We are took weeks into the regular season and what do we know?
Well, in terms of conference hierarchy, not much.
It is tough to make sense of what has happened in the non-conference portion of the season. What defines a good loss? What defines a bad win?
While the top five remains static, there has been a lot of movement otherwise.
Blitz takes his best shot as league play begins this Friday around the area.
1. CARROLL (1-1)
WHY #1?
After beating up on Hamilton Southeastern in Week 1, Carroll went down to the Indy metro area feeling great about itself. It came home understanding it has a ways to go in Class 6A after being knocked around by Center Grove.
That said, Carroll is still the class of northeast Indiana two weeks into the season. It has Concordia at home this Friday before the big showdown with Bishop Dwenger in Week 4.
This week will be a tune-up prior to what could effectively be the SAC title game.
2. BISHOP DWENGER (2-0)
WHY #2?
Not only did the Saints notch their second win in two years over St. Francis De Sales out of Ohio, it also got to play in the historic Glass Bowl, opened in 1937 and home to the University of Toledo football program. Quite a road trip, made even better by the dominating performance on both sides of the ball.
Senior quarterback Tommy Coffman broke out in a big way against St. Francis De Sales, and he could really be the key to how good Bishop Dwenger is this season. His dual-threat ability gives the Saints some added diversity to the offensive attack.
Also of note, the defense of the Saints hasn’t given up a point in regulation over two games.
Bishop Dwenger hosts winless Wayne this week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Despite being undefeated to Carroll’s one loss, the Chargers still get the nod at No. 1 due to their loss coming to 6A power Center Grove. The Week 4 showdown between the two looms…
3. EAST NOBLE (2-0)
WHY #3?
East Noble has lived up to its No. 3 ranking through the first two weeks, taking care of North Side and Snider, both in relatively convincing fashion.
Outside of the three defensive touchdowns, the most impressive aspect of last Friday’s win over the Panthers was the play of senior quarterback Easton Kline. He didn’t have to do much in Week 1, but he has able to make some plays with his arm against Snider to make Blitz believe that he can be a capable playmaker to complement that punishing run game.
Crazy stat of the week, East Noble has six interceptions and four fumble recoveries in two games.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Could this be the highest East Noble will be able to go this year in the power poll with Carroll and Bishop Dwenger ahead of them? We will see.
4. WARSAW (2-0)
WHY #4?
Coach Bart Curtis’ team now has close victories over Snider and Northrop to begin the season. The run game has led the way of course, and will continue to be a strength for this team through the Northern Lakes Conference season.
The NLC is no joke, but the Tigers will be looking to continue to improve over the next seven games to prep for the postseason. A Snider rematch looms in the sectional, as does an upstart South Side team.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Two years ago when Warsaw won 10 games, it allowed just 19 points per game. Last year in a six-win campaign, the Tigers allowed 23 points a contest.
This year so far, 29 points a game.
The defense must improve.
5. NORTHROP (0-1)
WHY #5?
Without two of its top players in Maddox Weil and Levi Portee, Northrop came within a couple missed extra points of knocking off Warsaw on the road. That is an impression first outing for new coach John Schaefer.
But the Bruins are still very much in prove-it mode. They are at North Side this Friday, then have Homestead at home in Week 4. It would be advantageous to get Weil and Portee back sooner rather than later.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Well, Warsaw is No. 4 and it beat Northrop. No. 5 is the highest the Bruins can be right now.
6. NORTH SIDE (1-1)
WHY #6?
Blitz still doesn’t know what to do with the Legends. Another data point will be gathered Friday against Northrop.
Week 1 was ugly. Week 2 looked good, but New Haven did not put up much of a fight.
The game against the Bruins will be an indicator of just where North Side is at this point under interim coach Jaylon Smith. The Legends match up well with Northrop in terms of playmakers, but what about the intangibles? Coach Smith is doing all the right things, but losing a head coach during the season impacts a team in many different ways.
Let’s see how North looks Friday.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Can’t lift them higher at this point. Beat Northrop? Then we will talk.
7. SNIDER (0-2)
WHY #7?
Even without a victory yet, Blitz believes that the Panthers are a better team than last year. But how much better? And will the record reflect it?
The next two weeks are pivotal for the Panthers with Bishop Luers and Wayne on tap. After that, the schedule goes Carroll, Homestead, Northrop, Bishop Dwenger and North Side. Yipe.
Snider needs to clean up its turnover woes and be better in the trenches. One may be easier to do than the other. That said, Tank Paschall is an absolute beast and should be fed the ball on repeat on short and intermediate passing plays.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Snider doesn’t have any bad losses, but it does have losses, plural.
8. LEO (1-1)
WHY #8?
Similarities with Carroll this week. Both took on big-time opponents that were a gauge of how good they are and both learned some hard lessons.
While the Chargers took on Center Grove, Leo went to Bishop Chatard, one of the best Class 4A teams in the entire state.
The non-conference weeks are all about challenging yourself, and the Lions did just that down around Indy.
The start of the NE8 schedule has an intriguing matchup this week as undefeated Norwell comes to town. Leo better be ready.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Beat Norwell and Blitz will have some thinking to do. Not his strong suit.
9. DEKALB (2-0)
WHY #9?
Welcome to the show, Barons.
Knocking off Angola in convincing fashion without almost a half-dozen starts was impressive last week. What is it about Carroll QB transfers? Braydon Peppler is slinging it for Northrop and Bracen Staley is doing the same for DeKalb.
Are the Barons are a legitimate threat in the NE8? No one wanted to believe it last year and Coach Ryan Robertson’s team had just a single league loss, and that was to East Noble in a game the Barons had all but wrapped up.
So yeah, Blitz believes DeKalb is a threat, especially when it gets back to full strength.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
DeKalb gets East Noble on the road in Week 4. The Barons could really jump with a dub there, or even a close loss like last year.
10. EASTSIDE (2-0)
WHY #10?
The Blazers have entered the chat!
And much deserved too, with victories over South Adams and Adams Central to begin the year.
Eastside is just plain scary, and you can argue that it has already played the two toughest teams on its regular-season schedule (no hard feelings, Fremont).
The Blazers are very much a legit Class 2A threat. And even scarier for opponents? A lot of their production comes from juniors, meaning this team is set up for a two-year run of terror through the NECC and beyond.
But first things first. Central Noble at home up this week to kick off NECC Small Division play.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Eastside has very much supplanted Adams Central in the “Blitz has moved it as high as it can go because of lack of common opponents” No. 10 spot of the Power Poll.
NEXT FIVE
11. Columbia City
12. Homestead
13. Adams Central
14. South Side
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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