With New Haven’s overtime victory over Leo, we are seeing a shift towards the top of the power poll this week.
Will we see another shift after Friday’s showdown in the SAC between Snider and Carroll?
Hey, that will have to wait until next week.
For now, here is your Top 15 area squads a month into the 2023 campaign.
1. SNIDER (4-0)
WHY #1?
After taking care of business on the road through the first three weeks, Snider was businesslike in its demolition of South Side last Friday.
The Panthers look the part of the best team in the area largely because of its offensive and defensive lines that have been a problem for opponents.
Uriah Buchanan is within striking distance of the single-season rushing record for Snider, but there is a lot of football left to be played.
2. CARROLL (3-1)
WHY #2?
The final score looked nice, but Bishop Dwenger made Carroll work for last week’s 40-13 victory. Whereas Snider has earned praise for its play in the trenches, we have questions regarding the Chargers up front. We will get some questions answered this week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
In head-to-head play against Warren Central, Carroll won by four and Snider won by 22. Pretty easy, right?
3. NEW HAVEN (4-0)
WHY #3?
The Bulldogs make the big jump up three spots following their OT win over Leo on the road.
What impressed Blitz the most was the composure that Coach Kyle Booher’s team displayed when Leo made its run late in regulation to tie it. Previous New Haven squads didn’t handle the moment well. This team does.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Who wouldn’t like a New Haven v. Snider or New Haven v. Carroll showdown right about now? The Bulldogs played a pair of SAC squads, but what could have been…
4. LEO (2-2)
WHY #4?
Despite an overtime loss to New Haven, Blitz is not dropping Leo very far. This team was down 20-0 before you could blink last Friday, trailed the entire game yet found the moxie to tie it late.
It’s easy to play the ‘what-if’ game in OT, but one thing is for sure, Leo and New Haven are pretty close to each other in terms of talent and execution.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Leo has dropped two games to two good teams. Its two wins? Over squads a combined 1-7.
5. HOMESTEAD (2-2)
WHY #5?
Coach Chad Zolman’s squad drops one spot from a week ago not for anything it did, but to make room for New Haven.
Homestead is on the rise with two-straight dubs, but has Snider and Carroll looming after this week’s trip to Bishop Dwenger.
Want a breakout candidate from the Spartans? Junior Sam Steward is tied for the team lead in tackles with 25 and paces the defense with three sacks.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
With back-to-back wins, Homestead has proven that it isn’t all doom and gloom like some folks wanted to portray it after the first two weeks. But it is tough to rate Sparty up with the likes of the elite pair of SAC teams. But Homestead will play both very soon.
6. EAST NOBLE (3-1)
WHY #6?
All the Knights have done is handle their business and hang with Snider for awhile, yet still they cannot crack the top five of Blitz’s poll.
That can change this week as Leo invades Kendallville in a pivotal NE8 showdown. This will be a telling game for both, and a potential statement game for the Knights.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Leo, New Haven and Columbia City are all ahead for East Noble in the second half of the regular season. In other words, not enough has been proven to elevate East Noble higher. Not yet anyway…
7. ADAMS CENTRAL (4-0)
WHY #7?
With its 42 points last week against Jay County, AC has now eclipsed 40 points in 11 straight regular-season games.
Are we taking these Flying Jets for granted? Perhaps, but they can reassert themselves this Friday as undefeated Heritage comes calling at the Landing Strip.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
We are talking a 1A school year. Calm your jets. See what Blitz did there?
8. COLUMBIA CITY (4-0)
WHY #8?
Much like a few teams above them in this poll, we still don’t know a whole lot about the Eagles.
Yes, we know Stratton Fuller is good (shocker!). But other than that, what does this year’s squad have in relation to Leo, New Haven and East Noble?
That’s why CC is still relatively low in the poll. Plenty of room to ascend in the coming weeks, however.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Columbia City’s four opponents so far this season are a combined 2-14.
9. WARSAW (4-0)
WHY #9?
The Tigers passed their first big NLC test last week with a hard-fought (another word for boring?) victory over Concord at home.
Things aren’t difficult to figure out with the Tigers. If they can run the ball and stop the run, they have a good chance at winning. Will that combo lead the way over a NorthWood team aching to bounce back from a loss to Northridge?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
None of Warsaw’s four wins have come against a team that currently has a winning record.
10. BLUFFTON (4-0)
WHY #10?
So much for a letdown game.
A week after beating up on South Adams, Bluffton went on the road and shut out Woodlan, ending any conversation that the Tigers would fall into the trap of coming out flat after a big dub.
Coach Brent Kunkel’s team leads the ACAC in defensive points allowed at just 6.5 per game. Heritage and Adams Central loom in weeks 7 and 8.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Beat Heritage and AC, then we’ll talk.
NEXT FIVE
11. West Noble
12. Bishop Luers
13. Wayne
14. Heritage
15. Bishop Dwenger
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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