It’s time to debut a new weekly column for Outside the Huddle.
In addition to my Top 10 position rankings, it’s time to dig a little deeper into some of the best games each week from each conference. We already have our Game of the Week, but typically there is more than just one good game on paper, and I want to make sure each big one gets some love.
So in addition to our Game of the Week column, we’ll look at the best game from each conference and get a word from the coaches and/or players on the matchup and get their thoughts on the upcoming showdown.
Understood? Good.
Now, let’s spread the love and ‘Flip the Script’ for Week 4!
Carroll vs. Dwenger: Battle for the SAC crown?
It’s no secret that it feels like Carroll-Dwenger once again will decide who takes the SAC. It is early in the season and teams like Homestead and Northrop have also had decent starts, but at the very least this matchup will set the tone on who is the squad to beat. For the Saints, they are the reigning, defending SAC champions, so a lot is on the line for them in this one.
“All hands on deck as we prepare for a very explosive offense, schematically sound, aggressive defense, and an always solid special teams,” said Bishop Dwenger coach Jason Garrett on his team’s preparation. “We must limit explosive plays, win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and win the turnover battle in order to give ourselves a chance to be successful.”
Prior to the season, the Chargers felt like the heavy favorite. They returned the most key players, which included quarterback Gabe Frisinger, who ranks amongst the state’s best in passing yards. Even with the state-wide hype coming into this game, Carroll coach Doug Dinan knows this is no ordinary match-up.
“Bishop Dwenger is one of the most storied football programs in Fort Wayne,” Dinan said. “They have great tradition and great success.
“Year in and year out they are very well coached, very disciplined, and a very physical football team. For us to be successful Friday night we will have to win the turnover battle, win the line of scrimmage, be productive in the red zone and make a difference with special teams.”
A tip of the helmet, so to speak, to both programs. Who comes out of Week 4 with the bragging rights in the SAC? We’ll see Friday at a packed Shields Field.
NE8: Can DeKalb Upset East Noble?
The DeKalb Barons have silenced all of the critics from this off-season in the first three weeks. Yes, they graduated a lot of talent, but guys like Eli Schwab, Drake Hall and even new quarterback Bracen Staley have stepped up huge. Schwab leads the team in tackles with 49 tackles to go with three tackles for loss. In addition to his 38 tackles, Hall also has a pair of interceptions already on the season.
Coming into the year, there was a QB battle in Waterloo, but Staley has put all of that to rest for the moment with 563 yards, eight TDs and a single pick in three games. While these kids have stepped up huge for the Barons, is that enough to slow down the East Noble Knights, who have only lost one game in the last two seasons? DeKalb coach Ryan Robertson spoke to me and believes they’ve got a good chance if they execute a couple things.
“Friday against East Noble is an opportunity to go up against one of the best teams in Class 4A,” Robertson said. “They are a very opportunistic defense with an offense that will make you pay for mistakes.
“The keys for us will be to take care of the football and minimize big plays.”
Everyone should know by now that East Noble sophomore Austin Phillips is a problem. Whether it’s offense at running back or on defense at linebacker, Phillips time and time again has shown why he’s a top 10 national recruit in the Class of 2029.
In addition to Phillips, Alex Scott has arguably been the team’ss MVP thus far. The senior wideout-defensive back has had himself a remarkable season with four interceptions already. With Scott, the Phillips brothers Alex and Austin, Tayden Getts and Ian Ramey, the Knights are full of threats to make a big play at any moment of the game.
“Our keys will be running the ball effectively, winning the turnover battle and special teams,” East Noble coach Alex Stewart said. “DeKalb is a well-coached team that we have a lot of respect for.
“They are playing well in all three phases and we are excited for the challenge. It should be a great environment for high school football.”
Last season, the Knights beat the Barons 21-14 with a little controversy at the end, and this year’s match-up should be just as competitive between two high-level NE8 programs.
