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So nip and tuck games where a generational team for SR squeaked by typical GS team? The level of consistency in our program has been nothing short of amazing in the Hart era. You can try and try to put some sort of asterisks next to this teams achievements, but guess what, that asterisks will only exist in your head next to your disdain for this program. Your last dozen posts or so have been exclusively aimed at trying to get someone, anyone, to listen to your pathetic agenda, it really is just silly. Like our D1 QB wasn't going to take a step forward his senior year like most kids do? I have no idea where it comes from, perhaps the fact that you wanted desperately to continue to be able to say, that even though this program is 104-20 in the last 10 years including a 50-0 destruction of SR in 2015 or the 55-14 trashing in 2017 when SR won state, that we had never been to a state championship game? How is this year any different than those? Perhaps it some sort of self protection mechanism where you have convinced yourself that somehow three move ins out of the 2,000 in the state of Indiana this year made this season any different than what we normally do to SR? As a friend of mine always says, "same as it ever was". I hope you chose to stay on our schedule and continue to receive your beatdowns, everyone needs goals and yours can continue to be, "beat the Titans". This year the excuse was three move ins. What will it be next year and the year after that and the year after that? This is the 20th anniversary of our youth league and it's fitting to achieve this milestone this year. The only thing super about this team are the families, community and staff behind an amazing bunch of kids (including the move ins who are great people). I won't apologize for our community being an attractive place to live. Perhaps the unique distance from Evansville (not too close but not too far), small town living, many religious options, and quality employment opportunities make it more appealing than chicken processing plants. 15 or more of the first 25 kids to play in GS games this year have at least one parent that is a GS alumni and although I don't have averages for that type of statistics across that state, I'm guessing it would put us in the top 10 percent of 3A schools in terms of lineage. Then again, who cares, all great people are welcome here and frankly I hope they keep coming because again, the only asterisk will exist in your head and our rent will continue to be enjoyable and free.

LOS is a special place, especially with a son playing. I’ll never forget 2019 game day taking the elevator up to the second level in the dark where the filming takes place and only coaches are allowed. Best of luck Titans! Might as well bring it home!

GS has nothing to apologize for. They've worked hard for a long time and earned their success. Go kick some @$$ and bring another football title back to southwest Indiana. As far as I'm concerned, its a pretty special club down here and GS belongs. Enjoy the week. Nothing better than a practice on Thanksgiving. Make sure your kids are hydrating like never before. WIN IT!!

10-6 GS in safeties

Which teams playing for a state championship this weekend have endzone cameras? I would bet the vast majority of the 14 teams still playing have them.

I do love me some Al Green

“Us?” Settle down Rudy.

Tell me you know nothing about Northridge without telling me. 🤔😤

I hope GS brings this back south. They will be the first public school since we won state in 2000 to bring this south of Indy. 20 years, since a public wins south of Indy....seriously guys....WIN. I won't speculate on a score, but I think Brefeuf MUST score at least 30 to even have a shot. GS will surely score a minimum of 35 points. I don't say it often but GO TITANS! Regardless, great season.

Having just finished a movie podcast review that I have done for some 12 years - just finished episode 301 (a lame attempt to explain this LATE night post, btw). My excuse for a 3:00 AM comment that I couldn't resist. I'll try to keep it short. Read ALL of the above. There is always an "us" and "them" in life. Unfortunately. The days of "US" are behind you. Welcome to "THEM". Be nice. Be gracious (you didn't need that advice from me, btw). Tell them to p!ss off in your own mind or...maybe even directly as needed. BTW, stay "Them" as long as you can...but hold to the things that made you "Us" too. In that interim, go out and kick @ss. Best of all wishes for the Titans. Don't apologize. Just Win! 9 us/them

Predict who will win in each class and add any thoughts you have. I'll start. 1A: Adams Central vs. Indianapolis Lutheran - Saints win this one by a lot. I think they would even win 2A. 2A: Evansville Mater Dei vs. Andrean - This one could really go either way and both teams have been playing well. Give me the Wildcats by one score. 3A: Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Gibson Southern - Brady Allen and company are just too good on offense. This is the year we will remember the Titans. 4A: Northridge vs. Mt. Vernon (Fortville) - The Marauders have impressive team speed+strength which puts an end to the impressive run by Northridge. 5A: Cathedral vs. Zionsville - The Fighting Irish are the 2nd best team in Indiana regardless of class and will continue to show it with a big win here. 6A: Center Grove vs. Westfield - The Trojans continue their dominance and win another state title. The 'Rocks are tough but Trojans win by two scores.

Two teams very few people had making it to Lucas Oil. So proud of the Raiders for battling adversity and making this run. #whynotus

When did Indiana move to 7 classes??

