Following Friday’s game, we will have reached the halfway point of the campaign, with every team in the state of Indiana guaranteed at least one playoff game.
Who thought we would get this far? It was always a question, right?
To kick off Week 5, Blitz has a new No. 1 in his poll.
1. CARROLL (4-0)
WHY #1?
The Chargers have won their first four games by an average margin of 33 points, and that’s including a few teams that have been competitive.
No one has slowed down Jeff Becker and the offense, which is averaging close to 400 yards per game.
Becker has thrown 16 TDs without an INT in 98 attempts through the first month of 2020.
A big one looms Saturday night against Bishop Dwenger
2. HOMESTEAD (3-1)
WHY #2?
Apart from Concordia’s loss of some key offensive talent for a few weeks, no team was hit worse in a single game by quarantine than the Spartans were in Week 1.
We have seen over the last three weeks just how good a Spartans defense at full strength is, including one shutout and stopping Brenden Lytle at the one-foot line in the third OT last Friday to secure a 35-34 win over Bishop Dwenger.
Similar to Carroll, Homestead has some big challenges ahead, including North Side in Week 6 and the Chargers in Week 7.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The Week 1 defeat to Northrop is still a loss, and while the defense is exceptional, the offense still has a ways to go.
3. BISHOP DWENGER (3-1)
WHY #3?
The Saints came so close to earning a victory over Homestead last Friday, a matter of inches in fact. Unfortunately, the night ended in defeat, dropping Bishop Dwenger out of Blitz’s No. 1 spot.
But this positioning could be short-lived, as the Saints face off against Carroll on the road on Saturday night.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Bishop Dwenger just lost to Homestead, and Carroll has been more impressive through four weeks. So, No. 3 is fitting.
4. LEO (3-1)
WHY #4?
Sure, Leo was handled by Class 4A Mooresville in Week 2, but the Lions gave the Pioneers their toughest test thus far.
Last week’s beatdown of New Haven was nothing short of impressive, with the defense picking off Jakar Williams three times.
Outside of the Mooresville game, Leo has allowed a total of eight points this season.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The Lions are now the top-ranked team from the NE8 in Blitz’s poll. That seems pretty fair. Can Leo hold the spot with East Noble coming in on Friday?
5. EAST NOBLE (3-1)
WHY #5?
Ah yes, the aforementioned Knights.
East Noble put up a phenomenal fight against Penn last Friday, a game in which Blitz wonders how Rowan Zolman could have affected it if he wasn’t injured, particularly on the two long Penn TDs on screen passes.
Coach Luke Amstutz’s team could jump back up in this poll with a victory at Leo on Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A loss is a loss, even when that loss is to Penn.
Another concern for the Knights is attrition. The depth chart continues to take hits, but the hope is that East Noble gets healthy down the road.
6. NORTH SIDE (2-2)
WHY #6?
The Legends got back on track in the second half against Wayne last week, running away from the Generals after a back-and-forth first two quarters.
Coach Mike Brevard’s team is the top-ranked team with multiple losses in this poll, which feels like a good spot. With a schedule that is largely manageable the rest of the regular season, North is trending up.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Losses by double digits to both Carroll and Bishop Dwenger prevent North from eclipsing those teams. You could make a case that the Legends should be above one or both NE8 teams, but with no direct head-to-head matchup, who can tell for sure?
7. COLUMBIA CITY (4-0)
WHY #7?
Admittedly, the opening four games have not been the best competition, but for the second-consecutive year the Eagles have picked up wins in their first four games.
In 2019, a 4-0 start led into a 1-5 stretch that ended the season.
Can Columbia City avoid a similar second-half swoon this season?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Patience…some wins in the next few weeks against some of the top teams in the NE8 will go a long way.
8. NEW HAVEN (3-1)
WHY #8?
In its first conference challenge, the Bulldogs left a lot to be desired in a 35-8 loss to Leo.
Despite the defeat, New Haven has a solid win over Pioneer and still has a ton of potential. A pair of road games at Norwell and Columbia City will be telling over the next two weeks.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Despite just a single loss, the Bulldogs looked lost at times and thoroughly dominated in others against Leo. Is the gap between Leo and the rest of the NE8 that big? East Noble will have something to say about it with matchups with Leo and New Haven upcoming.
9. SOUTH ADAMS (4-0)
WHY #9?
Is South Adams better than any of the teams above them in this poll? It could be so, although Blitz cannot pull the trigger yet on moving the Starfires up.
Coach Grant Moser’s team needs some competition, as it needs to challenge its starters in playing a full four quarters. Hopefully, Monroe Central presents that this Friday before Adams Central comes a calling in Week 6.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Trust Blitz, he really wants to put South Adams up higher. Maybe in a week or two? Stay tuned…
10. EASTSIDE (4-0)
WHY #10?
Another week, another shut out for the Blazers, who have now allowed just 21 total points in the first month of the 2020 season – 14 of those coming against Adams Central.
The schedule is favorable through the next several weeks, with a Week 9 showdown with Angola looming later.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Much like South Adams, it is difficult to ascertain just where Eastside should slot in here. But this much is for sure, the Blazers are much better than your prototypical “good” 2A team.
NEXT FIVE
11. WARSAW
12. SNIDER
13. CONCORDIA LUTHERAN
14. NORWELL
15. ANGOLA
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
How the he’ll is Leo ahead of east noble. East noble nearly beat Penn without the starting QB and starting 2way stud zolman.
Welp that has been answeres