in the last two weeks, and had two called back against Bishop Luers in Week 1.
Mitchell had four touchdown receptions in 10 games last year. He has already surpassed that.
• Jeremiah Green of Northrop went for 180 total yards and three touchdowns on Friday, a break-out game for the senior.
Green is the total package for an offense that has had difficulty gaining consistent traction on the field this year. Look for the Bruins to continue to be creative in getting the ball in the hands of him.
• North Side has not scored yet this season, suffering its third-straight shutout loss against Carroll on Friday.
Could former Snider quarterback Duce Taylor provide a boost? The junior could see the field next week against Wayne after sitting out the first three games.’
• Speaking of Snider, they got back to work on Friday by downing Concordia. Were there whispers that the Panthers would take a step back after a close win over Carroll? Maybe. But nobody is whispering now.
Alonzo Derrick struck twice in the first quarter and then Lenny Bennett took over with 136 yards and two touchdowns rushing. The Panther running game hasn’t been talked about enough with Bennett, Kameron Trotter and Chance Collier all as valid options. But Friday, Bennett showed part of why he got the coveted #1 this season
Defensively, Jayshawn Underwood picked off two passes. The Panthers did almost everything right on Friday. Just making sure you don’t forget about them.
NE8
• Blitz did some research on Friday’s crazy 3-2 victory for Leo over Norwell. Neither team in its history had been involved in a game that ended with such a score.
According to John Harrell, it is the first 3-2 game in the entire state dating back to at least 1994.
• Michael Sievers now has over 400 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns thus far for Columbia City, including six receiving touchdowns. The Eagles are 3-0 and are at Huntington North next week.
• All due respect to Angola and Garrett, but DeKalb’s 29-14 victory at New Haven on Friday was its most impressive of the year.
The Barons fell behind early but fought back to get ahead and take control. We have been praising Evan Eshbach early on this year, but Landon Miller’s 203 yards and three touchdowns led the way against the Bulldogs.
This team can beat you in a variety of ways. East Noble better be ready on Friday.
ACAC
• Should we be more impressed with Southern Wells getting a win despite being outmanned or should we be shocked that Jay County is struggling so much in a 20-12 Raiders win?
• Many are going to take a casual glance at South Adams and think the Starfires are just another hard-nosed, physical, grind-it-out 1A team.
Yes, South Adams can roll like that, but it is currently beating teams by spreading the field attacking the secondary with the arm of James Arnold and his receivers.
The Starfires showed looks on Friday with Arnold behind center, Drew Stutzman, Nick Miller, Aidan Wanner and a combination of guys on the outside and Nic Stuber in the backfield.
Seriously, good luck slowing that down. This team can beat you with modern, downfield, up-tempo football.
• Possibly setbacks for both Bluffton and Woodlan, who saw quarterbacks Hayden Nern and Ben Reidy leave Friday night games and not return. The Warriors still picked up the win without Reidy but neither team will want to be without their guy long term.
NECC
• In years past, Week 3 was Angola v. Fremont week. It wasn’t a benefit to either team, with Angola rolling and Fremont just trying to survive.
The last few years, the teams have went elsewhere for scheduling. It has paid off for both.
Fremont’s win over River Valley out of Michigan on Friday has the Eagles 2-1 for the first time since 2001.
Conversely, Angola is 0-3 for the first time since 2001 with a blowout loss to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s from Michigan.
Despite the lopsided loss, the Hornets are better off in terms of program and player development than beating up on Fremont.
• Fairfield had lost 27 of its last 29 games heading into Week 2’s matchup with Osceola Grace. We kind of glossed over that win due to Grace not being an IHSAA-sanctioned school, but Friday’s 8-0 overtime victory over Central Noble definitely caught Blitz’s attention.
Congratulations to Coach Matt Thacker, now in his second year and seemingly directing the Falcons in the right direction.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
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