Friday marks the crossing of the mid-way point of the regular season, and boy has it gone fast, per usual.
By the time we grow comfortable in the conference portion of the schedule, we approach the time where we crown some champions.
The next two weeks, in particular, are pivotal in deciding area league titles. We may not have to wait until Week 8 or Week 9 to know who is going to sit atop the standings.
While not a guarantee, Blitz looks at one game in each conference that he feels will decide league championships.
SAC BIG DIVISION – SNIDER AT CARROLL, FRIDAY
This one ended up deciding the division a year ago, and Blitz is betting on it being the same in 2024.
All due respect to Homestead and Bishop Dwenger, two teams that could still factor in to how this thing all works out. But the two best teams in Blitz’s mind are Snider and Carroll.
Last year, this game turned on a pair of pick-6s by Brandon Logan. You can bet that Carroll quarterback Jimmy Sullivan has revenge on his mind when the battle commences this Friday.
Both still need to play Homestead, while Snider has Bishop Dwenger in Week 8, but this week’s showdown will end up deciding a lot.
SAC SMALL DIVISION – NORTH SIDE AT BISHOP LUERS, WEEK 6
There is a distinct possibility that the game to decide the SAC’s ‘B’ Division has already happened – Bishop Luers’ 20-14 win over Wayne last week.
For the sake of this column though, let’s look ahead to Week 6. North Side controls its destiny in the division, having both Bishop Luers and Wayne still to play. Wayne needs help with the Luers loss, while the Knights are in good shape.
Last year’s matchup between these two saw Bishop Luers edge the Legends by two. What will happen this season with the Knights looking to defend their division crown?
NE8 – EAST NOBLE AT LEO, FRIDAY
Since 2018, one of these two teams (and sometimes both, like last year) have won every NE8 title with the exception of 2022 when Columbia City captured the crown. So it’s no stretch to say that this Friday’s battle will likely decide the league.
Leo has the star power, but East Noble opened some eyes last week in a shutout rout of DeKalb. Both teams still have to play Columbia City, which is the only other undefeated squad left in the NE8.
The best thing about this rivalry is that we see it twice so often, with the Knights and Lions (as well as Columbia City), residing in Class 4A, Sectional 19.
ACAC – BLUFFTON AT ADAMS CENTRAL, WEEK 8
This pick is basically because of how the schedule lays out. Heritage gets first shot at Adams Central this Friday in Monroeville. The Patriots, laden with seniors, feel they have the best chance to end the Flying Jets’ run of three-straight ACAC championships.
But Bluffton has the later opportunity. If Heritage played AC second, that game would have been Blitz’s pick.
The problem over AC’s reign is that anytime we think a team might have a chance to knock off the Flying Jets, they roll em. Last year it was Heritage, which lost 38-0 to AC.
The year before, Heritage finished second again, its only loss a 42-7 decision at the hands of the Flying Jets.
In 2021, South Adams finished the league slate with just one loss, that defeat a 48-7 thrashing by AC.
Can the Tigers buck the trend in Week 8 if Heritage doesn’t this week?
NECC BIG – GARRETT AT WEST NOBLE, WEEK 6
The easiest one on the list. Next week’s showdown in Ligonier will, in all likelihood, decide the Big Division of the NECC.
Garrett already took care of business against Lakeland, while the Chargers will get the Lakers in Week 7. There is a possibility that Lakeland, with its adept passing attack, can cause issues for West Noble in that Week 7 matchup, but the Railroaders already got it done.
Fairfield and Angola seem to be fading in terms of having an effect on the division race. Week 6 in Ligonier is going to be the place to be.
NECC SMALL – PRAIRIE HEIGHTS AT EASTSIDE, WEEK 6
This is the most convoluted league in the area. We thought Eastside was the clear-cut favorite, but then Churubusco went out and took down the Blazers last Friday.
Still, Blitz feels that Eastside, when it is healthy, is the best team in the Small Division. Blitz would bet on that more than ‘Busco having staying power.
One of the feel-good stories in the area this year has been Prairie Heights, which is 1-0 in the division. It goes to Churubusco this week and can set up the Week 6 showdown as being a big, big deal if it can knock off the Eagles on the road.
There’s so much in flux in this five-team field and anything can happen, but a Heights team playing a game deep in the season with division title implications would be fun.
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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