Every year, the debate rages on where to slot teams in in relation to SAC teams, especially those outsiders that do not play any SAC foes.
To some, SAC is king. To others, NE8 has some powers that could challenge most if not all SAC teams in a season.
And what about Warsaw? Or Adams Central?
Throw in the chaos that is the SAC this season and it makes it even more difficult.
So Blitz takes his best shot at ranking the area squads as we enter Week 7.
Feel free to let Blitz know what you think in the comments.
1. EAST NOBLE (6-0)
WHY #1?
What do you do when Warsaw has lost twice and you cannot figure out which SAC team is the best right now? You go with the Knights.
Coach Alex Stewart’s team has definitely earned this spot, beating a pair of SAC teams in non-conference, shutting out two NE8 foes and knocking off good teams in DeKalb and Leo.
Speaking of Stewart, did anyone have him doing this well this quick in Kendallville? Many expected a learning curve of some sort coming from Western. All he has done is win 19 of his first 21 games at East Noble. The talent is there, but let’s not understate how impressive Stewart has been in 1.5 years.
East Noble heads to Columbia City this week, a team it has beaten in 14 of the last 15 meetings.
2. NORTHROP BRUINS (5-1)
WHY #2?
The hype machine just won’t stop.
Is Northrop the best team in the SAC? You can make that argument, despite the overtime loss to Homestead in Week 4. Last Friday’s impressive come-from-behind dub against Bishop Dwenger has Blitz feeling, for now, that the Bruins are tops in the conference.
How long has it been since we said THAT?
The next two weeks aren’t easy. Northrop hasn’t beaten rival Snider since 1999, and they meet for the final time in which the Panthers are the “home” team at Spuller Stadium.
In Week 8, Northrop welcomes Carroll in for what could be Round 1 between the squads that reside in the same Sectional 2 of Class 6A.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The loss to Homestead in Week 4 could have gone Northrop’s way without some miscues. But you could say a loss could be a win for several teams in the area so far this year. So for now, No. 2 feels like the apex for the Bruins.
3. BISHOP DWENGER (4-2)
WHY #3?
The Saints let one get away against Northrop last Friday, but, in Blitz’s mind, that doesn’t take much away from what Bishop Dwenger has accomplished so far this year. They still own wins over Carroll and Homestead in league play, the strongest current resume among the SAC’s contenders.
The defense continues to be stiffling, allowing just eight points a game on average. The Battle of the Bishops at Bishop Luers is on tap.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Well, the recent loss to Northrop has to mean SOMETHING, right?
4. CARROLL CHARGERS (3-3)
WHY #4?
While teams rise and fall around them, Carroll stays firm at No. 4 in this week’s Power Poll. The Chargers have handled business against Snider and South Side since being held out of the end zone in the Week 4 loss to Bishop Dwenger.
Quarterback Gabe Frisinger continues to look more and more comfortable for Carroll as the season progresses. Since tossing three INTs in Week 1, the junior has hit on 12 touchdown passes with just two picks.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Carroll lost to Bishop Dwenger, which lost to Northrop, hence the current hierarchy. But Homestead and Northrop are on the slate the next two weeks, meaning the Chargers could be on the move soon.
5. WARSAW TIGERS (4-2)
WHY #5?
The Week 1 victory at Snider doesn’t look as impressive considering the struggles that the Panthers have gone through. That, coupled with a 31-point rout at the hands of Concord in Week 5, have Blitz moving the Tigers down in his top 10.
This is still a really good team that could make some noise again in the Class 5A playoffs, but for now this seems like a good spot.
A challenging matchup at Mishawaka is up on Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Of Warsaw’s four victories, none have come against teams that currently have a winning record.
6. HOMESTEAD SPARTANS (4-2)
WHY #6?
Is this too low of a spot for the team that beat Northrop in Week 4? Probably. But then again, the Spartans lost to Bishop Dwenger pretty convincingly in Week 5, the same Dwenger team that fell to Northrop last week.
Homestead is a perfect example of how difficult it is figuring out where to rank who right now in the SAC.
Carroll and North Side the next two weeks present challenges but also opportunities for Coach Chad Zolman’s squad.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Good question. Homestead was the most difficult team to slot in to the rankings this week. They very well could be deserving of a top 3 spot.
7. LEO LIONS (5-1)
WHY #7?
Are we underestimating the Lions?
They have a win over Bishop Luers, pushed East Noble (well, the offense did) and are averaging over 34 points per game.
The final three games of the regular season – Huntington North, Columbia City and DeKalb – will give us a better idea of what Leo is and what it isn’t. But for now, could No. 7 be too low?
Blitz’s challenge to Leo is to show that it is deserving of a higher spot.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The back end of the schedule is loaded with a trio of challenges. If Leo answers the call and proves it is the second-best team in the NE8 by a clear margin, it will jump up the rankings.
8. SNIDER PANTHERS (2-4)
WHY #8?
Yes, Snider is a big story around town right now, but how often do we see the Panthers struggle this much? The answer is, not very often.
Yet Blitz isn’t ready to completely discount Snider. All four of its losses are to teams above them in this poll. And Coach Kurt Tippmann’s squad has a shutout win over Bishop Luers way back in Week 3.
This is not your typical Panthers team, and it has a tough schedule the final three weeks in Northrop, Bishop Dwenger and North Side, but we aren’t writing this team off completely as some want to do.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Four losses and a defense allowing over 28 points per game.
9. BISHOP LUERS KNIGHTS (3-3)
WHY #9?
After starting the season with three-consecutive defeats, Bishop Luers has climbed to .500 with a trio of dubs. The highlight, of course, was the 31-28 overtime win over North Side in Week 5.
This is one of those Knights teams that is likely not going to be a contender for an SAC crown (although they are tied atop the league with a 3-1 record), but will be a deadly team in the Class 3A playoffs.
The learning curve has begun to level out for the wealth of sophomores on the field, and the line play continues to be exceptional.
Quarterback Knox Johnson looked comfortable last week in his best performance thus far behind center. But rival Bishop Dwenger will bring a new level of heat come Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
The offense, despite finding some momentum the last three weeks, still hasn’t done much against elite defenses. If Bishop Luers can move the ball and score points in the Battle of the Bishops, the Knights can move up.
10. ADAMS CENTRAL FLYING JETS (6-0)
WHY #10?
It is so hard to move Adams Central up in the poll when it hasn’t beaten anyone close to being ranked in Blitz’s rankings. That’s not the fault of the Flying Jets, let’s be clear.
Next year will be fun, as Coach Michael Mosser’s team will begin a series with Bishop Luers in the non-conference. But for now, Blitz has to use its best judgement. Adams Central is an exceptional squad once again. Could it knock off anyone ahead of it in this poll? Maybe. Maybe not.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Lack of area power opponents, or even common opponents.
NEXT FIVE
11. North Side
12. DeKalb
13. Bluffton
14. West Noble
15. Huntington North
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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