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Remember the Ketchup vs Mustard game from about 5 or 6 years ago ?

You can hear Coach Ralph talk about and break down the game in each quarter for yourself. During Covid Coach Ralph did a terrific set of segments with Coach Anderson and actually did a video of each quarter of the game vs. Snider. Some very good videos to watch of many of New Palestine's great games and seasons from the mind and thought process of Coach Ralph. https://www.youtube.com/@wesanderson4682/videos On to New Pal. The number of 2-way players won't matter in this game. Coach Ralph knows he will have many 2-way players and intentionally runs a conditioning program to prepare for this. He has mentioned several times over he makes sure to condition his teams to be prepared for the fact they will be playing players on both sides of the ball. I would say the number of players and strength of schedule will be a moot point. What it is going to come down to is how well both teams players play in the game. Chatard is young but very talented and New Pal is experienced and talented, we will see which players make plays I think it will be a terrific game.

No everybody doesn't suck unless they beat an HCC team, MIC team, Cathedral, or Center Grove. When I look at Crown Points schedule and talk about their SOS it is not to say they are a bad team or they suck because they don't they are a very good team with solid players. I struggle where to place them because haven't played a team (yet) where I can really gauge them to the rest of the teams left in 6A. I don't know how they will do when: their secondary is tested by a good offense that can throw the ball, they play a team that has a very good defense that can challenge their offense, they play a team that can match their size, they play a team that can match their speed or is faster at every position. I have watched them play but they have been far superior to their competition by a long shot. I felt the same last year they squeaked one by Penn (who I feel was better last year than this year) so I was 50/50 on how they would do against Westfield. They came out looking great from the start against Westfield then once Westfield got in a groove and stormed back I felt Crown Point was more respectable because they pulled out a tight one in Double OT against Westfield. That being said I felt Crown Point easily could have lost that game and that Westfields coach made a couple bad decisions when they had momentum. Immediately after that game I knew Crown Point was very good, but they were not going to be good enough for the buzzsaw they were about to see from the 6A South. Didn't make them a bad team just they weren't quite at that level. This year I can't really make heads of it yet I am still staying reserved on Crown Point. This week against Carroll we will see how their secondary does against a good passing team, but I still feel Crow Point is better than the Chargers and will win. I would say a 35-14 type of game maybe. The real judge for me will come the following week. I would like to say it is going to be Westfield they play and Westfield is very good. I only hesitate saying it will be Westfield because Fishers has been very bipolar and the game is at Fishers. Westfield should beat them handily, but Fishers has one of those teams that you don't know what to expect. Not to mention all of these HCC teams have seen each other once. So no I am not counting Crown Point out it is just the competition has been so subpar that I can't fully gage them against the really good competition left in 6A. From the South I do know this: 1. Center Grove is very well coached has an excellent offense and physical defense they have had a meat grinder of a schedule. 2. Warren Central a defense unlike any other team in the State probably the only thing that keeps them in games because their offense is apathetic. 3. Brownsburg yes they exorcised a demon against Ben Davis. They have the biggest O-line I have seen this year and have speed. They are pretty balanced with good offense and good defense, but they have a tall task this week. 4. Lawrence North I don't think words can describe the speed that they have. Not just offensively but defensively at DB, LB, and D-line. They have enough speed to play man to man and blitz 7-8 guys to not give your QB time to throw. They have flaws yes, but their speed overcomes their flaws. Remaining teams in 6A and their SOS: 1. Brownsburg - SOS 41.5 2. Center Grove - SOS 40.5 (personally Jeffersonville drove that down a little they easily could be 1) 3. Fishers - SOS 39.8 4. Westfield - SOS 37.7 5. Lawrence North - SOS 35.3 6. Warren Central - SOS 25.4 7. Carroll - SOS 23.3 8. Crown Point - SOS 16.8

Same Irish....all the years at the stadium as a youth and an adult, never thought I'd experience this. Was at both the Washington and Michigan games...the place is electric.

