The RENEGADE 2008 Poll

Week-9: NW Indiana High School Top-10 Football Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

10-16-2008

VALPARAISO (10-17-2008) - Just who is number one in Northwest Indiana high school football this regular season is an interesting slant on how you look at football.
The three legitimate candidates are Lowell (7-0), Valparaiso (6-1) and Chesterton (6-1) and the fans of each are coming from totally different perspectives.

First, there's LOWELL. Lowell fans believe that since they are the only undefeated team in Northwest Indiana (nobody counts Wheeler because of their schedule) that they are the obvious No. 1.

Talking point: 'We beat 2 5A schools!" We beat them last year, too. It's obvious we could beat 5A schools. You're just a hater!

The truth? CP is 3-5 and Munster (5-3) is the smallest 5A school in the state and they play in a 3A-4A conference. Lowell hasn't played an especially difficult schedule. Highland (0-8) and Hammond (5-3) are not tough teams.

Talking point: 'We've been to the state finals twice in the last three years. We're 39-12 in the last 4 seasons. That should count for something!!!

The truth? Actually, it doesn't. You can't be No. 1 this year based on what you did last year.

Talking point: 'We've got a 1,000-yard passer with no interceptions (Kurt Monix) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Brandon Grubbe), who has done it for the second year in a row. Everybody loves us. We're the people's choice. No big fancy stadiums or artificial turf. Hey, we had to raise our own money for our own bleachers. Did Valpo do that?

The Truth? Actually, Valpo did raise their own money for the artificial turf, but that's beside the point. Everybody does like Lowell's 'return to glory' story. Northwest Indiana old folks remember when Lowell lost every week. But, again, good will ends where the playing field begins.

ADVICE: There's always that second week of the season where you play Morton. I'd bet Merrillville or Chesterton would play you if we really want to prove this. Right now, no one can say for sure that Lowell isn't better than Valpo and Chesterton because they never play them. (And they shouldn't).

Look for maps to South Bend, Elkhart and Marshall County and relax.

Then, there's CHESTERTON.

Talking points: We are undefeated in the best league in Northwest Indiana (the DAC) and we have beaten all Indiana foes. We are obviously much better than Valparaiso because we beat them 12-10 and Lowell will only play us in softball. We can't possibly be rated behind Valparaiso. You're just a hater!

The truth: You lost to West Ottawa, Michigan 28-12...and nobody can even find that school. You beat Valpo without their starting quarterback (he was injured) and you average 24 points a game. Number one teams average more than 24 points a game.

Talking points:  Hey, we beat Crown Point 20-7 without OUR starting QB. We run the ball on everybody and we're 6-0 against 5A schools.

The truth: What winning teams have you beaten? A crippled Valpo and Portage (5-3)? That's it? You haven't played Merrillville (4-4) yet? How much credit do you want for beating sub-.500 teams.

Talking points:  We've won six in a row and we keep meeting every challenge. It's okay to win in 2A or 4A. But 5A is the major leagues and we are the major league leader!!

The Truth: The California Angels led the major leagues and look what happened to them. But keep talking. If you go 7-0 in the big school DAC, nobody can take that away from you.

And finally, VALPARAISO.

Talking point:  We dominate teams. Six wins by 10 points or more. Four by 20 or more. We average 33 per game and we give up nine. How can you possibly say we're not No. 1? We're Valparaiso and you're just a hater!!!

The truth? You lost at home 12-10 to Chesterton. And that win over Penn (5-3) was by the booming score of 10-9.

Talking point:  It's not easy being green. Everybody picked us for last in the DAC. We took out Penn and Merrillville. We proved everybody wrong!!

The truth? I can't find anyone who picked Valpo last in the DAC. It must be the same person who picked LaPorte and Chesterton and LC and Portage to finish last.
Almost every coach claims that they were picked to finish last in the pre-season almost every year. Coaches make that stuff up. They always have. If you beat Penn in November, then you will prove something.

