Another Friday in the books and wow, did we really learn some things about the hierarchy in area leagues.
Why we didn’t crown league champions, we sure are in a better position now than before on how things are going to play out.
For those details, as well as plenty of other tidbits, let’s tackle a post-Week 5 edition of Bear Necessities.
SAC
• Carroll quarterback Jimmy Sullivan is a pretty even-keel kid. He doesn’t take to social media to hype himself up. He doesn’t get too high and he doesn’t get too low.
But you could tell that Friday’s game against Snider meant more to Sullivan.
A year ago, Sullivan tossed a pair of pick-sixes to Brandon Logan, the deciding factor in Snider’s 27-24 victory.
This year was a different story, with Sullivan accounting for Carroll’s first two scores in a 30-6 rout of the Panthers. The Iowa-bound quarterback accounted for 271 total yards in the win – 183 through the air and 88 rushing – and four total touchdowns.
Outwardly, Sullivan does not ooze intensity. But inside, he is a fierce competitor. He didn’t forget what happened last year, and raised his level of play to get some revenge on Logan and Snider.
But you can bet the Panthers want another shot at Sullivan in sectional play.
• Last fall, Daryea Williams watched Bishop Luers’ run to a class 2A state championship largely from the sidelines. He saw some spot action on offense and defense, but only rushed the ball nine times for 13 yards over 15 games.
The senior bided his time, put in the work and has emerged as the Knights’ top offensive threat through the first half of the season. His latest performance, a 23-carry, 233-yard, four-TD effort on Friday against Concordia, further cemented his position as one of the best running backs in the area.
Williams is just 5-foot-7, but it is his small stature that is perhaps his greatest attribute, able to slip through tight spaces and get into space, where is as quick as they come.
The passing game is still a work in progress for Luers, In the meantime, Williams will keep rollin’, up to 741 yards and nine TDs on the ground so far this season.
• Can we find a college home for Tristen Newsome, please?
The North Side senior had another do-everything performance in North Side’s 29-22 win over Northrop, accounting for 350 of North’s 399 total yards.
Prior to this year, Newsome was known as one of the best cover corners around, intercepting five passes a season ago. But in 2024, he has moved into the QB1 spot and been nothing short of dynamic.
When talking candidates for Most Valuable Player, Newsome is definitely in the conversation, along with David Callison of Northrop, Seth Pruitt of West Noble and others. Newsome has been responsible for close to 70 percent of the Legends’ total yards this season – 448 yards rushing and 746 yards passing.
• There was a change behind center for Wayne on Friday against South Side, and the jury is still out on whether it will pay off long-term.
Trey Dillard and Harold Mack swapped spots, with Mack going to quarterback and Dillard to wideout. Mack, with a host of MAC offers, is the Generals’ most-dynamic athlete, and with the offense struggling the last few weeks against Homestead and Bishop Luers, the hope is that Mack gives the offense a boost.
Mack threw for 150 yards and a touchdown in the 36-0 win over the Archers. The passing score went to, who else? Trey Dillard.
NE8
• What’s been a key to Columbia City’s 5-0 start? Averaging over 320 yards rushing per game, for starters. On Friday, the Eagles finished with 442 yards on the ground in the 60-14 rout of DeKalb. Stratton Fuller and Landon Fazio combined for 249 yards and four touchdowns.
The question is, of course, can Columbia City rely on the run game against the likes of East Noble and Leo in the coming weeks?
• It is cliche, but it is a shame that someone had to lose the Leo-East Noble game on Friday.
Think about it, both teams had a running back go for over 200 yards (Dylan Krehl for EN, Nathan Foster for Leo), a back-and-forth game that delivered all the hype.
Perhaps the difference? East Noble being able to limit Leo stud Landin Hoeppner. The senior standout had just a pair of receptions for 15 yards. He did not have a rushing attempt nor an impact play on defense.
