BLITZ: Who can get to state? Let’s look at the stock of area teams

A long time ago, a former compatriot of Blitz used to give some financial information around this time of the season.

He called it “Stock Watch,” looking at which teams’ stock should be sold, bought or held as the playoffs loomed.

Blitz is not above stealing ideas from pigs, frogs or any other inferior animal to a bear.

So, when it comes to the top teams in the area, how does Blitz see their chances in the postseason? Let’s see.

HOMESTEAD (6-0)

The Spartans are the darling of the SAC, sitting undefeated with marquee wins over Bishop Dwenger and Snider.

The league title is all but a certainty. But what about a run in the postseason?

Homestead will have to deal with Snider again in the sectional at some point. While a lot of praise goes on a Spartans offense that scored on their first seven possessions against the Panthers, Snider moved the ball with relative ease on the Homestead D.

In looking at the 6A landscape, it is a bit of a puzzle around Indy, with Carmel, Warren Central, Ben Davis and Center Grove all with multiple losses thus far. However, their schedules are significantly tougher. For instance, one of Carmel’s two losses was on the road at national power Louisville Trinity.

Homestead last won sectionals in 2015 and 2016, with each season ending with a blowout loss to Carmel in regional play.

Look, Blitz loves Homestead, but there are a lot of huge land mines on the road to Lucas Oil Stadium. He wants to see more against teams outside of the SAC before thinking this team is state worthy.

BLITZ’S STOCK ADVICE: HOLD

BISHOP DWENGER (5-1)

The problem with breaking down the Saints and their chances in Class 5A is just how businesslike they are. They aren’t flashy. They don’t put up eye-popping stats on a weekly basis.

Bishop Dwenger, as always, is just kind of…there.

Will they be “there” at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend?

The Saints’ biggest challenge could come in semistate against Valparaiso, which is 6-0 and beat Penn by 20 in Week 1. Valpo is led by an aggressive, physical defense that has accumulated 27.5 sacks through six weeks. The Bishop Dwenger offense has had trouble against those types of defenses (see Homestead, Carroll).

BLITZ’S STOCK ADVICE: HOLD

EAST NOBLE (6-0)

The expectations for East Noble are a little different in Blitz’s mind than say Homestead and Bishop Dwenger. The Saints are always aiming for state titles, while Homestead feels like it can compete for one this year in 6A.

While the Knights have the makeup of a team that could make a deep run in 4A, this is a program that hasn’t even won a sectional since 2003.

The sectional field is manageable. Outside of NorthWood, the top teams are all squads in which the Knights have beaten handily in the NE8 (Leo, DeKalb). Regional could be a matchup with Delta, Mississinewa or Marion, with New Prairie looming in semistate.

The road to state is difficult, but this team is arguably the best Knights team since the 2004 team went 10-1. Even a sectional title would be huge for this program after a 16-year drought.

BLITZ’S STOCK ADVICE: BUY

BISHOP LUERS (1-5)

What? A one-win team making a run in the tournament?

It isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility, with Sectional 35 without a clear-cut favorite. In fact, some around the Knights’ program are optimistic that the team can make a run if it can survive the final three weeks of the season without suffering more injuries.

But Blitz believes those folks could be looking past the likes of Bluffton and Woodlan, two teams that, when healthy and playing their best, are good enough to beat Bishop Luers.

The fundamental issues with the Knights will remain no matter who the opponent is, including sketchy line play and lack of depth.

Still, the Knights are a team to watch.

BLITZ’S STOCK WATCH: SELL

SOUTH ADAMS (6-0)

Can anyone match South Adams in the north in 1A? Southwood may have a say in regional action, but otherwise there is no one on paper that can match up with the Starfires before Indianapolis Lutheran (probably) at state.

That’s not to say that South Adams is guaranteed its first-ever trip to the state championship game. If caught looking ahead, the Starfires could get clipped by a team that is not as athletically talented, but more focused and disciplined.

Still, there is a lot to like with this squad.

BLITZ’S STOCK WATCH: BUY

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