Enough with the 7v7s, one-day shootouts, intrasquad and pre-season scrimmages. From here to Thanksgiving, we are talking actual wins and losses.
Which team will get off to a winning start? Remember, one week does not a season make. Who had Bishop Luers winning a state title after a 45-7 loss to East Noble in Week 1 last season? Conversely, no one thought Homestead would finish 5-5 after battling Carmel in a close opening-game defeat.
What surprises are in store in Week 1? Let’s take a look.
Last year: 200-47 (.809 winning percentage)
BISHOP DWENGER AT BROWNSBURG. Once again, the Saints’ non-conference slate is murderous. Brownsburg has the firepower to be a real threat to win a 6A state title. To stay close in this one, Bishop Dwenger’s defense needs to show up and prove it can win battles in the trenches against top-tier foes. Win or loss, that would be a good sign that the Saints have progressed. BLITZ SAYS BROWNSBURG BY 22.
NORTH SIDE AT NORTHRIDGE. Quick, what’s the last non-conference road win for North Side? Yes, it’s skewed because of nine-game SAC schedules of the past, but including playoffs, you have to go back to 2011 when the then-Redskins beat host Huntington North. That’s a long time. BLITZ SAYS NORTHRIDGE BY 6.
WAYNE AT CRISPUS ATTUCKS. The Generals haven’t won season-opening games for consecutive seasons since 2013-14. Opening up against Bishop Dwenger for the better part of a decade will do that. The Generals are the SAC’s X factor this year, and will start 1-0 once again. BLITZ SAYS WAYNE BY 15.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN AT CARROLL. An immense challenge for the Chargers to start the year, just the way Coach Doug Dinan likes it. HSE is laden with talent, per usual, and will give Carroll an immediate return on where they are at. Keep an eye on HSE senior Mason Alexander at corner. Can the Chargers’ receivers find space to make plays against Alexander and Co.? BLITZ SAYS HSE BY 7.
HOMESTEAD AT CARMEL. Another big one for a 6A school in the SAC. Sparty put up a good fight against Carmel last year in Week 1, but this one is on the road at Carmel University, where students are walking around with FRIGGIN’ OLYMPICS MEDALS. BLITZ SAYS CARMEL BY 18.
SCECINA AT CONCORDIA LUTHERAN. Dan Harris takes over at Scecina for the long-tenured Ott Hurrie, and word is it could be a rebuilding year for the Crusaders. Is there opportunity here for the Cadets to get their first dub since 2022? We would love to see it. BLITZ SAYS CONCORDIA BY 2.
LEO AT BISHOP LUERS. These are the kinds of NE8 v. SAC matchups that Blitz hopes we see more of in the coming years. Luers was routed by an NE8 foe in Week 1 last year, yet recovered well and was SAC co-champion. This one will come down to the two new quarterbacks. Who makes more plays? More importantly, who makes more mistakes? BLITZ SAYS LEO BY 3.
MARION AT SOUTH SIDE. Some dubious marks are set to fall on Friday. South Side has not won a season opener since 2005. It hasn’t sported a winning record since it took a 9-2 record into the sectional championship game against Bishop Dwenger in 2009. The Archers erase both skids against the Giants. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH SIDE BY 7.
NEW HAVEN AT NORTHROP. So many storylines with both teams. New Haven is trying to move forward after Coach Kyle Booher took another job in July. Northrop is stockpiling talent at the skill positions, but does it have the line play to be competitive in the SAC? BLITZ SAYS NORTHROP BY 5.
WARREN CENTRAL AT SNIDER. The Panthers will get a taste of 6A, which it is in for the next two years due to Success Factor, with Warren. This is shaping up to be Warren coach Mike Kirschner’s best team in his tenure. The D-ends are scary – Damien Shanklin (committed to LSU) and Tyrone Burrus Jr. (committed to Louisville). Snider isn’t there yet to take down a team the caliber of the Warriors. BLITZ SAYS WARREN CENTRAL BY 14.
BELLMONT AT HERITAGE. You really feel for Bellmont, which is on a 22-game losing streak entering this season. Its non-conference slate isn’t ideal – Heritage and South Adams. BLITZ SAYS HERITAGE BY 34.