Talking point: We are the biggest team on both sides of the ball. We've played the toughest schedule. We would crush Chesterton in a rematch and Lowell wouldn't even consider playing us. Its a green world and the rest of you are just allowed in on a pass. It's all about the green!!

The truth? Okay, Kermit. But before we take your word for how bad you'd beat Chesterton in a rematch let's see it happen. And while you're at it. Win the sectional.
Actually, that's the saving grace for Valpo. If they win their next six games, there's absolutely no question who the No.1 team is for the year 2008.

The final week of the year won't tell us much about who's best or who's worst. But the Chesterton-Merrillville game is the feature among big schools and the Calumet-Wheeler game is the feature among the small schools.

1.) 5A Valparaiso (7-1)
2007 (6-5), 2006 (3-6), 2005 (5-5), 2004 (6-5), 2003 (5-6)

VALPARAISO: Valparaiso crushed Portage with 300 yards rushing in a 45-7 win. Zach Livovich tossed two TDs for the Vikes who led 45-0 after three quarters. Valpo has outscored the opposition 107-38 in the last three weeks against Crown Point, Merrillville and Portage. The only people who think Valparaiso isn't No. 1 are people who saw them lose to Chesterton. If you saw them any time in the last three weeks, there is no doubt.

2.) 4A Lowell (8-0)
2007 (13-2), 2006 (7-6), 2005 (11-4), 2004 (9-4), 2003 (11-2)

LOWELL: The Devils were good but not great in a 24-7 win over Munster (5-3), the Devils 13th regular season win in a row. Brandon Grubbe went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season and Kurt Monix passed the 1,000-yard mark passing without an interception. Lowell needs only to beat Andrean (3-5) to win an undisputed Northwest Crossroads Conference title. The Devils are 8-0 for the first time in 15 years and the 35-32 win over Hobart (7-1) looks better every day. Lowell drew South Bend Washington (6-2), a pure passing team in the playoffs and the Devils' secondary is still where everyone attacks them. I think they could stop the option attack of Chesterton but I just don't think they can beat the Vikings.

3.) 5A Chesterton (7-1)
2007 (6-4), 2006 (5-6), 2005 (3-8), 2004 (5-5), 2003 (7-4)

CHESTERTON: The name we want to mention here is Andy Miller, a senior who made his varsity debut as the starting quarterback last week due to the broken left hand of starter Aaron Knight. It made no difference. Chesterton scored on their first possession and won 20-7 at Crown Point. What that tells you is that Chesterton's offensive system is strong and well-taught. In a running offense the QB should not matter that much. That's why Chesterton losing their starting QB did not stop them, while Valpo losing their QB for two games did affect them. They shouldn't celebrate too much. Merrillville is next. But the Trojans aren't the New England Patriots who went from champs to chumps just because they lost one player.

4.) 5A Merrillville (4-4)
2007 (12-2), 2006 (7-5), 2005 (11-3), 2003 (5-6), 2004 (6-5)

MERRILLVILLE: The Pirates raced to a 21-0 lead over LC and rolled 34-3 in the home field finale for the regular season. Remember, Merrillville's losses include Warren Central (5-2), Valparaiso (6-1) and Chesterton (6-1) so they aren't a bad team. The Pirate defense scored two TDs and, often, that's your biggest problem facing them. Their defensive speed and experience. But betting on the Pirates is like juggling money in the stock market. This team has to welcome a rematch with Crown Point (3-5) and they've just got to love the draw they have. I do not think they're overrated. The season isn't over yet.

5.) 4A Hobart (7-1)
2007 (8-4), 2006 (10-2), 2005 (6-6), 2004 (9-2), 2003 (5-7)

HOBART: Look, I didn't believe in this team at the start of the year, but oddly enough, a narrow loss to Lowell changed my mind. The Brickies came from behind to beat Morton 32-27 last week, giving up 442 yards. They are not speedy defensively, but Hobart did rush for 293 yards. Anyone who tells you that defense wins is lying to you. You go as far as your offensive line takes you and to one inch further. Late in the year. Look at rushing totals. If you can run for first downs, no one can beat you because you have the ball. They wont admit this, but Hobart gets two weeks off now with a regular season finale against Highland (0-8) and a Sectional nine quarterfinal opener against Gary West Side (1-7). By the way, does anybody realize that Hobart is 25-7 (soon to be 26-7) in the last three years?

