Lightning and weather threw a wrench into Week 2 in the area, but but we still have plenty to address and examine.
Some surprise teams at 2-0, some concern for others and a plethora of news and notes fill this week’s Bear Necessities.
Let’s get to it.
SAC
• Blitz was hard on Bishop Dwenger last week. Heck, he was hard on the Saints in his Week 2 picks (Moeller by 53), but Coach Jason Garrett’s team showed what it is capable of in Friday’s loss to the second-ranked team in the entire state of Ohio.
At first glance, it’s easy to shrug off Dwenger in a 42-18 loss at Shields Field, but the Saints competed for the majority of the game with the national power, even without starting quarterback Henry Jordan, who left the game due to injury.
In came sophomore Nick O’Keefe, who looked poised and calm behind center for the remainder of the game, including hitting older brother Brady O’Keefe for a touchdown.
Special teams play was also exceptional for Bishop Dwenger, who last year suffered its most lopsided defeat in program history against Moeller, a 57-0 spanking.
The next three weeks will be pivotal, with North Side, Carroll and Homestead in successive weeks. But after Friday, Blitz feels a lot better about the Saints’ chances.
• Homestead’s defense was gouged for 382 rushing yards in its 49-6 loss at Noblesville. Carmel was able to move the ball consistently in Week 1 on the ground against Sparty as well. Entering the SAC portion of its schedule, Coach Chad Zolman’s team has allowed an average of 281 rushing yards per game.
The next two weeks, Homestead will take on Wayne and Northrop, a pair of games that the Spartans will be favored to win. However, they could easily go the other way, especially if the Spartans can’t shore up the rushing defense.
You have to consider the competition – Carmel and Noblesville – and believe that the defense will be stronger going forward, but it is an area of concern.
• How about Concordia Lutheran? For the first time since 1978, the Cadets have started the season 2-0. And they have beaten a pair of teams that are typically strong, although look to be rebuilding in 2024, in Scecina and Eastbrook.
The key play came with just less than four minutes left in the game and Concordia clinging to a seven-point lead. A fumble by the Panthers was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Riley Ripke. Then, Zach Spielman snagged an interception that was returned 34 yards to paydirt barely a minute later.
It explains how the Cadets won 35-14 despite not converting a single third down (0-for-8) and surrendering nearly 300 rushing yards.
But a win is a win, and Concordia has two of them to start the year for the first time in 46 years.
• Technology is always evolving in football, even at the high school level.
North Side unveiled their new sideline setup on Friday against Lawrence North, a tent on the sideline with a big-screen TV mounted and showing replays to allow the players to review with coaches after a possession.
We see it elsewhere with tablets for quarterbacks and a few players gathering around, but the Legends’ sideline studio allows entire units to look over schemes and adjustments.
• Dee Hogue had himself a night (and day) in Bishop Luers’ 34-32 win over New Haven, notching a trio of interceptions, a blocked kick and a forced fumble, each of which was huge as the Bulldogs made it close down the stretch.
What’s beneficial to the Knights is that they have any number of defensive backs in the starting lineup that can have a game like Hogue – McKale Woodson, Daveon Surry, Hogue, etc. It is a similar veteran group to what we saw Saturday night in College Station with Notre Dame and Texas A&M. The Aggies’ receivers were constantly blanketed all game long by the likes of Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts and others.
Luers will always be in games if its seasoned secondary is making plays and forcing turnovers.
• Speaking of Surry, all he did against New Haven was score five touchdowns three different ways – two punt returns, a kickoff return and a pair of receiving scores.
A junior like Hogue, Surry is incredibly dangerous and has had a growth spurt from earlier in his high school career that has helped him when it comes to physicality. Opponents need to wise up and kick away from Surry at all times.
• The completion of Snider and East Noble at North Side’s Chambers Field was wild on Saturday afternoon.
It has been years since Chambers Field had just a single grandstand that housed both teams’ fan bases, with visiting bleachers being added eventually. But on Saturday, some East Noble fans decided not to make the trek around the track to the visiting side, instead sitting on the same side as the Snider crowd.
What resulted was entertaining, with plenty of back and forth in the crowd and on the field. The top moment was when East Noble athletic director (and former coach) Luke Amstutz got into a shouting, we will call it “battle” with Snider offensive line coach (and former coach) Russ Isaacs across the field. The guys kept it clean, but it was fiery.
That said, senior quarterback Aaron Vance was more than serviceable for the Panthers and played in big ways, especially Saturday after the venue change.