Yes, it did. And the officials explained that.

Mishawaka elected to play “up” at the inception of the success factor. When 5A and 6A split it effectively watered down 5A to the max degree. Traditionl 4A powers like Cathedral, Dwenger, Columbus East, Roncalli, etc were still in 4A when Mishawaka elected to play up. 4A was much tougher than 5A before teams started to cycle up.

Indy Scecina

There were a lot of *really, really* good LBs and DBs on that 2017 team. Jay Higgins (now at Iowa) was in the middle and flanked by several multi-year starters. This year’s crop at LB is still awfully talented but not quite at the same level, imo. DL is definitely better with this 2021 team. Strickland obviously gets the most attention, but Childers is without a doubt an all-state player at DE based on production and talent. Zhang and Petrie are both pretty good as the interior linemen. Offensively, it’s a bit of a toss up talent-wise. OL had more size+experience in 17, and that team had a couple of game changers in Wright (who is probably the best slot WR and return man I’ve ever seen… at least in 3a) and Pressler who was a mismatch at 6’6. The 21 team has two pretty dominant WR with Annee and Walters. I don’t ever recall seeing too many teams having 2 WR each 1k yards and 10+ touchdowns. Both are capable of scoring any time they touch the ball. I also think it’s fair to say that the passing concepts in 21 are more sophisticated and better executed compared to 17. I think the edge goes to 21 for offense.

Mishawaka I believe

Northridge will be wearing dark jerseys.

I truly appreciate all the attention given to my Cathedral Irish. We're a small school with a pretty good football team and tradition.

Tickets are bought and we're ready for some indoor football!😊

Yes, top to bottom, BJ does have the SOS advantage. However, there is a reason GS added Columbus North, New Albany, and South Warren (KY) to their schedule. CN and NA are no slouches for their class, and GS easily won those games. South Warren is a juggernaut of a team currently making a deep playoff run in KY and it was probably a good thing that GS got a taste of getting their butts beat in that one. They are battle ready. This game will come down to the trenches and who turns it over less.

The 2013 and 2015 teams were pretty identical in terms of names on the roster. I’m still amazed that the 2013 team did what it did despite starting so many sophomores. It’s what helped make the 2015 team what it was. by the time 2015 rolled around there were like four 4 year starters and around 10 or so 3 year starters. Also it’s still kinda funny to me that Nick Sellers (the QB from 2013-2015) was our starting long snapper as a freshman. He went from long snapper as a freshman to QB who went 36-4….and his 2015 season was crazy 73% completion 3300 yards 40TDs AND 700 yards rushing + 19 TDs. next year I think GS will get back to running the ball with the QB more and our current backup looks like he will thrive at the varsity level

Pal, we will have to do this another time. I do enjoy debating old school vs new school with you though. But this isn’t the thread for it haha

The pre-game was awesome. As usual, we tailgated in the Woodlawn area just south of the stadium. That area in the "woods" is awesome. We had the grill out with smash burgers, brats, dogs, sides and beverages. Was with my family and my Minnesota buddy.....our youngest is a junior and we had some of her sorority sisters and friends join us. Our oldest (also an IU grad) and her Penn State hubby was there wearing IU stuff to support the cause. As a Dad and hubby, had an absolute blast with family and friends. The stadium is so nice with the renovations. My Gopher buddy, season ticket hold for Minn, kept commenting how much nicer the stadium looked now since his last trips. Unfortunately, it was empty with a good portion being Gopher fans. My fear is that the fans have really been let down this year....may be a challenge getting a large portion to return. But, get down there when you can for a game. Buy you parking pass with your tickets and get the grass lot, which is Woodlawn. Hard to beat that portion of the game experience....if only the home football was better....LOL!

Yep. See yesterday's Colt/Bills game for an impressive offensive performance played more like old school football. Just run the damn ball.

It's about damn time........now go win it all.

My new tournament favorite moments, both from Northridge at New Prairie this past Friday at 4a North Semi State https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWe9wkhFN3a/?utm_medium=copy_link https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWe8uLKFssu/?utm_medium=share_sheet https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWe_hYxlmM7/?utm_medium=copy_link

I have been waiting to do a comparison between this years GS team and previous GS teams. I compiled the stats from the 2013 team that ended up losing to Brebeuf at Semi State, the 2015 team that lost to Chatard at Semi State and this years team THINGS TO NOTE 1) Defensive TDs/Special Teams TDs I couldn’t find for 2013 2) The Sagarin ratings at the bottom are the FINAL rankings for 2013 and 2015, while the 2021 team is not the final rankings just yet. It’s only 1 week but worth noting 3) all 3 teams were 13-1 at this point, this years team obviously the only one to advance….but otherwise the stats should be comparable since it’s 3 13-1 teams. 4) Passing stats are the starting QB only not the backups. Rushing stats include the backups because I’m not going to figure out which carries were running clock carries by the backups. There is a lot to pick apart here, but I would firmly put this years team as the best. And while some of the stats for the 2015 teams might say they did better in a few cases, the 2021 team makes up for it in their SoS compared to previous years. This SoS doesn’t even include Kentucky 5A South Warren who is ranked #2 in 5A, #7 Overall, and playing in the 5A Semi State this next week. That’s my two cents though and here are the stats for those wondering

Hello? 911. I would like to report…..

