After two weeks of Friday Night Lights, Blitz is ready to make some big changes to his Power Poll.
The biggest movement once again comes with SAC teams. Just who is good? Who is bad? And who is just…average?
Let’s take a look.
1. BISHOP LUERS (2-0)
WHY #1?
The Knights’ march up to No. 1 after a pair of impressive victories. Does Bishop Luers have the staying power? We will find out on Friday when it takes on Homestead on the road in a key early-season SAC showdown.
Coach Kyle Lindsay’s team must stay relatively healthy to survive nine weeks in the conference and be a factor for the Victory Bell. Kinks are already developing in the armor, as senior Aden Dennis is sidelined for most of the rest of the regular season with a wrist injury. Good news is, he should be back for the playoffs.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Impossible.
2. BISHOP DWENGER (2-0)
WHY #2?
Despite missing a fair amount of bodies last week due to contact tracing, the Saints were still able to dispatch of North Side relatively easily in a 26-point win.
It is no secret that the first third of the schedule for Bishop Dwenger is very kind – with Wayne, North and now South this week. However, the Saints have been convincing in the first few weeks that they deserve No. 2 for now.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Bishop Luers has the better resume at this point. But things change weekly.
3. HOMESTEAD (2-0)
WHY #3?
Yes, the two-time defending SAC champions continue to be a tad disrespected by Blitz here. Why? Well, the schedule hasn’t been daunting with wins over Northrop and Concordia Lutheran. It gets serious on Friday with Bishop Luers headed to Aboite to take on the Spartans.
A win over the Knights will vault Homestead to No. 1 next week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Concordia and Northrop are a combined 1-3 through two weeks. Strength of schedule so far has been the weakest amongst the undefeated teams in the SAC..
4. EAST NOBLE (1-0)
WHY #4?
Idle last week due to Covid issues within the high school, the Knights move up into the top 4 largely because of the uncertainty with SAC schools at this point.
Coach Luke Amstutz’s team has Huntington North and DeKalb the next two weeks before the big one with Leo. That should be a battle of undefeateds and shake up this Power Poll when it comes to where the two slot in.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Only one game played against a winless Plymouth team isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement to push East Noble into the top 3. A bigger sample size is needed.
5. LEO (2-0)
WHY #5?
The blowout of Angola last week truly opened Blitz’s eyes to Leo. Could this be a better version of the Lions than what we saw in 2020?
The answer is…maybe. Leo is still extremely one-dimensional with barely a semblance of a passing attack. However, the run game is stout and the defense is loaded with playmakers.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The fight over who is better is going to continue between East Noble and Leo into Week 5, and perhaps even longer with the two being in the same sectional. At this point, Blitz is giving the nod to the Knights, but stay tuned.
6. CARROLL (1-1)
WHY #6?
Just when we thought Carroll was going to be 0-2 and left for dead in the SAC, backup QB Owen Scheele and the Chargers show out in a narrow win over Snider in Week 2.
Things do not get much easier this week with North Side, but the Chargers showed last week how resilient they can be.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Carroll is the highest-ranked team with a loss in this week’s poll, so BACK OFF.
7. SNIDER (1-1)
WHY #7?
The Panthers could very easily be 0-2 right now, but then again they could also be 2-0.
At this point, it is safe to say we don’t know exactly what we have in the Panthers. Tyrese Brown may be the best running back in the SAC and the offensive front is monstrous, but the defense must tighten things up.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The secondary has struggled to contain anyone through the first two weeks of the year. Blitz expects that unit to get better as the season goes on, but another loss effectively eliminates Snider from SAC title contention, so it must find answers back there soon.
8. NORTH SIDE (0-2)
WHY #8?
Turns out, Blitz had the Legends ranked a bit too high last week at No. 2. Hey, it happens. North was missing Brauntae Johnson last week and ended up down to its third QB by the end of the game against Bishop Dwenger, but the defense has not shown it is capable of getting consistent stops through the first two weeks.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Uh, because North has two losses? Come on, get with the program!
9. WARSAW (1-1)
WHY #9?
The concern with being extremely one-dimensional is that when you play a team that can defend what you do, you are in deep trouble.
That’s where Warsaw found itself against Michigan City last week in being held to 16 points.
The Tigers have begun the season with two tough opponents, and they start Northern Lakes Conference play this week, so brighter days are ahead.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Warsaw may actually deserve to be higher in this poll, but the lack of northeast Indiana opponents will likely have Coach Bart Curtis’ team underrated the entire season.
10. EASTSIDE (2-0)
WHY #10?
Coach Todd Mason wasn’t too thrilled with his team’s performance last Friday in a two-point win over Adams Central. but it was impressive enough to keep the Blazers in Blitz’s top 10.
Interestingly, the game against Adams Central may end up being Eastside’s toughest regular-season contest in 2021.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Again, the lack of games against the SAC and NE8 hurts, although Blitz is confident Eastside could beat a few teams from each of those leagues.
NEXT FIVE
11. Norwell
12. Adams Central
13. Wayne
14. Columbia City
15. Garrett
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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