This week signifies the halfway point of the season. Each team in the state is guaranteed 10 games (unless Covid) and come Friday night, most will have playerd five games.
So where do we stand in Blitz’s Power Poll? A lot looks the same, but there is still plenty of change on the horizon.
1. BISHOP LUERS (4-0)
WHY #1?
Four weeks, four wins. That is where we stand with the No. 1 team in Class 2A.
A visit to North Side is on tap this Friday. While the matchup between skill position players is exciting, the Knights have the decided edge up front on both sides.
There are tough games to come, namely against Bishop Dwenger and Snider, but with each passing week Bishop Luers looks more and more like a potential SAC champ.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Impossible.
2. HOMESTEAD (3-1)
WHY #2?
A dominant road win at Bishop Dwenger last week cemented the Spartans in this No. 2 spot. Blitz believes that at this point, if Bishop Luers and Homestead played 10 times, each would win five.
The Spartans face an elimination game of sorts this week against Snider, with the loser suffering its crucial second loss in the league.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
That pesky 45-42 loss to Bishop Luers.
3. EAST NOBLE (3-0)
WHY #3?
The Knights jump up into the top three after another dominant win, its third in three tries this season.
Zander Brazel has emerged as a quarterback who can make all the plays against certain opponents. Can he do it when the competition amps up significantly like it will this Friday against Leo? We will see.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
This week, East Noble is the highest-ranked non-SAC team in Blitz’s Power Poll. This bear thinks that is more than fair.
4. LEO (4-0)
WHY #4?
Who is better, East Noble or Leo? The fan bases have been going back and forth for the first month of the regular season, but all of that will give way to the showdown between the two on the field this Friday.
The Lions remain incredibly one-dimensional, but the dominance of the run game as well as the defense is apparent. Quarterback Jackson Barbour can make throws, evidenced by a few he made last week in conversion situations in a rout of New Haven.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Beat East Noble and Leo will be higher than No. 4 in this poll next week.
5. BISHOP DWENGER (3-1)
WHY #5?
It was only one loss, but the Saints underwhelmed last week at home against Homestead. While the final score wasn’t bad, it was more lopsided on the field as the Saints struggled to match the size and physicality of Homestead.
This is by no means a bad Dwenger squad, but it failed its first big challenge of the season, with Carroll, Bishop Luers and Snider still looming.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
This may be too low for the Saints, Blitz will be honest. A game this Friday against Carroll will be very telling.
6. CARROLL (3-1)
WHY #6?
The Chargers’ one blemish on the season is a seven-point loss to Bishop Luers, yet it feels like Carroll is an afterthought at this point in the SAC race.
Then again, Blitz has them sixth again this week, so perhaps he is part of the problem.
Carroll has Bishop Dwenger and Homestead over the next three weeks, so Coach Doug Dinan’s team has a chance to prove it is an SAC title threat.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Two of Carroll’s three wins thus far have come against teams that are a combined 2-6 – North Side and Northrop.
7. SNIDER (2-1)
WHY #7?
The next in a gaggle (yes, gaggle) of SAC teams with one loss. The Panthers travel to Homestead this Friday and can make a statement with a win.
While this might not be an elite-level Snider team, it is better than a year ago and still controls its destiny in the league with a Week 9 game at Luersfield against the Knights looming if Coach Kurt Tippmann’s team can run the table until then.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Similar to Carroll, Snider’s victories aren’t exactly against world beaters, having knocked off a pair of 1-3 teams in North Side and Concordia Lutheran.
8. WARSAW (3-1)
WHY #8?
A win at Mishawaka last Friday was huge for Warsaw as it seeks a second-consecutive Northern Lakes Conference title. It may very well come down to this Friday as the Tigers host undefeated Northridge.
This is another sensational Bart Curtis-coached team. Unfortunately most around here won’t appreciate it, at least until the postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
As Blitz glances at the Sagarin Ratings, they have Warsaw ranked lower than the top five teams in the SAC. So this spot at No. 8 feels pretty fair at this point, considering the lack of games against Allen County foes.
9. EASTSIDE (4-0)
WHY #9?
Undefeated entering Week 5, the Blazers have handled all challengers thus far, but not in the way that Coach Todd Mason would like. Once again last week, Mason expected more out of his team in a 20-13 win over Churubusco.
No disrespect to the Eagles, but if Eastside can only triumph over ‘Busco by seven, how can it expect to hang with Bishop Luers come the postseason?
In other news, Laban Davis is a stud. Eastside has Garrett this week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
See above. This is a very good team, but better than anyone above them here? Not quite yet.
10. ADAMS CENTRAL (3-1)
WHY #10?
Outside of a two-point loss to Eastside, Adams Central has beaten three foes by a combined score of 138-13.
The Flying Jets are the class of the ACAC and may very well be the top team in all of Class 1A. Heritage is the next victim before a showdown with South Adams in Week 6.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
It is tough to push a 1A team much higher in this poll, especially when that team faces zero of the top eight squads and lost to No. 9. But make no mistake, AC could be the 1A North representative in Indianapolis on Thanksgiving weekend.
NEXT FIVE
11. Norwell
12. South Adams
13. Columbia City
14. North Side
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
Be the first to comment