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Terry Peebles is the better coach and it isn't close.

Martinsville at BNL Columbus East at Mooresville 5A #9/#10 Floyd Central at 3A #2 Gibson Southern Jeffersonville at Lawrence Central 2A #8 Providence at New Albany Seymour at Greenwood

Martinsville at BNL Columbus East at Mooresville 5A #9/#10 Floyd Central at 3A #2 Gibson Southern Jeffersonville at Lawrence Central 2A #8 Providence at New Albany Seymour at Greenwood

Week 1 Games Floyd Central at Gibson Southern (-13.5) Heritage Hills at South Spencer (+30.5) North Posey at Southridge (-10.5) North Daviess at Washington Pike Central at Eastern Greene (-13.5) Castle at North (-10.5) Mater Dei at Central (+31.5) Memorial at Jasper (+14.5) Linton-Stockton vs. Riverton Parke Terre Haute South at Vincennes Lincoln (+27.5)

It doesn’t matter but I’d just wait till next year. They aren’t in the HHC yet. We can start that next year.

Attica at Faith Christians Carroll at Seegers Covington at Tri County Crawfordsville at Parke Heritage North Central at North Vermillions Riverton Parke - Linton at Rose Hulmans Southmont at Fountain Centrals West Vigo at South Vermillions

Floyd Central at Gibson Southern (-13.5) => This means Gibson is favored by 13.5 points. Heritage Hills at South Spencer (+30.5) => This means HH is favored by 30.5 points. North Posey at Southridge (-10.5) North Daviess at Washington (-7.5) Pike Central at Eastern Greene (-13.5) Castle at North (-10.5) Mater Dei at Central (+31.5) Memorial at Jasper (+14.5) Linton-Stockton vs. Riverton Parke (+28.5) Terre Haute South at Vincennes Lincoln (+27.5)

Week 1 Schedule Martinsville at BNL Columbus East at Mooresville 5A #9/#10 Floyd Central at 3A #2 Gibson Southern Jeffersonville at Lawrence Central 2A #8 Providence at New Albany Seymour at Greenwood

I really don’t care either way.

Welcome back!

