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A big shout out needs to go to Coach Turnquist of Zionsville. He is a very bright offensive mind. The job he did in the playoffs was phenominal. Zionsville returns most of its offensive starters for next year. It could potentially be a very interesting year for the Eagles. Coach TQ has had the Eagles over achieving the last two years in the playoffs. Last year they upset Brownsburg in 6a. This year, he turned the Eagles into the 2nd best team in 5a. Sorry Dwenger..... it's just a fact. There is a huge adantage to playing a 6a schedule all year and then dropping to 5a in th playoffs. Westfield took advantage of that for years and Zionsville did this year. Congrats to Coach TQ and the Eagles for a strong finish in 2020.

Talking about “plucking” kids, specifically because they’re excellent athletes, seems like a bad look for someone on the enrollment committee. My hope is those kids made their school choice based on what was best for them and their families (I believe that’s true as all are excellent kids of high character whom I have a ton of respect for), not as a result of “plucking” by the enrollment committee.

I am becoming more and more intrigued with 8 man football. It would allow schools, such as those mentioned above, to field a team and allow some smaller 1A programs a chance to be more competitive. Add to that what it could do to shake up the classes across the board and I am becoming a bigger proponent each year.

Our guy "Big Cat" is a veteran but he always has to be in the discussion when it comes to all-state end-zone videographers. He's so good we've had to assign him personal protection to keep the middle schoolers and 70/80's letter jacket crews at Gibson Southern & Castle from harassing him during road games. He's a legend. Just don't give him chili at a tailgate or all bets are off.

I wish they would make 1A a 32 team class instead of 5A. Just a thought. It would shake things up a bit in the middle classes. And 1A schools with limited rosters could benefit from a week of rest and healing before starting the tournament. Guessing most 5A rosters have 70-80 kids with no freshmen and most 1A have 30-40 with 8-12 freshmen. Also the 32 team 1A would be public class only.

The reason 6A is 32 teams is because that's the number needed to have a tournament without byes. Same with 5A. And the way the numbers work, there will always be around 310-325 schools playing football in the state, which provides pretty good numbers for two 32-team tournaments and four 64-team ones. There are always going to be schools in the bottom end of the largest class - no matter how big/small you make it - that feel slighted and will not have the resources of the megaschools. The IHSAA already rejected a proposal to reduce Class 4A to 64 schools in the other sports (baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball) - and really, went out of its way to kill it by amending a good proposal and adding in the awful idea to play the four-team 4A basketball sectionals in one day. The IHSAA's mission is to support schools, provide and adjudicate eligibility rules and to sponsor championships. While the class system and success factor provide a sense of "competitive balance," there will always be some haves and have-nots in any system. Splitting the old 5A into two 32-team classes was a response. No matter what the system or how many schools are there, Ben Davis, Center Grove, Carmel and Warren Central are likely going to dominate whatever the class is. No matter what the makeup is of the big class - 16, 24, 32 or 64 schools, those four are likely going to pile up the titles.

Agreed 100%. Enjoyed officiating a pioneer game this past fall. Nothing but high praise for pioneer football. So cool. Congrats. Big fan of Chatard football. First class. They grow up so fast.

Now that is exactly the response I was betting on! You did not disappoint. What I so loved about your post: 1. "especially kids from St. Jude" - that must feel good especially someone on the enrollment committee to get a kid from Roncalli's backyard. Do you make marks in your belt when you nab one? 2. "Such an embarrassment for you in the last 8-10 years while the program failed" - Let me give you a math lesson. 2020-2016 is 5 years ago. Guess what Roncalli won 5 years ago. Something that Catheral last won before both won this weekend. Give up? A State Championship. So spear me your "failed program comments". 3. "I can guarantee that no one has a few ride" - well I would suggest you edit your Cathedral websit (you being on the enrollement committee and all) since it clears emplies that. He is the direct quote for you to have edited: "Shamrock Scholar grantors choose to provide a quarter, half or full need-based tuition assistance scholarship for a student for the duration of their time at Cathedral (generally four years)" 4. "Since you dropped us 6 years ago and have wanted nothing to do with us" - I am pretty sure you know (being on the enrollment committee and all), why Roncalli dropped Cathedral.

I absolutely believe that was your intent. I would just after 15+ years like to know the truth. and as I said, if they are able to provide free tuition, good for them. Gives them an advantage that I wish Roncalli was able to provide. and not just to athletes, as I would like to think that Cathedral (if they do provide free tuition), provide it to non-athletes as well. I hope someday that Roncalli will be in that position.

They showed that one good year doesn't mean anything when Russ Yeast didn't win.

@Tanka Jahari Has to recognize the greatness of the Big Cat. How many other videographers lead the team on field (breaking the cheerleader banner in the process) and then turn around and run the EZ camera. His work at Danville 2017 grants him legendary status.

Too many awesome memories to count. Being at my son's last practice last Friday and watching him walk off the field and tap the goal post one last time was really special. He ended his season and career with a win on Saturday, and that was pretty great too.

That we had a season at all.....

