With just three weeks left in the regular season, we are getting down to crunch time. After all, a team’s primary goal is to finish No. 1 in Blitz’s Power Poll entering Week 10, right?
Whether that is true or not is open for debate, but here we go.
1. BISHOP LUERS (6-0)
WHY #1?
For context, the Knights last swept through the regular season with an undefeated record way back in 2011. Can they do it this year?
There are still hurdles, with Bishop Dwenger this week and Snider in Week 9. But with the way Bishop Luers has been dominating opponents of late, a 9-0 regular season and an SAC championship is definitely in the picture.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Impossible.
2. LEO (6-0)
WHY #2?
The last undefeated regular season for the Lions came in 2013. That team swept through the Allen County Athletic Conference, but was bounced from the playoffs by East Noble.
Why does Blitz mention that? Well, an undefeated regular season looks likely, as does a rematch with the Knights in the sectional at some point.
Just settin’ the stage here.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Yes, Leo has looked impressive through the first six weeks, but the level of competition has not been at the level of Bishop Luers.
3. CARROLL (5-1)
WHY #3?
Since losing to Bishop Luers by seven in Week 1, the Chargers have won five straight by an average of 30 points. A huge matchup looms on Friday with rival Homestead, but Coach Doug Dinan’s team has been rolling.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Being the highest-ranked one-loss team in Blitz’s poll is quite the compliment.
4. SNIDER (5-1)
WHY #4?
Other than Bishop Luers, Snider is the only team in the SAC that controls its own destiny in terms of an SAC championship. The Week 9 date with Bishop Luers looms, but Bishop Dwenger is also on the docket for Week 8, a matchup that could be revisited in the playoffs.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The Panthers’ lone loss is a one-point decision against Carroll, so that makes ranking Snider below the Chargers pretty easy, right?
5. HOMESTEAD (4-2)
WHY #5?
Congratulations to Coach Chad Zolman in picking up his 150th career victory last Friday night. While the Spartans, barring chaos, are not going to win a third-straight league championship, this is still a team that is towards the upper echelon of squads in the league.
A jump in this poll could be in the cards if the Spartans can defeat rival Carroll on Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A two-loss team in the top five? That’s good enough.
6. WARSAW (5-1)
WHY #6?
The combined record of the three teams in Sectional 3 is 14-4. Around here, Carroll and Homestead get the most attention, yet Warsaw is perfectly capable of picking up a pair of victories and earning a sectional title.
But first things first. The Tigers have a great shot at winning the Northern Lakes Conference for the second-consecutive year, with a road date at Concord in Week 9 the biggest hurdle left.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Blitz says it every week, the lack of opponents in northeast Indiana.
7. BISHOP DWENGER (4-2)
WHY #7?
Are the Saints back on track? Bohde Dickerson looked tremendous last week against Concordia Luthera. Bishop Dwenger has changed some things schematically and, at least for a week, it seemed to be beneficial.
Can this team continue to rebound and continue its recent dominance over Bishop Luers in Friday’s rivalry game? If so, Coach Jason Garrett’s team will jump high in this poll.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Two losses in the last three weeks keeps Bishop Dwenger down for now.
8. EASTSIDE (6-0)
WHY #8?
Same old, same old for the Blazers, who continue to make mincemeat out of the NECC.
Eastside is averaging over 417 total yards per game, with Laban Davis accounting for all but 100 yards of that.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The Blazers have only beat two teams that currently have a winning record. Its biggest victory is by two points over Adams Central, a great squad but still a 1A opponent.
9. NORWELL (5-1)
WHY #9?
Look who has cracked the top 10 after a shutout victory over East Noble. The Knights are once again showcasing the fact that they are a player in the NE8 under Coach Josh Gerber. And considering a fair amount of Norwell’s top players are juniors, this is a group that could be a trendy pick to win a conference crown next year.
But as for 2021, Norwell’s only blemish is a lopsided loss to Leo and another 8-1 regular season looks very doable at this point. A highly-favorable sectional is also looking good for the Knights.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The Knights were far from competitive against Leo in Week 3, the benchmark in the NE8.
10. EAST NOBLE (3-2)
WHY #10?
Blitz went back and forth on the Knights this week. Is East Noble deserving of this spot and pushing Adams Central out?
At this point, Blitz is giving the nod to EN for the No. 10 position. Fair or not?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Which team is East Noble? The one we saw in the first half against Leo or the second half? We really don’t truly know at this point, but a shutout loss to Norwell was downright ugly.
NEXT FIVE
11. Adams Central
12. Central Noble
13. New Haven
14. North Side
15. Churubusco
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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