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I just wanna know who found all the dead horses to beat on the digest the last couple weeks. 😄

Harrison, 5A, isn't on anyone's radar screen. Heck, Harrell's even has Kokomo with better odds of winning the sectional and regional than Harrison even though Harrison beat Kokomo a couple of weeks ago by three TDs. Harrison's loss this season comes against 6A Westfield who Harrison was trailing 19-11 going into the 4th before succumbing. Harrison drew a bye in the first sectional round and will likely face Zionsville. Lat season, Zionsville dispatched Harrison 33-21 in the first round of sectionals. I think the game will be tighter this season.

EC vs Mooresville is going to be a hell of a game after they both squash their inferior opponents on Friday. Mooresville’ is a great 4A team, however their defense is suspect. Plainfield could have easily hung 49 on them if they didn’t fumble inside the 10 on their last meaningful offensive drive, they were down 56-42 and Mooresville took the fumble to the house. Mooresville’s offense is great, however. The offense has looked good to great in every game except Whiteland thus far and Nick Patterson is a great quarterback. The Danville and Martinsville shellackings also look great on Mooresville’s resume. EC looks like a package. They dismantled a good Lawrenceburg team and their two losses are both respectable (Roncalli and Cincinnati Moeller). Their defense has been fantastic with the exception of those two losses, where they gave up 39 and 35. The offense has looked really nice too. They have put up 21+ in every game and have some playmakers. Both teams will be well-rested heading into that game. Especially considering their opponents in the first round are the mighty Jennings County and Greenwood. However, I will take East Central. If they played like they did against Roncalli, they could definitely pull off a win against Mooresville. Despite playing in a worse conference, EC is going to be more battle-tasted heading into the game, which could help their cause as well.

I agree this portion of the process is not a major differentiator, but it does play a bigger factor than you are implying for crews that consist of 3 more members who worked the state final previously. You'll eventually get into the new/returning aspect of this for the later rounds but ultimately you are either "competing" with crews who have worked a state final or those who have not. 50% of the crews working regional and beyond fall either side of that difference. Most of the crews who feel slighted by the process are on the "new" side of that. The only way a crew gets all 50 points is if they have at least 3 officials who have worked a state final previously. If they've worked a semi-state they start with 49, regional 48, most of the rest 47. That 3-point difference can make a huge difference between crews who work a second round and sectional final. The crews getting regional, semi-state, and state final assignments are usually in the 48-50 range and have a little head start. This makes it easier for the "new" crews who have state final experience start that advancement faster. There are other factors which you'll get to later I'm sure, but I wanted to share my observations as well Many of the crews that don't get assignments or only get 1 round have multiple officials with less experience or fail to attend the required meetings or fail the test. The fact some crews have a head start isn't what is preventing them from advancing. There is a large group of officials stuck in the 2nd round and sectional final that have a hard time getting beyond those levels largely because their "competition" are those new crews that have multiple members with state final experience. It's not uncommon for 2 or 3 of the 3 "new" crews to have state final experience and not truly be new. Last year was a refreshing change. First, there were 4 new crews, and I believe 3 of them were truly officials working their first state final. 3+68/7

I am still waiting on Westfield to Man-Up and play Carmel in the regular season. 5 minute drive and would be an enormous crowd at 2 beautiful stadiums. Could be a top regular season game each year. Ridiculous that they don't play. I guess we just have to wait for Carmel to join the HCC...

We rarely have what anyone would consider "city speed". Perhaps the last time was back in the Patrick Mallory days (2000). However, this year in particular, our line tends to be pretty quick for their size, esp. James Ralph. IMO, MD will go only as far as our D will take us. The offense has been widely inconsistent this year and has generally under-performed the perhaps too lofty expectations coming into the season.

So spent a lot of time reading the memo to make sure I pulled out the right information. Here is what I think I know: 1. The next two year cycle is 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. 2. Points earned in 2020-21 and 2021-22 will be applied to success factor determinations. Winners: Evansville Memorial, New Pal as long as they don't win regional, they drop a class Draw: Southridge, Pioneer they stay up because of last season. Were probably staying up anyway. Going up: Cathedral, Roncalli, Luers, South Adams, Danville, and Hobart go up if they go to semistate.

Does Madder Days have city speed?

