The first week of the season is always so difficult when it comes to judging teams.
Is Team A really good? Or is Team B bad?
Should we judge teams based on not playing with its full complement of defensive starters?
Or do we judge a team that took advantage of the situation and triumphed?
Blitz loves speculation, but it’s also nice to have a bigger sample size of games in which to judge.
But hey, you’re here for rankings, so let’s do our best to cipher through Week 1.
1. BISHOP DWENGER (1-0)
WHY #1?
It was a very business-like approach to Week 1 for the Saints, who beat Wayne 35-12 at Shields Field. Quarterback Brenden Lytle accounted for all five scores – four passing and one rushing – and finished with close to 200 yards of total offense.
The emergence of Rocco Ciocca in the slot was huge and could be a factor this week in a big early-season showdown with North Side.
At this point, Bishop Dwenger is the clear No. 1 in the area…for now.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Impossible.
2. CARROLL (1-0)
WHY #2?
The rapport that quarterback Jeff Becker developed last year with Layton Mitchell has transferred to Mason Englert, with the duo hooking up for three touchdowns in Week 1.
Can we also mention junior Ethan Beaupre and his two INTs from his safety spot? A secondary that can defend the deep pass will be huge for whoever wins the SAC this year. The Chargers have it.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
It was an impressive rout of Bishop Luers to open the season, but are the Knights down again? No. 2 seems like a solid spot for the Chargers, a jump of three spots since the preseason.
3. EAST NOBLE (1-0)
WHY #3?
The Knights’ first shutout win to open a season since 1987 went slightly under the radar last weekend after the craziness in the SAC. But the 31-point blanking of a Plymouth team that battled East Noble to a 34-31 decision last year was eye-opening.
A pair of INTs by Rowan Zolman and 12 tackles by East Noble all-time leading tackler Jacob VanGorder stood out in last week’s win.
Coach Luke Amstutz loves his non-conference challenges, and his team has another one this Friday at NorthWood, a team that the Knights lost to in sectional play in 2018.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Tough to judge the best in the NE8 against the best in the SAC when there are no battles between the two in the regular season. But with a victory at NorthWood this Friday, East Noble may make a case to move higher.
4. NORTH SIDE (1-0)
WHY #4?
The Legends’ complete and utter demolition of the Snider Panthers last Friday was beyond impressive. Duce Taylor torched a defense that looked lost and confused the majority of the night, and the weaponry around him (Blitz sees you Jordan Turner, Ja’suan Lambert, Ronald Collins III) showed out.
Coach Mike Brevard’s team jumps four spots from its preseason ranking of No. 8.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A win this week would vault North Side into the top two, that much is for sure. But Bishop Dwenger presents a much bigger challenge than Snider. Blitz expects the Saints to be able to line up defensively with no issues and take better angles to ball carriers than the inexperienced Snider D did.
North put the SAC on notice last Friday. This week, it can show that it is the league favorite.
5. LEO (1-0)
WHY #5?
It was business as usual for the Lions, who opened their season with a 50-0 drubbing of rebuilding Woodlan.
With the running game torching the Warriors, Leo quarterback Jackson Barbour threw just twice, completing both and one going for a score.
Defensively, the Lions allowed just six first downs all night.
Week 2 will give us a better indication of where Leo is with a road trip to Angola. Coach Andy Thomas’ team is improved from 2019 and will present a bigger challenge than Woodlan did.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
At this point, you cannot put Leo above East Noble, you just can’t. Could that change? Absolutely, but not after a single week of action.
This week begins a month of pivotal games for Leo – with Norwell, New Haven and East Noble following Angola.
6. NEW HAVEN (1-0)
WHY #6?
The Bulldogs are 1-0 for the first time under Coach Jimmy Linn after a road victory over Garrett to begin the 2020 campaign.
Could New Haven go to 2-0? It hosts a Mississinewa team that has had recent success, but has a new coach and was shut out by Pendleton Heights in Week 1.
Jakar Williams finished with nearly 300 yards of total offense for the ‘Dogs last week, showing that Coach Linn is allowing the junior quarterback to create more in the run game.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
New Haven has moved up one spot from its preseason ranking, which feels right after a single week. Mississinewa could be a sneaky tough game, but Blitz is confident that the ‘Dogs will be 2-0 entering the NE8 season beginning in Week 3.
7. CONCORDIA LUTHERAN (1-0)
WHY #7?
Amir Drew rushed 24 times for 170 yards last week for the Cadets, but it was the defense that impressed Blitz the most, pitching its first shutout since 2018.
The question remains, can Concordia be a factor at the top end of the SAC? The answer will become more clear this week against a Homestead team looking to bounce back after a loss.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A rout of South Side is not much of an indicator of where a team is at, it is that simple.
Like other teams that Blitz has already mentioned, a bigger sample size is needed.
8. NORTHROP (1-0)
WHY #8?
Yeah, Homestead was playing shorthanded on defense, but Northrop ran with the opportunity and pulled off its first-ever victory over the Spartans.
Damarius Cowen was as advertised, carrying the ball an insane 37 times for 276 yards and four touchdowns.
The question now is, can the Bruins continue that success? They have a great matchup against South Side this week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Hey, the Bruins moved up considerably from where Blitz had them in the preseason. What else do you want from this bear?
9. HOMESTEAD (0-1)
WHY #9?
It is not an excuse, but merely a fact that Homestead was not at full strength in Week 1. Does it beat Northrop with its full complement of defensive starters? Even Blitz doesn’t know the answer to that one, but he does feel we need to give the Spartans the benefit of the doubt here.
A visit to Concordia this week will be telling.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The Spartans are the highest 0-1 team on this poll, and higher than several 1-0 programs. This is a more than fair spot.
10. SOUTH ADAMS (1-0)
WHY #10?
The Starfires dropped a spot from the preseason, more because of what other teams did than anything negative that they showed in a drubbing of Winchester.
However, one negative out of South Adams was the amount of penalties in Week 1. The Starfires were called for 11 penalties for 95 yards, something that will not fly against tougher competition.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Coach Grant Moser will accept this No. 10 ranking because he is of sound and rational mind.
NEXT FIVE
11. Snider
12. Eastside
13. Columbia City
14. Norwell
15. Adams Central
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