Stinky, Stink, Stink, 1.2..3... The Dawgs were victorious and that sent Stink to Connies to drink! K9, K9, K9 will pump his chest but we all know he really thinks the '24 class is better than the rest! Golden Dome, Pole Cat, Ocho Cinco, just to name a few are better than any dawg in a long time that have suited up in the Royal Blue! Stink will be BACK - Casket Nation - not so much!

I NEVER imagined there would be a time we would see this. Pretty cool.

Yes exactly why I have said they have flaws but they have been able to overcome them with their speed and aggressiveness. Prime example Cathedral bottled up the LN RB in the first half forcing LN to throw (which can be scary too) but Cathedral intercepted the ball multiple times. Even with a short field LN played so aggressively on defense they didn't give time to the Irish QB and forced a hug mistake that turned into a pick 6. They lead at half 7-0. Definitely not a perfect team, but if you can't manage their speed they will score quick and often.

I'm interested to know what would have been your assignments between Sectionals 31 and 32? I don't see any geographic logic other than what the IHSAA did. I would be interested to see what the total gate receipt numbers are for Sectional 32. As pretty much everyone on here was saying since the assignments were made, whoever came out of Sectional 32 was going to be the prohibitive favorite to win 3A. That definitely still holds true.

Kind of a fun fact. Bart Curtis has coached at 4 schools Maconaquah, New Prairie, Mishawaka, and Warsaw. All 4 teams came home with a sectional championship last night. I believe it was Macanaquah's 1st sectional championship, New Prairies 10th, Mishawaka 17th, and Warsaw's 2nd. I believe Curtis has been apart of 10 of those championships. (2 at NP, 6 at Waka, and 2 at Warsaw)

I agree Warsaw would be a great venue…but I bet it’s an hour closer to Carroll than CP. Penn is a much better middle ground if that is supposed to be a goal

I grew up in Missouri, and THEY always play the postseason at neutral sites. Totally agree with you!

Ohio has done it FOREVER (not really forever, but for at least two decades) and that includes a school hosting a game while their team plays somewhere else potentially. If they have figured it out, surely Indiana could. I am pretty sure the host schools in Ohio agree with the OHSAA before the season starts that they'll commit to hosting various rounds. If their schools happen to be playing during that same round... I guess they figure out a way to make it happen. It's not like a high school gets reached out to on Saturday to host a game the following Friday. The school is already well aware before the season even starts that they'll be hosting X round(s) of playoff games.

It's a fine venue for regular season Friday nights - but for a neutral site game - the visiting seating is not enough in my opinion. Not that every stadium has to have equal seating on both sides to qualify for this scenario, but it helps to have a bigger visitor seating section. Elkhart and Mishawaka would be great options due to those reasons. I am definitely on your side with this though - Ohio does neutral site games starting in the 3rd round of their tournament. I like the idea.

Truly - a remarkable high school football game last Friday night. These conference rivals played in Week 5 on the same field, a game in which Warsaw got out to a 17-0 halftime lead, only to see Concord escape with an epic comeback 28-24 on a last second touchdown. That led to the Minutemen winning the NLC, having an undefeated regular season, and earn the #1 ranking in class 5A. Concord's athletes are no joke. People might look at the box score and think "wow - Warsaw dominated the time of possession 40:31 to 7:47" but... that doesn't do Concord justice. Darn near every time they touched the ball, they scored immediatedly. They only snapped the ball 20 times on offense on Friday night! And 4 of those snaps were as follows below: 1 snap was a QB kneel down before halftime 1 snap was a holding penalty 1 snap was a punt 1 snap was the desperation, final play of the game. Concord 1st drive - 5 plays, INT Concord 2nd drive - 2 plays, 79 yard TD run Concord 3rd drive - 0 plays, 93 yard kickoff return TD Concord 4th drive - 1 play, 73 yard TD run Concord 5th drive - 3 plays, fumble Concord 6th drive - 1 play, QB kneel down Concord 7th drive - 3 plays, punt Concord 8th drive - 2 plays, 54 yard TD run Concord 9th drive - 1 play, final play of the game Meanwhile - Warsaw almost perfectly executed "Bart Ball" with the exception of 1 fumble and I think 1 offensive penalty. They converted a handful of 4th downs to extend LONG drives, including the first drive of the second half that ate up over 10 minutes and then their final drive of the game to score the go ahead touchdown that ate up 9 minutes. People can complain about how boring that type of offense can be, but I disagree. When it is run nearly flawlessly, it is a joy to watch. The Tigers took advantage of a huge Concord turnover right before halftime that allowed them to only be down 21-17, when the Minutemen easily could have made it a 28-10 lead instead. Do yourself a favor and rewatch this classic. Sports Michiana, with northern Indiana legends Chuck Freeby, Bo Hundt, and Ang Di Carlo, called an excellent game. https://www.ihsaatv.org/?B=1543571