The thought crossed my mind this afternoon that Columbus north will have 3 full weeks to prepare for their next opponent. Their last reg season game was oct 15th vs terre haute south. They get a bye on top of a bye week and are granted an appearance in the sectional title game vs center Grove most likely . Cn played some tough teams this year Gibson southern cathedral and roncalli. I mean I don't think there is much of a chance but 3 weeks to prep. All that has to happen is cg lose a player or two to injury and play a bad game and for cn to play the best game they have played in years. Very unlikely but the thought did cross my mind ....

In addition to your #4: Merrillville got a taste last year of what big boy football really is when they played Chatard and Westfield. As you said, they'll be better prepared this time around.

Maybe just a hunch or I am reaching? 1. The Duneland seems better in 2021 than it was in 2020. Chesterton emerged as a solid squad, Valpo seems better, even Crown Point was fairly formidable. All that being said, Merrillville ran roughshod to though the conference unscathed. 2. Their two non conference wins were over teams that should be playing well into November. That should not be overlooked. 3. Maybe, just perhaps chemistry was an issue in 2020 with the transfers they obtained? (This is a complete shot in the dark as I have no actual evidence.) 4. Experience. The majority of their players have a sectional/regional title under their belts and have experience in the semi state round. They’ll be prepared. 5. The disrespect/fuel factor. While I don’t think kids/coaches are reading any bulletin board nonsense here, in this day of social media it’s impossible to miss. Teams from outside of central Indiana HAVE to be sick and tired of hearing how they cannot compete. Listen, I could be way off base here and as recently as 3-4 weeks ago, I’d call Westfield in a walk over but I just have a feeling about this Merrillville team. Their disposal of a good Valpo team on their home field and destruction of a damn fine Chesterton team really opened my eyes. Westfield is a damn fine football team and deserves all of the respect and accolades they are receiving. This is by no means disrespect to them at all. Many folks on here paint me as someone who stirs the pot (and I sometimes deserve it) but I’ll also be the first one on here to admit I’m wrong next month if that’s the case.

I'm not defending Notre Dame, Bob, I'm pointing out that Cincinnati is good, really good. I'm not sure there's enough really good teams to keep Notre Dame out of the final 12 however, but I have no illusion that the Irish are Championship quality this year.

Yes it really creates a culture when you have a home stadium at your school

Ha! That’s right! Very observant! Comes in handy for deep playoff runs!

They have pre existing stadiums it would be cheaper putting down turf for them than building a whole new stadium for snider. Believe me I think it would be cool to see snider have an official home stadium near campus but is it realistic when their situation at spuller stadium is doing fine and still being a "money maker". The revenue at one stadium hosting two teams outweighs the cost of operating an added stadium. I personally don't think anyone looks down on snider for their success either. They have proven they are a "blue blood" program in the state, and I wish them success in the tournament.

It’s certainly understandable as regards the broad umbrella of all the sports Carmel and CG are competitive in. Obviously the MIC offers them competitive football and hoops (I think) but probably not so much all the other sports.

I think if it does happen....its been a thought for quite some time....perhaps the recent event adds further support, but I believe it was a serious consideration well before. Just an opinion.

Copy that. It appears I’m wrong but, that being the case, it would appear that schools like Cathedral, Roncalli and Luers will still need to acquire enough points this year to total 6 before they move up. Basically, it IS rolling for this year and last year….not sure about afterwards. Still, makes me wonder if the IHSAA has fully thought through the ramifications. I’m betting not all the schools are clear on this. I’m certainly not.

He's a legend in his own mind but a certain someone in his family runs like his mother just sayin lol

No contest....the guy is a stud! lol

I will be shocked if Merrillville is not playing deep into the second half with Westfield vs the game last year were they were happy to be there and fell apart after they were robbed of a go ahead touchdown. Hardy clearly in bounds on that play. It was clear last year and there is no doubt this year who the more athletic team is, the question for Merrillville last year which they have shown more of this year is their physicality. To beat down Valpo, Chesterton, Crown Point, MC, Andrean, and Hobart they way they did was not due to their athleticism, which is superior to the teams listed other than MC, they physically beat these teams. If they just cut in half the turnovers and penalties from last years game, they will win.

