Friday is the crossover, where the “it’s early in the season” banter becomes “the playoffs are only a few weeks away” in our nine-week regular-season in Indiana.
It goes fast every year.
To mark the mid-way point, Blitz has his updated Power Rankings for folks to analyze and criticize.
What do you think?
Let’s get to it.
1. WARSAW TIGERS (3-1)
WHY #1?
A new team in the top spot for the first time this season.
Warsaw took care of business against Snider on the road Week 1, with its only blemish against a really good Warren Central team in Week 2.
The Tigers are once again a big threat to win the Northern Lakes Conference, and reside in a sectional with North Side.
This is the team to beat in the area right now.
2. BISHOP DWENGER SAINTS (3-1)
WHY #2?
Blitz thought long and hard about vaulting Bishop Dwenger to the top. That’s how impressed he has been with Coach Jason Garrett’s team in recent weeks.
The road win at Wayne was expected, but holding Carroll without a touchdown (while also not scoring a touchdown) in Week 4’s win definitely was an eye-opener.
The Saints may have the best defense in the entire area, and he has looked the part by holding three of its four opponents without a touchdown.
Senior KC Pieper has had quite the first half of the season. The defensive lineman leads the Saints in tackles (45), tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (three).
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Blitz could be convinced, pretty easily in fact, that Bishop Dwenger should be No. 1. A win over Homestead could very well vault them to the top.
3. EAST NOBLE KNIGHTS (4-0)
WHY #3?
We have been so used to the Knights dominating foes that when they don’t, it catches our attention.
Last Friday’s come from behind victory over DeKalb showed not only that East Noble isn’t invincible, but it’s resiliency, particularly with quarterback Rylee Biddle at the helm of the offense.
The annual Week 5 showdown with Leo will tell us a lot.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The resume is there, particularly the lopsided victories over Snider and an underrated Huntington North squad. A case can be made this week if East Noble returns to form with a dominant performance over its rival.
4. CARROLL CHARGERS (1-3)
WHY #4?
No team has played a tougher schedule through the first month – state-ranked 6A squads Hamilton Southeastern and Center Grove and state-ranked 4A team Bishop Dwenger.
That said, Carroll’s run game has struggled mightily. It is averaging just 1.2 yards per rush through four weeks. That’s not going to get it done when taking on good teams in the SAC, let alone Class 6A.
This week’s Snider game could see the run game get right, but you’d like to see some progress there. Gabe Frisinger can’t do it all at QB1.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Carroll was the No. 1 team for Blitz since the preseason. Seeing them fall to Bishop Dwenger was tough for Blitz’s ego, let alone the Chargers and Neon Nation.
A bounce back against Snider is in order.
5. HOMESTEAD SPARTANS (3-1)
WHY #5?
Homestead is 3-0 since Logan Frieden became QB1 in Michael White’s absence due to injury. Simply incredible.
Frieden has been helped by a pair of senior wideouts in Carter Kennedy and Liam Moore. The duo have combined for 33 receptions, 577 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Both were huge in last week’s overtime win over Northrop.
The Spartans’ challenging run on the schedule continues with Bishop Dwenger on Friday, followed by Snider, Carroll and North Side.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Blitz mentioned the struggles of the Carroll run game, but Homestead isn’t much better with an average of 2.7 yards per attempt. That must improve if the Spartans are going to continue to pull out victories against good foes.
6. SNIDER PANTHERS (2-2)
WHY #6?
Snider lost to two of the top three teams in the area to open the season. Typically, Snider would be in the conversation as one of those top teams, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers aren’t still a pretty good football squad.
The defense in particular has been solid during the two-game winning streak, especially the run defense that was torched by Warsaw and East Noble. That will be key on Friday against a Carroll team that struggles running the ball.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
A shutout of Bishop Luers and handling Wayne does not erase the first two weeks of the season.
7. NORTHROP BRUINS (3-1)
WHY #7?
Even with a loss last week, Blitz continues to be impressed with the Bruins. Facing a 19-0 deficit against Homestead, Coach Quentin Bowen’s team fought back and held the lead late before falling in overtime.
How about Cornelious Jackson? The senior along the defensive front leads Northrop in tackles (33), tackles for loss (11), sacks (three) and QB hurries (four).
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The bulk of the SAC Big Division schedule remains for Northrop, and, for now, all three of those teams are ranked higher in Blitz’s Power Poll. That doesn’t mean the Bruins can’t win those games, but for now it is hard to rank them above those opponents.
8. LEO LIONS (4-0)
WHY #8?
The hype has surrounded Nathan Foster, and for good reason. He was Blitz’s No. 1 player in the area entering the season, after all. But the defense is surrendering barely a touchdown per game entering this week’s showdown with East Noble.
A concern for the rest of the NE8, some of Leo’s top defenders are underclassmen. Juniors Bret Sauder and Paul Woods are impressive, and freshman Isaiah Detmers is leading the Lions in tackles from his spot in the secondary.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Bishop Luers has not been as good as it usually is, so that win isn’t as impressive currently as it was in Week 1. So Leo has yet to beat a true heavy hitter. It has that opportunity in Kendallville on Friday.
9. NORTH SIDE LEGENDS (3-1)
WHY #9?
North Side’s schedule is, and will continue to be, very friendly. The Legends’ three wins are against teams a combined 0-12 on the season. The loss came to Northrop in a back-and-forth game.
That isn’t taking anything away from North Side, but rather shows that this team hasn’t been challenged much yet. In fact, it may not be until Homestead and Snider in the final two weeks of the season, as the Legends avoid both Carroll and Bishop Dwenger on the schedule.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
See above. The only opponent that has an actual win this season, Northrop, beat North Side.
10. ADAMS CENTRAL FLYING JETS (4-0)
WHY #10?
The Flying Jets crash the top 10 and have earned it in fine fashion, with the program now at 18-straight victories dating back to Week 1 of last year.
It gets more difficult coming up, with Heritage, South Adams and Bluffton over the next four weeks.
It is simply business as usual for Coach Michael Mosser’s team, which has found its offensive groove after being held to just a single touchdown in Week 1 against Garrett.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
It’s always tough with Adams Central, because it does play anyone above them. So this seems right, for now.
NEXT FIVE
11. Bluffton
12. DeKalb
13. Huntington North
14. Columbia City
15. Garrett
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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