6.) 5A Portage (5-3)
2007 (5-5), 2006 (6-5), 2005 (2-8), 2004 (8-4), 2003 (11-2)

PORTAGE: The Indians won in overtime 20-14 over Michigan City on a 3-yard run by big Austin Orlich, fighting off a third straight loss. Injured runner Ryan Cherry returned to carry 12 times for 30 yards. The Indians trailed 14-7 with seven minutes left, but they rallied and they'll take it, breaking a two-game losing streak. An average of 24 points a game isn't great considering that 40 of those came against 0-7 Highland. But the Indians don't need to be playing their best now. They need to be there in three weeks. Defensively, they're still giving up just 16 points a game and that'll win for you. But they're going to have to score 17 if it's going to win for them.

7.) 4A Griffith (4-4)
2007 (9-4), 2006 (12-2), 2005 (12-1), 2004 (9-3), 2003 (7-5)

GRIFFITH: Griffith gangstered Andrean for 345 rushing yards last week in a 41-7 romp. The Panthers have stopped throwing the ball and decided to live-and-die on the run game. Coach Russ Radtke said it last week. We cannot average 370 yards a game in total offense and be 4-4. He's right and they won't be a .500 team when the season ends. Radtke knows this team is much better than 4-4 and they will prove that the next two weeks when they face East Chicago (4-3) in back-to-back game. EC is the foe in the regular season finale and the sectional nine quarterfinals. Remember, bad weather is coming and bad weather helps Griffith.

8.) 5A CROWN POINT (3-5)
2007 (8-3), 2006 (12-1), 2005 (11-1), 2004 (4-7), 2003 (5-5)

CROWN POINT: Crown Point's one week offensive surge shut down when they could collect just 138 yards against Chesterton. Permission to speak freely? Everybody CP plays suddenly has a great defense. That game may say more about CP than it does the winning Trojans. The Bulldogs need a confidence builder Friday at Michigan City (3-5) and, hello, they both have the same record. It comes down to how well the Bulldogs can run the ball. They have one more week to work on it and MC did give up 245 yards rushing last week. CP drew Merrillville to start the playoffs and they play well against the Pirates. But the big issue now is confidence. How good do they still think they are?

9. 5A Michigan City (3-5)
2007 (2-8), 2006 (1-9), 2005 (6-5), 2004 (4-6), 2003 (3-7)

MICHIGAN CITY: The Wolves shook off a 2-5 disappointment and rallied to beat country rival and next door neighbor LaPorte 35-28 last week. Nathan Scully was 12 of 14 for a career-high 317 yards, including two fourth quarter TD passes to rally his side to win. Michigan City did draw Chesterton in the first round of the playoffs, but if they beat Crown Point in the regular season finale this week, they are in position to give the Trojans a game. Remember, this is a team that lost three games by six points or less. I think they could have been 6-2. Then again, Mike Huckabee thinks he could have been president.

10.) 5A Munster (5-3)
2007 (3-7), 2006 (5-5), 2005 (3-7), 2004 (4-6), 2003 (8-3)

MUNSTER: In a real poll, you can move up by losing to a quality team. We put far too much weight on wins and losses in meaningless regular season games. Munster beating Griffith 17-14, losing 24-23 two weeks ago to Hobart (7-1) and 24-7 last week at Lowell (8-0) says far more for them than does their first half wins over four ham sandwiches. Munster did give up 300 yards rushing at Lowell, but they did rebound after a 17-0 blitz at the start of the game. The Mustangs really can't win sectional one but they did get a good draw and two playoff wins aren't impossible.