ACAC: A must-win for South Adams against an improved Heritage program
The South Adams Starfires have fallen to 1-2 on the season after last week’s home loss to Bluffton. It’s not ideal for a program that had high expectations coming into 2026. However, the two losses came to a pair of Top 10 teams in Class 3A in Eastside and Bluffton. So, no reason to lose sight of the fact that Coach Grant Moser’s squad should still be in good position come playoff time in Class 1A.
The bad news for Week 4 is they’re preparing for an undefeated Heritage team that has looked really good all around so far. The Starfires’ offense has been lighting up the scoreboard behind the play of new starting quarterback Zaden Baumer, who has already thrown for 813 yards, nine touchdowns and a trio of picks. Most of his passes have gone to Wes Summersett and Jax Wanner, who each have over 300 yards receiving and eight TDs between the two of them.
Defensively, the Starfires need to make some adjustments. In their two losses, they allowed 45 and 50 points. Coach Moser is well aware of the importance of this matchup and believes he knows how they can come out victorious against a tough Patriots squad that has been successful with their Wing-T offense.
“They have a fantastic defense,”said Moser about the Patriots. “We have to give Baumer more time in the pocket if we want any chance of being successful.
“They are really well coached and they are going to bring a lot of pressure. They run the Wing-T very well for it being the first year installed.”
The Patriots are riding high due to their success at running the football. Quarterback Zeb Tigulis, Lucas Taylor and Jaxton Litchfield all have over 200 rushing yards each. Taylor and Litchfield have combined for seven touchdown runs.
Defensively, Heritage’s secondary has been extremely aggressive, coming away with seven interceptions in 3 games. Junior Garrett Oliver leads the unit with three picks and Jedediah Foster has two. If the secondary can continue limiting big plays and interrupting receiver routes, this game should be interesting.
“South Adams is a great team,” said Heritage coach Jeremy Hullinger. “Their success in the ACAC and the state playoffs speaks for itself.
“It should be a fun game of contrasting styles. We are looking forward to the challenge, as I’m sure South Adams is too. Games like this are what high school football’s all about. Our keys to the game are basic fundamental things like blocking, tackling, and limiting turnovers.”
NECC: Eastside vs. Fremont: A shootout or blowout?
On paper, this matchup has the potential to either be a shootout or a blowout. Both the Eastside Blazers and Fremont Eagles come into Week 4 with a 3-0 record and contrasting styles. Eastside wears you down with its running game, while Fremont has been mixing together a balanced run and pass attack led by quarterback Jaret Laughlin, whoe has thrown for 578 yards and seven TDs with just one INT. He has also rushed for 475 yards and eight scores. That equates to 1,053 total yards and 15 touchdowns in three games. Video game numbers.
Fremont coach Trevor Thomas is well aware of what Eastside does well and appears to have his young men prepared for what to expect from the Blazers on Friday.
“They are very efficient in their execution of their run game – each guy who carries the ball runs downhill aggressively,” Thomas said. “It is vital that we get off blocks and get multiple hats on the ball carrier.
“We have to minimize yards after contact. The quarterback also has a good arm and will take shots downfield. We need to play disciplined in the secondary and compete for the ball when we are 1-on-1. Last week, we played well enough on defense to get the win; but we still have a lot of room for improvement. We will need to show that improvement on Friday in order to slow down their offense. It will be a hard-fought game. If we play the way we set out to, we should compete and have a chance to win.”
For the Blazers, the dynamic duo of quarterback Job Richman and running back Noah Dove have combined for 701 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Richman has also thrown to Dove for two scores. Their offense has been as dynamic as it can get and the defense had solid showings against two tough programs in Adams Central and South Adams.
Eastside head coach Alyx Brandewie is excited and fired up for this matchup and knows Fremont comes in with a ton of confidence. It could be different than the 42-13 victory over the Eagles last year.
“This is going to be a really good high school football game,” Brandewie said. “Fremont is a good team playing with a ton of confidence. We’re going to have to be immensely disciplined to stop their plethora of playmakers.
“When we have the ball, it will be critical that we execute and get first downs to control the tempo of the game as much as we can. We’re looking forward to what should be a really exciting high school football game.”
Two high-level offenses going head-to-head in Fremont, and only one team can come out 4-0 going into Week 5. Who will it be?
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