Due to COVID rearranging the schedule and playing 2A due to success factor the Pioneer Panthers got to play six of their games against teams that these boys had never played in the past. 6A Chesterton, 4A New Haven, Delphi, Bremen, Andrean and Luers. Watching how our young men went to battle against those schools and coming out with a win against Chesterton will stick with me for a while. Then going on to win a Regional in 2A against Andrean. (Those boys were huge) It was a fun year!

Mistake, it should be North Newton

I guess I don't quite understand, who says you have to earn spots into playoffs? I mean I know there are pro, college, and High School states that do a playoff format that you have to earn your way in. That being said there is more than 1 playoff format: Single elimination, step ladder, double elimination, best of format, and Round Robin. As much as there is pointed at Ohio because they have a playoff you have to earn your way in, they do that because there are 700+ High Schools playing football. The numbers in Texas and California are very high too. Running an all in format wouldn't be possible without shortening the regular season (see Ohio this year 6 Reg season games). In Indiana there are about 320 football playing high schools so hosting an all in with 9 regular season games is doable. Yes I know many say it would make regular season more meaningful, but you could make it more meaningful with a seeeding process and home field advantage 2. There is not just "1" way to host a playoff. The term playoff in the dictionary doesn't specify you have to earn your way in, its simply a system of games after the regular season to decide which teams advance to play for the championship.

If Carmel gets to go up north for the playoffs, they'll probably be in the state championship even if they lose a few games.

As with most everything that Cathedral does, it is a tradition. They have been doing this since the 1970's.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/anger-management/in/carmel

No kid on a 1-8 team believes they have ‘earned’ a playoff spot. But if that 1-8 team wins a sectional, however unlikely that may be, they earned that trophy.

I don’t know if anger accurately describes these last two posts lol

No, I have issues with people that think they’re better than others and act as if others are beneath them which you do. I’ve never even met you, yet I know you’re the biggest jerk I’ve ever known. I personally don’t care what you think of me, but at least I know my character is good and that I’m involved in all of this for the good of the kids. You and DT are only concerned with your own egos and are the reasons kids have self esteem issues and don’t try. It’s because of people such as yourselves that we, as educators, have to constantly focus on other things besides education. It’s no secret, I don’t like you or DT. You have the same reputation on the Harrell page too though, and most of the people I have private conversations with on that message board just wish you’d go away, but since you won’t, I’ll tolerate your childish jabs and the fact that the highlight of your day is spending time on a high school football message board attacking others for their comments whenever you disagree with them. It’s pathetic, but I’ll tolerate the nonsense.

"All in" = Everyone gets a trophy mentality. Playoffs are a privilege, not a right IMHO.

Heartbreaking and one of the better 3A finals games in history. After a see-saw battle and 4 lead changes, Cathedral had the ball with under 2 minutes to go and the score tied in our our territory. We ran a pretty good option on that team. On a QB keeper, Dwenger LB and future NFL vet Kevin Fabini had a perfect helmet hit on the ball knocking it 5 feet in the air into Dwenger LB Kevin Caretta (Notre Dame) hands for an fumble and score. One of the most heartwrenching losses in CHS history. These days Dwenger’s QB, Chris Dittoe (Indiana), has a son on the Cathedral team with a few other Cathedral graduates’ kids from that ‘91 classic. That was Dwenger’s 2nd title in as many years and Cathedral went on to start our run of state championships the following year in 1992 with a beat down of Northwestern.

Of all the ridiculous hot takes that have been spewed on this forum (and has, honestly, driven more people away than he has drawn in with his "content generation"), the contraction one is by far the dumbest. Most teams aren't going to win state championships, but they do give kids opportunities. And one of the great things about football is there's a spot for virtually everyone and it brings together people from many different backgrounds in pursuit of one common purpose.

1. Lawrence North Lost 28-13 - McCulley 16 of 27 59% Comp 274 yds 1TD 1 Int 2. Ben Davis Lost 48-13 - Swanson 15 of 27 55% Comp 207 yds 2 TD 0 Int 3. Ben Davis Lost 35-12 - Swanson 17 of 27 63% Comp 161 yds 0 TD 3 Int 4. Pike Lost 57-14 - Cialdella 16 of 32 50% comp 192 yds 1 TD 0 Int 5. Westfield Lost 38-14 Webster 16 of 28 57% Comp 155 yds 1 TD 0 Int 6. Decatur Central Lost 56-14 - Horsley 9 of 18 50% Comp 157 yds 1 TD 2 Int 7. Cathedral Lost 17-13 - McCahill 12 of 19 63% Comp 123 yds 1 TD 0 Int I put more accurate stats for you and put it more into context of which QB's were forced to throw because of the score instead of trying to run the ball at the end (Cathedral was trying to run clock in 4th qtr with a 13-10 lead). I also put what their completion percentage was and TD Int's. Note only 1 Swanson in his first meeting had a better completion percentage. Numbers make more sense in context rather than just looking at total yards.

That's accurate, but it also works the other way. Sometimes football is all a kid in a tough situation has, so that's why I hate this "contraction" conversation we have ever so often here is that it leaves out that even those students who play on an 0-10 football team are staying in school and keeping their grades up to play each week.

