OK, Blitz now has double the amount of action to examine and dissect to put together his power poll for Week 3.
So, Blitz’s initial read on some teams was pretty accurate, while he was off on others (Snider).
Let’s see where we have movement this week…
1. BISHOP DWENGER (2-0)
WHY #1?
The Saints passed their first real test of the season last Friday, beating North Side on the road. The game was closer than the 13-point margin of victory indicated, but Coach Jason Garrett’s approach of grinding down the outmanned Legends worked as the game went decidedly Bishop Dwenger’s favorite over the final quarter and a half.
Bishop Dwenger has not been immune to missing players. Four contributors were out against North Side last week due to ailments.
The Saints get South Side at home this Friday
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Impossible.
2. CARROLL (2-0)
WHY #2?
Jeff Becker tore apart another defense last week from his quarterback spot, torching Snider in another lopsided Carroll victory.
While Mason Englert was the star receiver in Week 1, junior Jameson Coverstone emerged as a big-time threat against the Panthers. Even so, Englert was targeted time and again by Becker as he blew past Snider defensive backs. North Side will have its hands full on Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Carroll has beaten a pair of teams that are a combined 1-3. This week’s home showdown against North Side will be much more telling on where the Chargers slot into the SAC hierarchy.
3. EAST NOBLE (2-0)
WHY #3?
Junior QB Dalton Stinson has completed 50 percent of his passes and thrown for four touchdowns through two games. Not too bad when you consider the competition – Plymouth and NorthWood.
A lot of eyes are already on next week’s home showdown with Penn, but Huntington North enters this Friday looking much improved from a year ago. The Knights will not lose to the Vikings, but it could be closer than some think.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The caliber of competition is impressive, although Plymouth got torched by Kokomo last week and NorthWood opened its season with East Noble.
This team is not yet at the level of last year’s. But that doesn’t mean it can’t reach that zenith at some point this season.
4. NORTH SIDE (1-1)
WHY #4?
Is this ranking too high? We will find out on Friday when the Legends travel to Carroll.
Blitz was in attendance last week when North hosted Bishop Dwenger. He came away impressed with how the Legends played during the game and how they handled themselves afterwards – gracious to the Saints in defeat and already looking ahead to potentially seeing Bishop Dwenger again in the postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
With a head-to-head loss against Bishop Dwenger, North Side cannot usurp the Saints here. But they can make a jump next week if they go on the road Friday and knock off the Chargers.
5. LEO (1-1)
WHY #5?
Yes, the Lions were handed their worst non-conference loss in two years last Friday against Mooresville. But consider the competition, with Mooresville now the No. 1 team in Class 4A this week.
Coach Jared Sauder’s team needs to shake off last week, but also learn from it. A dangerous Norwell team visits this Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Leo is the second-highest ranked team with a loss by Blitz. What else do you want? Could the Lions be better than a few teams higher than them? Time will tell.
6. NEW HAVEN (2-0)
WHY #6?
New Haven has begun the season with a pair of victories and looks the part of a team that can challenge in the NE8. Time will tell with Leo looming in Week 4.
But before the Bulldogs can worry about the Lions, they head to Pioneer this Friday in a late addition to the schedule. Pioneer just so happens to be the top-ranked team in Class 2A.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
You can make the case that New Haven should be above Leo considering the Bulldogs have yet to lose. But the combined record of the teams that New Haven has beaten is 0-3. So let’s sit on this one for a bit.
7. NORTHROP (2-0)
WHY #7?
The Bruins are a win away from their first 3-0 start in 37 years. Yes that’s right, not since 1983 has Northrop begun the year with three straight dubs.
How is Coach Jason Doerffler’s team doing it? By taking advantage of opportunities and running the football. Damarius Cowen is AVERAGING 7 yards per carry and already has seven rushing touchdowns.
Wayne can be a sneaky opponent this week if Northrop shows up flat.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Blitz went back and forth with the Bruins. Yes, they beat Homestead, but it was a shorthanded Spartans squad.
But there is no limit to how high Northrop can go on this poll if it keeps winning.
8. HOMESTEAD (1-1)
WHY #8?
Blitz grades Homestead on a curve, because it was missing some big-time players on the defense side of the ball in Week 1.
Need evidence of that? Look no further than last Friday’s shutout of Concordia Lutheran.
With a full complement on defense, the Spartans have one of the most talented units around, which makes this low ranking capable of jumping up quickly if the wins mount.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The loss to Northrop, no matter who was missing, is still a loss. Bishop Dwenger looms in Week 4, which should be a telling matchup.
9. SOUTH ADAMS (2-0)
WHY #9?
A Week 2 visit to Lewis Cass was supposed to be a tough one, giving the Starfires a game to see where they measure up with an increase in competition. Instead, Coach Grant Moser’s team destroyed the Kings in a 55-7 rout.
So what do we know about South Adams? It is good, very good. Is it better than last year? Can it avoid a letdown in what could be a run to the state championship game? Stay tuned.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
This is the highest 1A team in this poll by a sizable margin. What else do you want from Blitz?
10. CONCORDIA LUTHERAN (1-1)
WHY #10?
Considering the Cadets were missing both their starting quarterback AND starting center last week, perhaps Blitz should be a tad more lenient on Coach Tim Mannigel’s squad.
But a few missing players or no, a shutout in the first game at the resurfaced Zollner Stadium was still disappointing.
Let’s hope for a full-strength Cadets squad this Friday against Snider.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
We have seen Concordia beat up on an inferior opponent in Week 1 (a 37-0 rout of South Side) and be very competitive yet shut out against a Homestead team that we are still learning about.
In other words, Blitz isn’t sure where to put the Cadets at this point.
NEXT FIVE
11. Eastside
12. Columbia City
13. Norwell
14. Angola
15. Huntington North
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
Be the first to comment