FWLIW, looking at IHSAA track sectionals Eli McDurmon won the 400M Evansville sectional with a time of 51.26. Gabe Eslinger came in 5th in the 100M at the Bloomington sectional. His time of 11.91 would have put him in a 3-way tie for 9th at Evansville. Drew Smith would have finished the same positions (3rd and 4th) in shot and discus at Evansville. His throws were farther than Wilson and Boots of MD. This means nothing when shoulder pads and helmets go on, I just like looking around at the multi-sport athletes out there.

HH fans must just absolutely love reading our PTSD moments from games against them lol but that’s what makes it a great rivalry can we send them back to sectional 31?

And yet we continually seem to have the idea that the larger the enrollment the generally better football players and OMG! Athletes, both in quality and quantity, a program will have access to. It's why it's anathema to even consider the notion of a Pioneer playing a Center Grove, right? Yet history tells us this is not always true. I have maintained that Frankfort is a "4A" school with a mid-2A sized athletic talent base, at best. And that discrepancy will play out yet again this Friday, and it really does either side no good. Honestly, Chatard doesn't even need to send the first stringers to this game, their JV should be able to easily win by 4-5 touchdowns.

Might be a short wait.

You can't let your guard down, even when it will likely be a 40+ point differential.....in 2019 we put a running clock on GS in the regular season and the sectional game was a nail biter to the end. BTW, I am hoping for some of that in the sectional final this year!

While leaders in the corporation and city will blame vouchers, there is one strong charter grade school and high school in SB. The parochial schools are not full. But what they never consider is how many students have gone to John Glenn, LaVille, New Prairie, Mishawaka, Penn, Niles, and Edwardsburg. Open enrollment is an even bigger factor in losing kids along with affordable housing especially in rental housing. There are a pyramid of issues in South Bend not all related to the schools. Plus the big fight yesterday at Clay does not help either.

He's the ghost with the most! http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9di5aNh0V1qcxrpgo2_500.gif

I guess we don’t exists in the rundown?? Lol...

If Roncalli is #1, then EC at #5 in coaches poll does not make a lot of sense to me.

I dunno... still a lotta TYFL champs t-shirts still floating around these parts. Some things you just don't get rid of. And car wash rags?! Blasphemy, sir! Let your wife sneak them out of circulation due to the public humiliation of being seen with you like a man! Like an Alto Adige pinot blanc, a cobot clothbound cheddar, or a November 2009 Playboy, local sports t-shirts only get better with age.

I tragically passed away a couple years back, but decided to keep my account.

The Vikings will have to play their best to get by a good North Knox team, if they do that they will be heavy under dogs to MD or Linton. MD's James Ralph is a big, strong, very very quick young man. Will be a problem for every team they play!

Stole this from a friend off Facebook…so unfortunately I can’t take credit.

Having seen the City vs Valpo game in the regular season, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Wolves did beat the Vikings in the regional. They were without Omarion Hatch and an offensive linemen in their loss to Valpo, and Tyler Bush was starting his first game on varsity. It was 28-28 before City gave up a long td and then fumbled on their very next offensive play. I think Valpo and City will play in the regional and it will be very interesting to see what happens.

Ha, well, the crowd was predominantly white males. I'm told they deserve every atrocity that comes their way, so the mob probably OK's the comments.

Take your political feelings to a more appropriate website, PLEASE!

Isn't this pretty standard across Indiana? Townships have determined school attendance, even in some cases crossing county lines? I guess the bigger cities are starting to see public services merge -- fire departments, police/sheriff departments, other forms of governance. I'm generally not a big fan of redundant systems, but also like to see governance and services as accountable as possible. Idk. Big decisions.

The people of South Bend voted for Pete Buttigeig to be their mayor. That tells you all that you need to know.

That's not even close to what I said. Do I think that Linton could hang with them. Probably for a while. Do I think Linton would beat Jasper, Memorial or Castle? Nope. Cold they beat North? Maybe, but I'd favor North for sure.

The fact you are disputing that LINTON couldn’t even hang with those teams just shows you know nothing about them.

I don't know. I support the same one I did when I was in high school, supported it when my oldest kids went to high school there, and now my youngest 2 kids go to school with the grandchildren of my classmates. I'm still supporting them.

You can just stop posting without deleting your account. To quote the immortal John “Bluto” Blutarsky: don’t cost nuthin.