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“Merrillville Wins 5A Championship — Cody Parkhurst Vindicated!”

I finished 3rd out 3 on Wheel of Fortune, I got nothing Win next year and we have to bump you up !!!

The satisfaction of knowing I can hold my own against some of the big dogs on the GID is reward enough!

Yes sir. That 7 points they put up in the 4th quarter down 45-0 was schemed to perfection.

And then they stick around Saturday and challenge the Westfield/Brownsburg winner for state supremacy (a la Wrestlemania 9). (If you get that reference, you had a great childhood.)

That is what Westfield has done all year. Solid sound defense, run the football and throw if needed. Carmel got Westfield in week 2 of the season. Carmel was much improved and they threw up 34 points against Westfield. Since week 2 the most points given up by Westfield was 21 against Avon. Avon despite their 6-5 record could score some points (they racked up 47 points against rival Brownsburg). Even Brownsburg who has been able to score at will on anyone was held to their lowest point total "14" against Westfield. Westfield gives up yardage and some plays and sometimes it takes a few for the defense to figure out what the offense is doing, but eventually they make adjustments force a turnover or create a stop and they play really well in the second half of games defensively. In all honesty for the best possible competitive 6A State Championship game it is probably best to have Brownsburg playing Westfield. Westfield IMHO has the best shot at slowing Brownsburg's Offense and possible sneaking out a win. I think Carroll (FW) is a fantastic team with some great players but I think they would have been way over matched if they were to play Brownsburg. I mean that as no slight to Carroll but more to how good Brownsburg has looked all year. Outside of a 14-10 win at Westfield and the 55-47 win at Avon (can't stress enough some don't understand how bitter this rivalry is as the towns are next to each other), Brownsburg has looked to be unchallenged. The only team I think can challenge them is Westfield because 1.) they play terrific defense and run the ball well 2.) they are very familiar with Brownsburg. Any other team I think would have been doomed before stepping foot into Lucas Oil Stadium.

I am willing to cede that the HCC is competitive in 6a (3 state championships in 25 years [including the one happening this week]) Thats the bar though until then nobody else is catching up and there is no gap closing

Tough day at the office for JJ

You won't be ducking from me as you're 100% spot on. Kudos for being the first to bring this topic to our attention. It took me about 6 months to process, but I'm fully on board. I'd also point out that the best coaches are probably drawn to the large suburban schools first, then programs like Warren Central and Ben Davis second. That pretty much leaves schools like Northrop to hope to find that diamond in the rough.

Looks like Sarratt and Kamara good to go against the Boilers. Glad they are returning. Drew Evans...no word, so I would guess he's out https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47088728/no-2-indiana-expects-elijah-sarratt-mikail-kamara-back-vs-purdue Evans has missed the past three games after suffering an undisclosed injury at practice. Cignetti said he was expecting to be updated on Evans' injury later Monday. "We'll know more (about Evans) today," Cignetti said. "Him and the rest of them are working hard to get back on the field." If Indiana wins Friday to keep the Old Oaken Bucket, the Hoosiers will complete the first perfect regular season in school history, earn the program's first Big Ten championship game berth and likely lock up a playoff spot for the second straight year.

Great insight...I know Coach Mann will have some excellent future opportunities.

Its actually more homogeneous than it used to be....20 years ago it was a handful of MIC schools that were at that far top end. Now there are several MIC, HCC, Far north schools all well above 3k and some at or north of 4k. Carmel at 5000+ is the real outlier.

I always wonder if a program is in good shape/trending upwards, why a coach is “let go”?

I enjoyed getting to know and working with Russ these last three seasons. He's a good guy, and he has a fun and different way of looking at things. I think he'd admit that it didn't end exactly like he thought it would here. I'll always appreciate the work he did that first season. That team was expected to be good, and it still had to complete a gauntlet run to the state championship. It was full of landmines. That was a fun run. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the highlight. I think the arrow points way up for the program. He's leaving it in a pretty good position to move forward. We'll see what the next coach could do. I remember meeting him for the first time. He was like, "You're BDGiant93!" Anyway, he's a friend, and I'll leave it there.

Stinky, Stink, Stink 1.2..3.... this is not shocking to anyone especially me! One of the best programs in the State you see After year one, Mann it was a disaster, and all should agree.

I don't know exactly what this is in reference to - but RIP ol Coach - he was one of a kind.

6A - Brownsburg goes back to back, talk of a dynasty begins 5A - New Pal rolls the Pirates D1 roster 4A - Dwenger beats Roncalli to win another state title 3A - Luers wins first 3A state title 2A - Andrean wins a tight game to capture another state title 1A - Pioneer rolls again

So at the beginning of the season schools like Ben Davis, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, and Crown Point weren't even in the conversation? I think any team with more than a 1% chance of winning should be in the conversation, probably includes Warren Central.

6A: Westfield Avenges Regular Season Loss, First 6A Title 5A: Merrillville Shocks Everyone, Takes Down New Pal 4A: Saints Go Marching on in Shutout Win over Roncalli 3A: Luers Wins First 3A Title 2A: Andrean Beats Brownstown, Claims 4th State Title 1A: Pioneer Does it Again!

Why would "parity" not benefit Central Indiana? You are looking at the situation COMPETELY wrong. Central Indiana is the standard bearer with regard to FB in most of 5A and so far the past decade in 6A. It does nothing for them to 'level up' to Northern IN. It does EVERYTHING for Northern IN to 'level up' to Central Indiana. Northern IN doesn't deserve to get a "participation trophy acceptation" in order to get to level of the HCC or MIC. They need to play stronger competition as well as play those in the HCC and MIC on their 'open weeks'.

I agree- I wasn’t exactly sure what the rule stated (why I started the thread asking for clarification)- but am a little disappointed it hasn’t been further explained/or just admitted- “yup, we blew that one in a BIG WAY in a BIG GAME.” We’re human, it can happen…but feels a bit like a “cover for your own” type of deal in the responses.

As a Lutheran, let me humbly apologize for the title association. I really don't want or NEED to again start the Crusades. Lest of all get those German guys that taught me for years all riled up again over thangs! It was bad enough dealing with the German women that may as well have been roughens themselves.

I think you mentioned @temptation was biased towards the HCC. I think you are a biased towards the true north, just a little bit. I am biased towards neither and could care less about 6A football, so I will clear this up. Based off of history the HCC is better and will continue to be better for a while still. There will not be a state champion from the true north in the next 5 years, probably not even the next 10 years because none of them will play each other or leave their conference to play an independent schedule against the Indy schools all year. I think you mentioned Westfield is a 4 quarter team. This is correct because they have to play 4 quarters all year. This is not the case for the true north teams and their schedule. This is the reason they can compete for a half and then lose at the end of the game and will continue to lose for the years to come unless something is changed. So while he might be biased, temp is also correct, the HCC and other Indy schools in the north are better and will stay better than the true north. This is settled now. If you can do this 360 more times that would be impressive, but it isn't needed. Sorry for spoiling the off season @Rodney, gonna have to come up with something else to talk about all off season because this is a dead end.