The final three weeks of the regular season is upon us, and with it only a few more opportunities to get better before the playoffs.
What changes has Blitz made to his Power Poll since last week? Once again, his brilliance has teams ranked as they should before they even play. It’s like he is smart or something, probably even smarter than you.
That’s why you come here, correct? To be educated by the best?
1. CARROLL (5-1)
WHY #1?
The Chargers continue to roll through everyone not named Center Grove. The SAC has put up little in the way of opposition, with the closest league game the 20-point victory over Bishop Dwenger in Week 4.
All due respect to Homestead, Northrop and Bishop Luers, but the next three weeks are all about Carroll addressing the little things that are going to make the difference in the 6A postseason. A potential regional showdown with Westfield is already taking up space in Blitz’s subconscious.
2. WARSAW (6-0)
WHY #2?
Outside of its NLC opener at NorthWood, Warsaw has not been challenged much in conference play. The Week 9 game at Northridge is shaping up to be for the league championship between the two remaining undefeateds, although anything can happen in Weeks 7 and 8.
There is no secret with Coach Bart Curtis’ team. It is going to run the ball and challenge you to stop them. So far, no one has been able to do it enough to beat them.
Warsaw has outscored its last three opponents 129-17.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
If we want to play the common opponents game, the only one (so far) that both Warsaw and Carroll have played was Snider. Warsaw beat the Panthers by three, while the Chargers did so by 38.
3. BISHOP DWENGER (5-1)
WHY #3?
Since taking it on the chin against Carroll, the Saints have a win over Homestead in which they had to erase a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter and a rout of Northrop.
Take away the 49 points allowed to the Chargers and Bishop Dwenger is allowing just 6.8 points per game. That bodes well for the team’s chances in an always-loaded Class 4A in the north.
Much like Henry Jordan a year ago, quarterback Tommy Coffman does not have to be dynamic all the time, but rather a leader who can make big plays on occasion when needed. That is exactly what Coffman has done thus far.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Two teams a combined 11-1 ahead of them, with one of those teams having knocked the Saints out by 20 in Week 4. No. 3 is as high as Bishop Dwenger can get currently.
4. EAST NOBLE (6-0)
WHY #4?
East Noble has answered every challenge presented to them thus far, and have one more big one before the playoffs this Friday against Columbia City.
It hasn’t always been pretty, particularly against DeKalb and Leo, but undefeated is undefeated at this point.
The Knights have thrived in the villain role this year, and will no doubt want to grasp onto that in an ultra-competitive Sectional 19 in a few weeks.
But first, East Noble wants to wrap up another Northeast Eight championship.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Is East Noble better than Bishop Dwenger at No. 3? It was shut out by the Saints 32-0 a season ago in the sectional championship. But it is a different year, no doubt. Chances are, the Knights will get another shot at Dwenger in sectional play.
5. LEO (4-2)
WHY #5?
Are we undervaluing Leo as a threat in the playoffs? Blitz sure isn’t. The Lions struggled against Chatard in Week 2, but a lot of teams are going to against the Trojans. Outside of that, the only other loss is to East Noble in one Leo let get away in the fourth quarter.
But the Lions have one of the toughest three-game stretches in the area to conclude the regular season – Huntington North, Columbia City and DeKalb. We are going to find out a lot about the Lions between now and the final Friday of the regular season.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Here is the concern. Of the four wins by the Lions, three are against teams that have one or zero wins. In other words, the quality of opponents is open to question. Go 2-1 or 3-0 in Weeks 7-9 and the belief will rise that Leo can be a factor in Sectional 19.
6. NORTHROP (3-2)
WHY #6?
Victories over North Side and Homestead had the Bruins feeling good to start the SAC slate, but a rout at the hands of Bishop Dwenger last Friday was a serious setback.
Snider and Carroll are now on tap over the next two weeks. With the Bruins in the same sectional as the Chargers, showing that they can challenge Carroll at the very least will be huge for the playoffs.
The loss last week is the first time that Northrop has been punched in the mouth, so to speak, this year. Can they use it as motivation?
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Northrop could seriously be undervalued heading into Week 7. Their two losses have come to the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in Blitz’s rankings.
7. SNIDER (3-3)
WHY #7?
We know that Snider is a better football team that a year ago, but how much better?
Well, a win over Homestead last Friday instead of a 38-0 drubbing at the hands of the Spartans like last year is a good indication.
But it doesn’t get any easier, as the Panthers have rival Northrop this week, followed by Bishop Dwenger and North Side at ‘The Ike’ to close out the regular season.
The offense continues to take steps forward, and quarterback Max Johnson is beginning to show he can make plays vertically against anyone.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Snider is the only team in the Top 10 with three losses. What else do you want from Blitz?
8. NORTH SIDE (4-2)
WHY #8?
Even with close to 350 yards of penalties over the last two weeks, the Legends have taken care of business on the scoreboard since a Week 3 loss to Northrop.
Overall, North Side has shown that it can compete with pretty much anyone in the area, although it helps avoiding Bishop Dwenger and Carroll due to the SAC rotating schedule.
The loss of Maalik Moore looms large for this team. Who picks up in the Cincinnati commit’s absence? The Totem Pole Game is on tap this week, followed by Homestead and Snider to close out the regular season.
There is a definite possibility that North can finish the season 7-2 with a lot of momentum going into the playoffs.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Dropping the game against Northrop presents North Side from going anywhere higher than the Bruins. And the penalty problem must be cleaned up.
9. COLUMBIA CITY (5-1)
WHY #9?
Outside of a one-point loss to undefeated Northridge in Week 2, Columbia City has been aces. The obvious strength is the rushing attack, which is a byproduct of how big and physical the Eagles are in the trenches.
Another challenge against an unblemished foe looms this Friday in Kendallville, where Columbia City will look to hand East Noble its first loss of the year in yet another massive matchup in the NE8.
Just another good squad in Sectional 19, a good showing against East Noble, and another next week against Leo, will prove the Eagles can be a factor in the playoffs.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Have yet to play East Noble and Leo. But that changes this week and next.
10. EASTSIDE (6-0)
WHY #10?
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Eastside continues to blitz (see what Blitz did there?) the competition, putting up 51 on Garrett in the first half last Friday.
For the year, the Blazers are averaging 44 points a game. The defense has been tougher to judge, as some of the points it has given up are with the reserves in and big leads in the second half.
As long as Job Richman and Noah Dove stay healthy, Eastside can beat anyone remaining on its schedule and is a good bet to get to the Class 2A state title game.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
No opponents on the schedule from the SAC and NE8.
NEXT FIVE
11. Homestead
12. Huntington North
13. DeKalb
14. Bluffton
15. South Adams
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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