Thanks for the link.

860 total yards of offense last Friday during the Sectional Championship game, Memorial with 460 yards and HH with an even 400 yards. Both teams had incredible plays to move the ball down the field. And for the most important statistic, Patriot Burgers eaten, a total of 2.

South Putnams will have a running clock. I swear to God they will

Hey now, we get two weeks to prepare for Northwestern...mattered so much last time against Illinois. 🥲

That is the impact of the "rolling" two-year cycle. Cathedral earned 1 point last year and 0 points this season. That is not enough to stay in 6A so they drop down to 5A.

Yes, I would. I generally pick against p/p schools at every opportunity.

Taylor is a very solid team and came out with a good gameplan. They have very good team speed that was too much for Pioneer. Pioneer held them to 80 yards and zero points in the first half and forced a couple of turnovers. Panthers got inside the Taylor 20 3-4 times and only came out with 6 points. Kudos to Taylor and #12, he was a stud on offense and defense.

Thank you for running the Pick-em again this year! Friday was an exciting game, regardless of score. Best of luck to the Bulldogs, and the new conference next season.

I have seen in the past others mention New Pal is a pass happy team. In reality when you listen to Coach Ralph's philosophy for his team that is not their identity. Their Identity is to be a Power Spread System with the inside or outside zone. When they do throw the ball it is off of RPO and the defense has likely given them a look to force the pass (number of players in the box). Coach Ralph gave an excellent Glazier talk about his Power Zone System. With Coach Ralph being a former Offensive Lineman at St. X (Cincy OH), North Carolina he takes great pride in his O-line and running the football. I would say Chatard under Coach Doyle (who loves to fling the ball around) is more of pass happy team than New Palestine. Chatard still runs the ball but their Offensive Scheme is a lot different under Coach Doyle than it was under Coach Lorenzano.

He ain’t lyin! Always stacked several deep all the way around.

Houston wore probably the most hideous NFL uniforms I have ever seen last night in the game against Detroit. They deserved to lose to the Lions while wearing those abominations.

If it's coming down to a field goal, both teams are about in the same boat by the numbers. Both have field goal kickers that are 50% prior to last week's outing. Both are 5 for 10. LCC's Henry has a long of 36 while Andrean's Cusick's longest was 38. Henry has two games where the field goals were in tight games ... 3A West Lafayette where he went 2-2 in LCC's 12-7 win and 1-2 in LCC's 17-6 win over RCHS. Cusick has two games also that were also tight ... a 3-0 win over Hanover Central and a 27-24 win over Hobart. Two of Henry's misses in the Logansport game were not on him and, if I recall correctly, he had a rush kick against Guerin that he missed. In warm-ups, he tends to be fairly consistent around the 40-yard mark. He's hit beyond 50 in warm-up, but not necessarily consistently. One advantage that LCC has this season is that they are 2-2 on 2-point tries including a game-winner in the last minute, in a 22-21 comeback win over Guerin. Under Nay, they also did the same thing to win the state title, 29-28, over Lutheran in 2019, so it's not an anomaly to the Knights if they have to do it again Friday night. The Knights have had the ability over the last four games to run both the one-minute offense at a constant rate as well as a more ground-oriented, clock and field killing offense too. Having the practice at both should add to their confidence, as well as their toolbox, heading into Friday.