• While Northrop fell to Huntington North 58-37 over the weekend, it could have been much worse for the Bruins.
Starting quarterback David Callison took a late hit in the first half on Friday, exiting the game and handing over QB1 duties to sophomore Colton Downes. While Downes was serviceable, the offense took a step back without the junior Callison behind center.
It was good to see Callison return to the game for Saturday’s second half to prove the injury wasn’t significant. In a losing effort, he threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
• Wayne led South Bend Riley 14-7 at halftime on Friday before lightning put an end to the game. While many games were restarted on Saturday, this one was not.
Why? It could have been a number of reasons – from other scheduled events to bus availability to it just not making sense with the distance and the fact that it’s a non-conference game. Regardless, the game was declared a no contest, one of several around the state in Week 2 but the only one in our area.
NE8
• Congratulations to Columbia City‘s Stratton Fuller, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer with a pair of touchdowns scored in a 42-15 win over Plymouth. Both scores came through the air, with the senior Army commit finishing with seven catches for 106 yards and the two scores.
One of the top all-around talents in the Class of 2025 in the entire state, Fuller broke the record long held by Mike Cook, who set the mark during his career from 1960 to 1962.
• Let’s give some credit to New Haven and Coach Vance Shearer. Yes, the ‘Dawgs are 0-2, but they have lost to a pair of SAC programs and battled both tough, losing by a combined seven points.
The wheels could have completely fallen off following the departure of Coach Kyle Booher late in the summer. With no time to do a proper coaching search, assistant coach Shearer was promoted to the head job. It was the right move, with the continuity with the kids being crucial to offset the change merely weeks before the season began.
On Saturday, New Haven pushed Bishop Luers to the brink in a 34-32 decision. DJ Simpson rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns as the ‘Dawgs put a scare into the Knights.
Coach Shearer’s team gets DeKalb next week in a game that is going to be far more competitive than Blitz thought it would be just a few weeks ago.
ACAC
• Was anyone really questioning Adams Central after its Week 1 loss to Garrett?
Blitz sure wasn’t, but if anyone was they were educated quickly in the Flying Jets’ 43-0 thumping of Eastside.
The fact that AC won wasn’t surprising, but the margin of victory was. Remember, these two teams have had some battles in recent years in an annual series that dates back to 2014.
But Friday was a massacre. The Flying Jets averaged eight yards PER PLAY and scored touchdowns on all five of their trips into the red zone. AC ran the ball 40 times and threw it just three.
Just typical AC, attacking you in the exact way you expect and not being able to stop it. That’s demoralizing.
• When’s the last time you saw a team turn the ball over five times and win? How about five turnovers in the FIRST HALF and win?
That was Bluffton, which threw three picks and lost a pair of fumbles in the first half of its game against Manchester, which was delayed at half by weather and concluded late Friday night.
The thing with sophomore quarterbacks is that they have a lot of learning to do, and Axton Beste learned a lot in throwing three INTs for the Tigers. But his fourth quarter toss to Griffin Morgan for a 10-yard touchdown helped seal the deal, proving he can bounce back when facing adversity. But a testament to his athleticism was his 184 yards on the ground and a pair of scores.
That’s why Bluffton is so excited about Beste. His decision making will get better, but his athleticism is already to a level that he is a major problem for opponents either with his arm or legs.
NECC/Area
• Kudos to Prairie Heights, which is 2-0 for the first time since 2021 and just the second time in over 30 years with its shutout win over Bronson out of Michigan.
It’s always fun to see programs that are not traditional winners have success, and here’s hoping the Panthers can keep it up. They have Lakeland on the road next week. We will see how that goes.
• If it was anyone else, Seth Pruitt’s stat line of 22 carries for 164 yards and seven(!) touchdowns would be shocking. But it’s Pruitt, so it didn’t catch Blitz off guard at all.
The seven scores is believed to be a program record for West Noble, who are 2-0 after dominant performances over Central Noble and Wawasee. Pruitt is as dominant as they come in the surrounding area around Allen County. He’s one of those players you wish you could see play in the SAC to see how he would match up.
Here’s to a stellar prep career for Pruitt and can’t wait to see how the rest of the season goes.
QUICK HITS
Norwell has suffered back-to-back shutouts to start the season for the first time in program history…DeKalb’s Will Weber was stellar despite the OT loss to Garrett, throwing for 184 yards and three TDs with no turnovers…Warsaw was held to just 1.8 yards per rush in its 34-0 loss to Warren Central.
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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