We have lost production from last years team no dout about it. You don't just shrug off losing Zach Foster at QB after 30 passing TDs and 11 rushing TDs. Colin Scherer had 15 TDs and led the team at 9.5 tackles per game. Noah Kuester had 14 receiving TDs. Defensively, Gunner Alexander averaged 8.1 tackles per game, Brody Klem had 7 sacks and Lloyd Sellers somehow finished with 10 INTs. So there is definitely production to replace. The biggest question is obviously QB, where senior Caden Rochleau takes over. He's 6'4", around 195 and a really good athlete with amazing arm talent. He's been stuck behind Foster, so he doesn't have a lot of varsity QB numbers, but he isn't a kid they are just throwing out there. He's been in the program, has played varsity football and has handled the punting duties. He can really run, and physically he gives Hart quite a bit to work with. The skill positions are probably why I'm most optimistic about the offense. Peyton Johnson is back at WR after averaging 40.2 receiving yards per game and catching 5 TDs as a junior. He should become the #1 guy this year and gives Rochleau a big, physical and experienced target on the outside. Elijah Ortiz is another big, athletic senior target at around 6'4", 200. Then they have a different type of athlete inside. Luke Mallory and Ayden Bodrie are both quick, athletic slot guys who give them some versatility and the ability to get the ball to guys in space. Bodrie can also play QB. Makade Malone is another young athlete I think people are going to hear quite a bit about. They can use him in several different ways. So I really like the mix they have at receiver — size and physicality outside with Johnson and Ortiz and quickness and athleticism inside with Mallory and Bodrie, plus Malone as another versatile young weapon. They also have experience at RB. Eli Foster is back after averaging 58.8 rushing yards per game last season, and Tucker Deputy had 4 rushing TDs as a sophomore. So Rochleau shouldn't have to carry the offense by himself. There are quite a few different guys Hart can get the football to. The question offensively is the OL. They have to replace three starters, and I think how quickly that group comes together probably determines just how good this offense can be. There are enough weapons to score points if the OL gives Rochleau time and they can run the ball consistently. That's probably my biggest question with this team. Defensively, they lost some huge individual production, but I think something that gets overlooked is that GS has returning varsity experience at every level of the defense. Up front, Khale Campbell is the obvious guy. He had 5 sacks as a junior last year after having 7 as a sophomore, so he's already been a productive varsity defensive lineman for multiple seasons. Isaac Peach gets the start at DT and has previous varsity experience as well. There will also be some younger/newer varsity pieces in that rotation, including Lincoln Plasse, Gavin McEllhiney and Reed Luecke. At linebacker, Ian Maikranz returns after averaging 5.6 tackles per game last season. There are returning contributors and some younger guys around him who have already gotten varsity snaps as well. And there is returning varsity experience in the secondary, including Elijah Ortiz. So I think that's an important distinction with this defense: They aren't inexperienced. They're replacing production. There's a difference. Scherer and Alexander made a ton of tackles. Klem generated pressure. Sellers' 10 interceptions obviously aren't going to be replaced by one guy. Those plays have to come from somewhere else this year. But Hart isn't putting 11 kids on the field who have never played varsity football. There are experienced pieces at DL, LB and DB to build around. It's more a matter of returning contributors moving into larger roles than completely starting over. That's one of the reasons I'm probably a little more optimistic about GS than someone who just looks at the names that graduated. The other reason is simply where the program is at this point. Hart has won 145 in 14 seasons games at GS, and this isn't really a program anymore where one graduating class leaves and you're starting over. Last year's team went 12-2, won the PAC Large School, sectional and regional. There are kids who have spent a couple of years practicing against and playing behind some very good football players who are now getting their opportunity. That doesn't guarantee they'll be as good as the guys they replace, but the program has gotten pretty good at developing the next group. And we'll find out a LOT Friday night because they aren't exactly easing into 2026. Floyd Central comes to Fort Branch after going 10-2 and winning a 5A sectional last year. The two-deep their coach supplied for Friday is ridiculously experienced — 18 of their 22 listed offensive and defensive starting positions are seniors. So I'm definitely not saying GS doesn't have questions. They do. They could lay an egg Friday, but I know by game 9 they are going to be a force to recon with. QB: New starter, but a senior with really good physical tools, a big arm, good speed and varsity experience. OL: Three new starters. Probably my biggest question. Skill positions: I think this could be a real strength. Size outside, quickness in the slots, experience at RB and several guys who can make plays with the football. Defense: Lost a ton of production, but has returning varsity experience at every level. That's why I think they should be good. Whether "good" means another deep tournament run is obviously something nobody knows in August. But this doesn't look like a rebuild to me. It looks much more like a good program replacing some outstanding seniors with kids who have been waiting behind them. If the offensive line comes together (a place where I have never seen us struggle) and Rochleau plays well, I think the offense has a chance to be very good. If the returning defensive guys such as Campbell, Peach, Maikranz, Ortiz and others make the jump from contributors to leaders, I think the defense has a chance to be pretty good too. They start the year #2 in 3A, which is probably about where they belong based on what the program has done and what they have coming back. As we all know preseason polls are a lot to do with last years results. Friday night against a veteran, defending 5A sectional champion should tell us quite a bit on where we are at so far. Yes...SS has a lot of driving to do Friday.

“Because they are good” isn’t a compelling argument. We all know that they are usually pretty good. I’m asking what they have back this year. Simple question that is apparently too difficult for a couple of you. Also, what 5A sectional are you talking about? My team is in 4A.