No you don’t! They would get it at the 25 not the 20

YEARS ago, it was selected as the best place to watch bad football. As far as atmosphere, it is up there. Tailgating is a blast, and this time of year is a great time to be in Bloomington. I have not been there to see the last round of renovations, but look forward to a time when I can get back.

So you would have us believe, that the going’s on on January 6, were so dire, such a threat to our nation, so damning, yet judges and prosecutors are too lazy to prosecute them? Sure, makes perfect sense to me. God only knows there are no hot shot young prosecutors out there wanting to make a name for themselves. Would you care to share with the group what strain you’re smoking, I’d love some for myself.

LN losing Cooper cannot be ignored.

Kudos to Marian, the last couple of years they have literally been inches away from Lucas Oil versus two teams that were heavy favorites against them. At some point they have to break through since they’ve been knocking so hard on that door.

I'd expect nothing less from the immortal Muda, my friend!!!

I’ll still take CG in 2022. You can have the field.

6 actually.....

Why can’t people just say Adams Centrals beat North Judsons ass without a bunch of excuses? Y’all sound like the stat boy from Winamacs, I swear to God you do!

Ken Fox is the Sports Editor of the Elkhart Truth. You may reach him at kfox@elkharttruth.com or @KenFoxTruth on Twitter. NEW CARLISLE — Tag Gott had total faith in Jethro Hochstetler's ability to make a play. It was a brilliant decision that has the Northridge football team going to the state finals. The two juniors hooked-up for a 76-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 to play Friday to give the Raiders an exciting 20-14 victory over New Prairie in the Class 4A north semi-state. It will be the Raiders' first trip to the state finals and they'll see another rookie finalist in Mount Vernon at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Class 4A title game. But back to Gott and Hochstetler. The Raiders' game-winning touchdown was set-up by Gott — who else — on an interception of New Prairie quarterback Marshall Kmiecik, just as the Cougars appeared to be on their way to a touchdown to take the lead themselves. After a run went nowhere on the Raiders' first play after the interception, Gott stepped up in the face of an onrushing Cougar lineman and found Hochstetler behind the New Prairie defense. Hochstetler cradled the ball in his hands and then easily outraced the New Prairie secondary to the end zone, which brought an eruption from the Northridge faithful that may have been heard back in Middlebury, if anyone was actually still there. "I know Jethro is a playmaker and if it's a jump ball play, he's going to come down with it,'' Gott said. "I put the ball out there and he made a great play and got the touchdown.'' Northridge caught the Cougars in man-to-man coverage on the play, without a safety back. So once Gott made the picture-perfect pass, it was just a matter of Hochstetler catching the ball and taking it to paydirt. But the duo wasn't done yet. Even after the Raiders recovered a pooch kick on the ensuing kickoff, New Prairie still had three timeouts left. Northridge had a pair of running plays that gained five yards, followed by an offside penalty and then an incomplete pass, setting up a fourth-and-10 at the Cougars 32. A first down and the game is over ... if not, New Prairie gets the ball back with a chance to win. To those of us along the sidelines, there was little doubt where Gott would try to go. Hochstetler. After having time initially, Gott was flushed left out of the pocket by the New Prairie defense. But instead of trying to run for a first down, Gott stopped and fired a dart toward Hochstetler. The pass zipped between two Cougar defenders and settled into Hochstetler's hands for a first down, setting off another Northridge celebration. "Man, that was a great throw,'' Hochstetler said with a smile. "When I saw Tagg starting to scramble I moved to try and get open and thankfully he saw me and made the pass.'' Two plays from the victory formation later, Northridge and the huge group of fans that found their way to Amzie Miller Field on Friday could begin making reservations for Indianapolis. That's right, the Northridge Raiders ... with a 26-year-old, first-year coach and the team's fourth quarterback of the season ... a team that was 5-4 in the regular season and lost with a running clock in its final two games ... will play for a state title at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday. So the Raiders' adopted mantra of "Why not us?" will continue down U.S. 31 South. For Hochstetler, the opportunity to play for a title is special, but not just for him. Jethro's brother Micah was the Raiders' starting quarterback to start the season and helped Northridge to a 4-0 start. But in the team's Week Four game against Plymouth, Micah Hochstetler suffered a leg injury and was lost for the rest of the season after surgery. "When Micah got hurt, it was really disappointing because we had talked about going to state together this year,'' Jethro admitted. "So for us to win tonight and get the opportunity to play for a title, well I know I'm there for Micah and I both.'' Meanwhile, Gott has his own family story. After spending his freshman year at Northridge, Gott's family, including older brother Jett, moved to Schoolcraft, Michigan, for Jett's senior year. Once Jett graduated and moved on to Wheaton College to play football, the Gotts came back to Northridge. And thank Gott he did. Tagg Gott started the year as a running back, before eventually becoming the Raiders' starting quarterback in the final game of the regular season. Now, after rushing for 105 yards and passing for 120 against New Prairie, Tagg will be the starter in a state title game in the stadium that legendary Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning helped build. "It's still pretty surreal,'' Gott said with a big smile after the game. "I'm so happy for my teammates and this great coaching staff. They've made me feel at home from the first practice of the season and I'm proud to be part of this team.'' Northridge now has one more week of football ... another week to discover new heroes and for the Raider defense to try and stop a team with gaudy statistics. But no matter what happens in Indy, Northridge fans will not soon forget Tagg to Jethro on a frigid night in New Carlisle. So really, "Why not us?" Ken Fox is the Sports Editor of the Elkhart Truth. You may reach him at kfox@elkharttruth.com or @KenFoxTruth on Twitter.