BREMEN AT EAST NOBLE. Coach Alex Stewart’s debut will be at the home confines in Kendallville. A good game for Rylee Biddle to grow comfortable at QB before taking on Snider on the road next week. BLITZ SAYS EAST NOBLE BY 14.
CHURUBUSCO AT COLUMBIA CITY. The battle between Whitley County schools over the last four years has been fun, for one program at least. Columbia City has won all four by an average of 30.5 points. That seems like a nice, round number. BLITZ SAYS COLUMBIA CITY BY 30.
DEKALB AT ANGOLA. You could make a case for the Barons as the third-best team in the NE8 to start the season. They have experience and talent at the skill positions and draw a plus matchup at Angola in Week 1, a team they beat twice last year. BLITZ SAYS DEKALB BY 12.
HUNTINGTON NORTH AT EASTBROOK. Will the Vikings take a step forward in Coach Mike Eshbach’s spread offense in Year 2? This one has been competitive the last few years. It’d be a statement win for Huntington North to pull this one off in Grant County. Blitz just can’t pull the trigger. BLITZ SAYS EASTBROOK BY 8.
NORWELL AT MISSISSINEWA. It was a magical 2023 for Mississinewa, which went 12-1 before falling to Leo in regional play. This was one of the Week 1 bangers a year ago, with Norwell letting a game get away from them late in a two-point loss. The Knights open up 1-0. BLITZ SAYS NORWELL BY 2.
ADAMS CENTRAL AT GARRETT. This one will be fun. AC wants to prove it is the same ol’ AC, while Garrett is hoping to show that it can be a real factor in the NECC and the 3A playoffs. Whoever gets this win will get a real boost coming out of Week 1. This one wasn’t close last year. It will be closer this time around, but…BLITZ SAYS ADAMS CENTRAL BY 11.
ELWOOD AT SOUTHERN WELLS. Kudos to Blake Blaker for taking the Southern Wells job and preserving the immediate future of the program. Beating Elwood in Week 1 last year is the only win for the Raiders since 2020. BLITZ SAYS ELWOOD BY 3.
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN VS. BLUFFTON. Can Blackhawk Christian be any more competitive in Year 2 of 11s football? Maybe, but it likely won’t show in Week 1 against one of the ACAC’s best. BLITZ SAYS BLUFFTON BY 49.
JAY COUNTY AT BLACKFORD. Jay County has won 13 straight games in the series, including the last five years in Week 1. Patriots should roll again. BLITZ SAYS JAY COUNTY BY 24.
TIPTON VS. SOUTH ADAMS. What a treat for these two teams, who will face off at Indiana Wesleyan and the fantastic facility there. The Starfires haven’t started a season 0-1 since 2016. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH ADAMS BY 14.
WOODLAN AT EASTSIDE. Former Leo coach Brock Rohrbacher takes over the Warriors, and Blitz believes give it a few years and Woodlan can be a factor in the ACAC. If anything, Rohrbacher brings a calming influence to a program that desperately needed it. BLITZ SAYS EASTSIDE BY 22.
CENTRAL NOBLE AT WEST NOBLE. This is a fun Week 1 rivalry that doesn’t get much annual attention. West Noble is once again going to be a factor in the big division of the NECC. It should get a third-straight win over its rival. But you know how rivalries go…BLITZ SAYS WEST NOBLE BY 17.
FAIRFIELD AT GOSHEN. Two coaches in their debut games with new programs. Goshen has struggled in recent years. A Week 1 road dub for new Fairfield coach Cory Stoner? Book it. BLITZ SAYS FAIRFIELD BY 10.
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS AT WHITKO. Numbers are up at Heights, which has lost 12 straight games. This would be a feel-good dub after a winless 2023 for the Panthers. BLITZ SAYS PRAIRIE HEIGHTS BY 2.
SHENANDOAH AT FREMONT. This Week 1 game was Shenandoah’s only victory last season. Come on Fremont, let’s get one here. BLITZ SAYS FREMONT BY 6.
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH AT LAKELAND. Plenty of offense to be had in this one. More offense for Lakeland. BLITZ SAYS LAKELAND BY 9.
MICHIGAN CITY AT WARSAW. Bart Ball is back and ready to take no prisoners! BLITZ SAYS WARSAW BY 8.
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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