But sometimes coaches and programs overthink things. Countless examples at all three levels of the sport where a coach/staff has walked out on its own terms at a high level and then the next guy in waiting fails.

If Cathedral converts the 4th and 1 and wins the game, pretty easy to look past his one pedestrian game. Would possibly be a unanimous pick if Cathedral went 15-0 against that schedule.

While the time is drawing shorter for the Trump administration to prove anything, and the chances of pulling off a different election outcome are much slimmer, Attorney Powell has an impeccable reputation for making good on her legal claims, even as far-fetched as some may seem. Chances are, she isn't going to pull something off before the electors meet this month, but IF anything actually exists it will come out sometime in the next few years. The question is what will come of it? My theory is and remains that JRB will not be in the position for very long for one reason or another, and we will have our country's first woman President well before the next election.

You have anger problems. Never knew marching band was your hot button issue.

Your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

https://reason.com/2020/12/02/disarmed-but-not-dangerous/ Indeed it does give them a chance. I hope they right this wrong.

Wasn't that ultimately exposed as some sort or pyramid scheme?

I see Carroll and Homestead on the same path as Zionsville and Whiteland. They’ll get there but not anytime soon. Elkhart is the intriguing one to me. CG isn’t going anywhere as long as Moore is there.

Here are some facts: Baron Huebler 328 attempts (#3) 2317 rushing yards (#2) 165.5 yards per game (#11) 7.1 yards per carry 32 rushing TDs (#1 tied) 14 receptions 106 receiving yards 2 TDs 34 Total TDs (#1) Carson Steele 264 attempts (#6) 1659 rushing yards (#12) 118.5 yards per game (#57) 6.3 yards per carry 31 rushing TDs (#3) 7 receptions 152 receiving yards 2 TDs 33 Total TDs (#2) The strength of schedule is considerably different, but it is important to note that we struggled to get Baron 100 yards against the worst teams on our schedule due to running clocks and big pass plays. He ran for almost 500 against #1 Mt Vernon and #2 Mooresville and a ton against #6 East Central.

You don't need any metrics to tell you that a team that went 1-8 shouldn't be playing in any playoffs. If you do I got nothing for you. True but it should be obvious that a system is broken if you see 0-9 or 1-8 teams in the playoffs.

People willing to help us get tickets to the games and of course winning the 5A State Championship were the highlights for me.

I took a shot at 3A with HoopsCoach's classifications: 25 - Calumet, Hanover Central, Hammond Clark, Griffith, Knox, Benton Central, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette 26 - Mishawaka Marian, SB Washington, John Glenn, Jimtown, Fairfield, Tippecanoe Valley, Peru, Maconaquah 27 - (only put 7 in this one) West Noble, Garrett, Lakeland, Woodlan, FW Concordia, Heritage, Bellmont 28 - Western Boone, North Montgomery, Crawfordsville, Guerin Catholic, Hamilton Heights, Speedway, South Vermillion, Tri-West 29 - Danville, Monrovia, Indy Washington, Washington, Owen Valley, Indian Creek, Brown County, Edgewood 30 - Mississinewa, Alexandria, Northwestern, Yorktown, Rushville, Batesville, Greensburg, Franklin County 31 - Salem, North Harrison, Corydon Central, Madison, South Dearborn, Scottsburg, Charlestown, Lawrenceburg 32 - Mt Vernon, Evansville Bosse, Gibson Southern, Pike Central, Southridge, Heritage Hills, Vincennes Lincoln, Princeton I like this alignment. Sectional 25 had a hole in it and West Lafayette makes more geographic sense than anyone else to fill it I think with Benton Central and Twin Lakes already in it as well. I put Mississinewa in Sectional 30 rather than 27 partially because they fit in geographically with schools like Alexandria and Northwestern and I think that program could beef up that sectional a little. Sectional 28 looks a little different with Chatard moving up. I put Western Boone in their spot and while I moved West Lafayette to 25, I shifted Tri-West from 29 to 28 so it still looks plenty tough to me. As for balance, I count 11 teams in the "new" 3A that finished in the top 100 in Sagarin in 2020. All 8 sectionals has at least one and only one (Sectional 28) has 3. I'd love to move one of those 3 to a different sectional but can't figure out a way to do it that makes sense. I think the teams in 31 and 32 pretty much have to be where they are based on geography but that's just from me looking at a map. That's the part of the state I'm least familiar with. Any thoughts? Complaints?

Success factor and gerrymandered sectional 28. Opened up the 3A south quite nicely.

I know they aren't in the finals, but the video crew from Camptown Creek were great. They had a camera focused on each member of the officiating crew and chain gang.

According to this thread, this game will be the deciding factor about who wins on Saturday.

https://reason.com/2020/12/02/private-charity-beats-one-size-fits-all-government/ Agreed. A spot-on commentary by Mr. Stossel. The government "War on Poverty" has been an abject failure.

I don't see a Reece Taylor, David Bell or Romier Elliott on either roster currently. Do you?