Three very good games this week with the potential of a fourth. @ThePrince we'll see how you're feeling after week 1 😂 Attica at Faith Christian - I've heard a lot about both teams recently and that makes me lean towards Faith. Attica will be in this one the first half but after that I see Faith Christian pulling away. 30-20 Carroll at Seeger - I believe Carroll is returning most of their team that went 7-4 last year. Their schedule is tougher than Seeger's so I'm picking Carroll. Plus I've heard Carroll qb is the real deal. I think Seeger will keep it close and I also think they are the second best team in the WRC. 35-20 Carroll. Covington at Tri County - Covington wins big. I agree that it would be nice to replace this game with someone a little tougher but I also see it from the other side as well. Easy week 1 match ups are nice too. Crawfordsville at Parke Heritage - All PH here. Cville lost a lot from last years team and PH just reloaded. I look for them to dominate the whole game in cruise to a week 1 win. 42-21 North Central at North Vermillion - NC is going to score a lot of points this year. This head coach knows what he's doing. NC wins big 54-12 Riverton Parke - Linton at Rose Hulman - I LOVE THIS MATCH UP. Two teams that will line them up and say were bigger and stronger and were going to run it down your throats. I've heard the kid playing qb for RP is "electric" They've been doing a little spread with him and that makes them even more dangerous. I think this is the year for RP. I know their community is even closer after everything they have been through the past couple of months. RP wins 30-21 Southmont at Fountain Central - This is one I'm not too sure about. Both teams graduated a lot of key players last year. Southmont is young but still big and physical. I went to the FC scrimmage last week and was not impressed. Hoping that was just an off night for the Mustangs and they can keep with one close. I'll take the Mounties barely beating out FC. 28-22 West Vigo at South Vermillion - This game will be close. WV has their guy in Coach Crabtree and he will get the program rolling in the right direction. It may take a couple of years but I'm going to assume he has some studs out there right now. SV will be better. They might have the second best backfield in the conference (behind RP). I'll take WV only because of Crabtree 28-14.

We have used both for home and away. Depends on the uniform combination and what helmet color the other team is wearing.

Glad you are doing the poll in Temp’s absence. Gives us all something to talk about. Just make sure that 24 of the 25 teams in the poll are Indy based… Rest of the state should be playing flag football

Caston over Whitko. Light at the end of the tunnel still a ways off in South Whitley. Logansport over Peru. Could get ugly. I understand the longest series in the state thing. But does this still really have to be played? Only thing keeping the TRC from a true round robin. Maconaquah over Sheridan in a somewhat close one. Chance of rain could change that though. North Miami over Northfield. Even though NM graduated 10,000 career yards of offense and 4 OL, they remain fairly old this season. Coach/AD Grant has installed a winning mindset throughout the whole athletics program. I think it’s enough to get by NF in a tight one Northwestern over Manchester. Purple Tigers went with a lot of sophomores last year. I look for them to be much improved in year 2 in the fast paced offense Pioneer over Cass in probably the best played game on the week 1 slate. Cass should have a nice year. The program that is Pioneer is a machine. Rochester over Southwood. Zebras are just bigger, faster, and stronger. SW will probably get better as the season progresses, but power L/R won’t be quite humming along for week 1.

The issue with the Co-op model is it seems as if the combined enrollment would take, so lets say, Tri Central Co-op'd with Tipton: TC sends maybe 9 total players who want to play, awesome, right, however, that model stated then for enrollment classification purposes, Tipton would have to absorb the ENITRE TC population number, so lets say, Tipton is 475 students (no idea, but I know middle pack 2a). TC may have 350 students: Tipton new Classification number would be 825 and now in 3a. Why would Tipton be willing to have that happened to allow 9 football players to join . I believe that is why that model way it was proposed, probably led to the fail vote, zero knowledge of the reason by it was shot down personally, but if I am an ADMIN in those area Principal Meetings where many times these things come up, cannot imagine many of those folks willing to allow that to affect their schools to that degree. EASIEST SOLUTION: Really is from meeting I have attended: 8 MAN FOOTBALL : It is a VERY good option to keep kids playing, even schools to have JV games go to 8 man instead of cancelling.

Honest opinion... Go away from the Limited Contact period and back to a "schedule" for each sports season. Limited contact periods are also pushing kids to focus on 1 sport. Large schools (4A-6A) it could work (because pure numbers you are going to have more athletes).. Smaller schools, you need any and all athletes to play multiple. When they have to choose between basketball camps/tourneys/workouts and football workouts/7 on 7/lineman challenges/etc. (just an example) athletes can only do so much. Kids also don't want to spend 6 hours (between a couple of sports, conditioning/weight lifting) at school all summer either. I will say this, our athletic department does a really good job of trying to balance the sports... I.E. there isn't a volleyball workout the same time as girls basketball... But there are a lot of kids that don't want to spend 6 hours (between a couple of sports workouts/practices, conditioning/weightlifting) at school all summer either.