The Grove is in a groove!

BTW, due to the Pacers playing Friday night on Fox Sports Indiana, the 5A championship game will be moved to an off channel. If you have Comcast that channel is CN81.

Bob, I get it and certainly don’t disagree with your point (because you’re right) but I find myself at a “gut” level often having to restrain myself when it comes to Merrillville….not because of the team and kids (I think I indicated last year that they handled themselves with class and aplomb last Fall at Chatard) but rather because they literally have some of the worst and most obnoxious fans imaginable (one certain fan is literally a lunatic) over on the football Facebook page and it, unfortunately, at times is really, really difficult to not want to speak to THOSE folks which I think was really what “‘06” was doing (not to put words in his mouth) rather than the team and kids (who deserve respect). By the way, I think I may just have written the longest most dreadful single and continuous sentence in my life. For those lovers of grammar, I apologize in advance for my assault on Mssrs. Strunk and White just above.

Good story illustrating the madness of all this. And more evidence that masks are worthless, they are just virtue signalling.

This is so awesome having two programs who have NEVER been to LOS. Coach Eppley pushed the right buttons as a first year coach? That's incredible.

Make sure you remember to cancel your hotel room for next weekend 🔥🔥🔥 Can you still win Mr. Football if you rush for 13 yards in the semi-state?

ACtually I still have most of the files if not all from my SW7 days. Seems like it was www.SW7.org or net.... maybe... I tried to color coordinate too much LOL... I wanted to use everyone's school colors... logos.... and I wasn't good at sizing LOL.. like I said... learning as I go!!

HOw I would love to sit and talk all you listed about all this. I used a program to do all the Southwest 7 page stuff... I wouldn't say it was major LOL. I think is was Frontpage... and I learned by making mistakes over and over. I knew there had to be easier ways to do it... and I was trying to learn as I went. I just couldn't and still can't afford the hosting costs. And it's been so long since and things have changed so much. I have thought of Wiki stuff...Not sure how I would make it look like I see it in my mind using Facebook. I know there are a lot of things that can be done. I my mind I just see a page where you have options... a lot like Rudy's page...but naturally just Linton LOL. click on a year-- and there is the season; click on a game-- see stats, scoring etc..--- have season by season stats... career numbers... all time roster... you know.. the normal stuff. Opponents... history .. players... And I have so much of this already... well from mid 90's... but already have done so much research online finding newspaper articles in 50's and 60's etc... I want a place online to have this all in one place. I know it's time consuming, because it already eats up so much of my spare time as it is! I don't care about all the work because I see the end result in my mind and know it's worth it.

Yeah it was sorta bang bang. Linton wanted out of having to play UNion (Dugger)...and to be honest, a couple others.. Wood Memorial etc... in order to be in the SW7... so we left. Then Scotty Helms basically followed suit with ND... not sure how long it all happened.. because there was discussion about Tecumseh at the time joining SW7 but staying in PAC for all else.. any way... we all know how it panned out. Union soon was done (and now I see coming back into IHSAA) Wood Memorial isn't doing football.Tecumseh is where they are. I liked being in a conference, but I know nothing really helped winning 75-0 year in and out. out of the remaining SW conf teams we actually play them all other than NC... and it would seem there mighta been some good games with them back in 2017 and 2018.