After a hiatus last week, Blitz is back with his Area Power Poll entering Week 5.
A mark of a genius is when there isn’t much movement in rankings from one week to the next. Here we are in Week 5 and the Top 10 looks very similar to what it was in Week 3.
Why? Because Blitz knows it all.
1. CARROLL (3-1)
WHY #1?
In a battle of the two top teams in the SAC last Friday, Carroll overcome a slow start to drop 49 on Bishop Dwenger and win going away. It was the biggest statement yet that the Chargers are the class of northeast Indiana in 2026.
This week’s home game against Snider could be competitive, and the rivalry game with Homestead in Week 7 and a home showdown with Northrop loom in a few weeks, but this team is going to be favored to go through the conference unblemished and enter the playoffs with an 8-1 mark.
2. WARSAW (4-0)
WHY #2?
Those with weak hearts may want to steer clear of watching the Tigers, who have won three of its games by five points of less. However, the biggest win of the season thus far came last Friday, a 43-7 pasting of Mishawaka in a showdown of Northern Lakes Conference title hopefuls.
It is the usual recipe for Warsaw, a strong running game and a defense that gets enough stops to put the offense in positions to succeed.
Advantages in close games have a tendency to even out, but so far so good for the Tigers, who may not be tested again until a pair of road games to end the regular season at Concord and Northridge.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Warsaw will not play Carroll this season, but does have a pair of common opponents in Snider and Northrop. If one of those were to knock off the Chargers, the Tigers could move up to the top spot.
3. BISHOP DWENGER (3-1)
WHY #3?
Despite the 20-point loss to Carroll, the Saints are in good shape in Class 4A. Why? There is no passing attack in this part of the state in 4A that comes close to what the Chargers do when they go vertical.
But if Bishop Dwenger has visions of returning to the state finals, of which it surely does, it will need to find ways to shore up the back end.
The Saints must put last week in the rearview, with Homestead on the road this Friday and Northrop coming to Shields Field in Week 6.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Bishop Dwenger dropped just one spot after allowing the most points in a conference game since a 58-21 loss to Bishop Luers in 2012. Blitz feels that is fair.
4. EAST NOBLE (4-0)
WHY #4?
The Knights continue to pile up dubs and Blitz drops them a spot in the Power Poll? Where is the fairness in that?
Blitz understands, but the three teams above just look more powerful than East Noble, which continues to rise to the challenge week after week.
The next test? The annual Week 5 showdown with Leo this week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
There have been some warning signs in East Noble’s dominance. The team has struggled to get things going early in games in each of the past two weeks. The slow starts need to go away, or eventually the Knights are going to dig themselves a hole they won’t be able to climb out of.
5. NORTHROP (2-1)
WHY #5?
The question of whether or not Northrop would be a one-year wonder has been answered. After a close defeat at Warsaw, the Bruins have picked up victories over North Side and Homestead.
What is even more impressive is that Northrop is still without arguably its top playmaker and one of the best wide receivers in the state in Maddox Weil. With Bishop Dwenger, Snider and Carroll still on the regular-season schedule, Weil’s eventual return is much needed.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Is No. 5 for Northrop low? With the lone loss being a one-point battle against Warsaw, perhaps the Bruins are underrated by Blitz. They can prove that as soon as Week 6 at Bishop Dwenger.
6. SNIDER (2-2)
WHY #6?
Two wins over a pair of squads that are a combined 0-8 in Bishop Luers and Wayne may not mean much to some, but they were further proof that the offense of the Panthers is much better than it was a year ago.
And that, more than anything, has Blitz feeling good about the black and yellow. Even in the defeats to Warsaw and East Noble, Snider scored 33 and 46 points, respectively.
That said, the second half of the schedule is loaded with challenges, beginning this Friday at Carroll. Can the offense keep rolling?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Snider has not yet beaten a team that has a victory to its name this year.
7. LEO (3-1)
WHY #7?
Outside of the Week 2 loss to Bishop Chatard, Leo has surrendered seven points in three games. There are a lot of underclassmen starting for the defensive unit of the Lions, with a few seniors like Kaden Doll and Tanner Mickelson leading by example.
But a significant amount of tests loom in the NE8. East Noble this week, then Huntington North, Columbia City and DeKalb to end the regular season.
Is the defense capable of winning a game for Leo when the offense doesn’t drop 30 or more points a game? It’s a reasonable question.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
While the domination of Norwell in Week 3 was impressive, two of Leo’s three victories are over teams that have yet to win a game in 2026.
8. NORTH SIDE (2-2)
WHY #8?
The finality of the dismissal of former coach Ben Johnson came Monday when it was made official by the Fort Wayne Community Schools board. Can we focus on football now? Lord knows, that’s what the kids want to do.
And in terms of football, the Legends have two wins over struggling teams and two losses to good teams. So we don’t really know exactly what we have yet with the Legends.
The remaining schedule is very favorable, and if things go right, interim coach Jaylon Smith’s team could enter the playoffs riding a six-game winning streak.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Lost to Northrop, which is No. 5, just two weeks ago.
9. DEKALB (3-1)
WHY #9?
Welcome to the ‘What If’ game.
What if quarterback Bracen Staley wasn’t knocked out of the game last week with the Barons leading East Noble 10-0 at halftime?
It is impossible to say, but DeKalb still made things very tough on the Knights despite being held off the scoreboard for the final two quarters.
The status for Staley going forward, including this Friday’s game against Columbia City, is still uncertain. But like Leo, DeKalb has the bulk of its NE8 tests still ahead of it. Can they prove they are the second-best team in the conference?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Not all victories are the same. Like Leo, two of the Barons’ three victories so far this season are against 0-4 squads.
10. EASTSIDE (4-0)
WHY #10?
Can we just fast-forward to the Eastside v. Bremen sectional game? That may be the next best chance at a competitive contest for the Blazers.
After watching Eastside demolish Fremont last week, Blitz believes in the boys from Butler.
Blazers fans, clear your Fridays in October and November.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Eastside resides in the No. 10 spot usually reserved for Adams Central. That is high praise!
NEXT FIVE
11. Columbia City
12. Homestead
13. Adams Central
14. Huntington North
15. Bluffton
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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