The Lions have the starpower with the likes of Brock Schott and Hoeppner, but East Noble has the steady presence of a host of guys that may not be 99s, but are steady 70s and 80s.
Blitz is already looking ahead towards Round 2 in sectional play.
• A prime example of how every play, and every reaction to a play, matters.
New Haven stormed back from a 22-0 deficit to pull to within one with a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in its game with Norwell. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called on the Bulldogs after the touchdown, which appeared to be due to something being said to a Norwell player.
With New Haven lacking a proven kicker, it was forced to go for two from outside of the 15-yard-line, an attempt that failed. The Bulldogs lost 25-24.
ACAC
• If you want to beat Adams Central, you have to stop the run.
Heritage did not.
The Flying Jets did not complete a single pass in their 33-14 win over the Patriots, not one. But they had a trio of players rush for 100 yards – Matt Heiser with 109, Jamison Roach with 107 and Aaron Hirschy with 100. The trio also combined for all four of Adams Central’s offensive touchdowns.
Every time a squad feels they have an opportunity to beat Adams Central, it does not happen if you cannot contain the run game. If the Flying Jets can move the ball on the ground, you have no chance.
Bluffton will try in Week 8 to beat AC. The key? Well, slow the run, of course.
• Speaking of Bluffton, is the best player in the ACAC a sophomore?
Axton Beste added another four touchdowns – three passing, one rushing – in Friday’s 35-24 victory over Jay County. He has now accounted for 18 total scores over the first five weeks of the season. After a 300-plus yard effort against the Patriots, he now has over 1,250 total yards.
All as a 10th grader. Astounding.
• How do you know your offense is cooking? The fact that you only face a pair of third downs all game.
That was the case for South Adams in Friday’s 70-13 rout of Blackhawk Christian. The Starfires picked up 1-of-2 third-down conversions, and the only they didn’t they got on fourth down.
Blackhawk Christian was a combined 4-of-15 on third and fourth downs.
NECC/Area
• Does Blitz owe Churubusco an apology? Absolutely.
After a surprising win over Eastside in Week 4, Blitz thought that the Eagles would drop back down to Earth against Prairie Heights. Instead, ‘Busco ran for close to 300 yards in a 30-6 pounding of Heights on Friday.
Coach Paul Sade’s team had a murderous first three weeks of the season, playing Columbia City, Lakeland and Garrett. Since then, Churubusco has won both of its division games by a combined score of 54-18.
Weston Ott is doing just enough at QB to keep defenses honest, throwing for two touchdowns on just three completions against Heights, while the defense has been stingy against the run.
Might ‘Busco win the Small Division and end Eastside’s long reign? It is looking probable at this point.
• In his picks for Week 5, Blitz predicted that West Noble’s Seth Pruitt would rush for three touchdowns. Pruitt delivered, scoring three times on the ground and finishing with 100 yards.
The Chargers’ offense has been nothing short of unstoppable through the first five weeks. Does Garrett have the ability to slow down Pruitt and a unit averaging 42 points per game?
We will find out next week in Ligonier.
• Warsaw looked in control of Friday’s NLC showdown with undefeated Concord, holding a 17-0 lead at the halftime break. But Concord stormed back to eventually take the lead, fall behind again, then win it with a touchdown in the closing seconds.
Facing a 4th-and-3 from the 18-yard-line down three, Concord went for it instead of attempting a game-tying field goal. Quarterback Bo Brunner hit Derek Gomez on a short pass, then Gomez worked his way into the end zone for the touchdown that handed Concord a 28-24 win.
It was a mind-numbing loss for Warsaw, which had command of the league in its clutches before Concord, off to its best start since 2019, fought all the way back.
QUICK HITS
The 63-0 victory over Bellmont is the biggest win by margin of victory in Huntington North program history dating back to 1969…New Haven is 0-5 for the first time since 2000…Eastside has lost three-straight games to NECC foes for the first time since 2013.
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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