Chatard by 13. Feel better? I'm rooting for New Pal, that's who I want to watch play East Noble in the state championship. I'm not concerned with victory laps like you are (see Next Level), if my prediction is wrong it's wrong. It won't be the first time. I'll be the first to congratulate New Pal and say I'm wrong. I'd never discount, arguably, the best pound for pound program in the state of Indiana. Good luck to both.

Both are 2A schools. I think LCC will win this one.

I think New Pal is the "older" more seasoned team. As a long time observer (who also was in the press box the last time these 2 teams played) I know that the whole "weak schedule" screed about New Pal is just that...a screed. It has never mattered as to their playoff performance. Chatard is relatively solid but my sense is much of their exceptional talent is underclass...and will mature over the next year or two (not to take ANYTHING away from the Seniors there). With that, I very much believe that the winner of this game is the favorite at LOS.

Yes bring lawn chair. Both endzones and most sidelines filled with lawn chairs and people standing. Its like that every game. Just some alot more than others lol.

On an Apple device, in the bottom of the URL bar at the bottom of the window there is a button like this: AA Click it, and select "request desktop website."

Congrats go out to the Lutheran Saints, as they won the Sectional Title over Monrovia. Good Luck the rest of the season to the Saints, as they are the lone ICC team remaining. also Congrats go out to Kdets89 as he has won this seasons ICC pickem. Thanks everyone for playing.

If you're on mobile use the "desktop site" in your options. Cleared it up for me

I think 32-0...

Football ✅️

Center Grove held a slim 17-14 lead over Franklin Central last night at half....and then the flood gates opened 2nd half. CG vs WC BB vs LN couple of what should be outstanding regional games in the 6A south bracket

Sir, I’m not equating it to anything especially not interested in expected outcomes vs a coach from the past period. Looking at in the present day, Penn got thumped like I expected with a running clock. I believe CP rolls Carroll next week also.

The long, hard road to Judson A sexual championship edition Written, edited, and dictated by Spanky Harper. Deep is muh love. I have had a hard time kickin the wyld turkey cuz muh love runs deep. I had a thing for this woman named ella sue n boy did muh love run deep. I grew up lovin blueJay football. It was all i knew at times. All i had. And muh love runs deep. Winning never gets old. I get old. Root allen looks old as hell these days. But winning never seems to age a day. Its forever youthful. The faces change. The jersey numbers change. A lot of things change in this life. But somethings never change. Death, taxes, and Bluejay Football. Spankin By the Numbers 17 & 1- Coach Lambert’s record in the sectionals since taking over as head coach for the Bluejays in 2019. 4- Sectional 41 Titles in row for the Bluejays. Back2back2back2shermanback 5- The number of Sectional Titles for the Bluejays since 2019. 17- Sectional Titles for the Bluejays all-time. 2 cents with Spanky harper-keep the change. North Judson set records tonite. Most points in a season. Most rushing yards. Most total yards. We’re not done yet. Pioneer- you broke muh heart. I had a hankering for gas station chicken. See ya at home next year. I expect it will be for a conference championship. Triton- tuff season. Weird season. Like really weird. They were a tough team. 59 was a dude. I look forward to not having to travel to Bourbon for a regular season game next year. North Miami- congratulations. Whats on the menu this week? Chicken salad? Pizza? stank burgers? This week the jays will travel to somewhere in Howard county. If muh PO clears we are pregaming at Big Daddy’s north end of the mo. they have a killer buffet and all the busch lite you can handel. See yins in hoco.

Pioneer had major issues with Taylor's speed. Rans couldn't outrun anyone tonight. Taylor's D is tough. I was impressed that Winamac threw for 126 and their main back ran for 118. It definitely didn't look like they did that much. Good for those Taylor kids. After how they treated Xavier Adriano, im a fan.

Can we agree that the initial decision to run Biden for re-election was the worst decision by a political party in the last 100 years?

That boy named Cody says Crown Points isn’t very impressive on Facebook