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If you seed all 8 teams, the worst two would always play a 1 and 2 seed, making for ridiculously lopsided games in round one. Not so if you seed the top 2 and draw the remaining teams. A zero win team would have a 71% chance of NOT playing a 1 or 2 seed in round one. Best of both worlds.

Seed one and two. Draw the rest. It's the best of both worlds. We set the stage for a great championship game, and we allow the worst teams a chance to draw an opponent they can compete with in round one. And if we can seed a 12 person wrestling weight class then surely we can figure out how to identify the two best in an 8 team sectional.

I've got it finishing this way... Judson 6-0 - They still have LaVille and Pioneer, so it's not a given by any means. But from what I saw in games against Triton, I think Judson is better than both. Their speed is a problem and their defense is good enough. Winamac 5-0 - I haven't seen them yet, but they shouldn't lose to Caston or Triton. (Although I could see Triton giving them a game if we have everyone back.) But if you haven't beaten any other team in the top half of the conference (when at full or near-full strength), then it's hard to declare you're the best team. Pioneer 5-2 - A strange year in Royal Center. This team isn't nearly as solid as Pioneer teams the last 10+ years have been. But Pioneer losing a step just brings them back down closer to the rest of the field. Still among the best, just not head-and-shoulders above everyone else. I don't think Pioneer's D is good enough to stop the Blue Jays. Triton ran for 134 against them. NJ will go for 200+. LaVille 4-2 - I really have no idea how good LaVille would be at full strength. Have they even had all their starters play a game together yet? This week's game with Judson should be a good one! LaVille D is probably the best in the conference, but I don't think they can score enough to beat the Jays. It's a shame we had to deal with this COVID stuff this year. I would have enjoyed seeing these four teams battle it out at full strength for the conference title. This is without a doubt the most balanced year we've had in the HNAC since its inception. Judson and Winamac should meet in the sectional and that will determine the best team, though I realize they likely won't name a conference champion. If I recall correctly, last year Pioneer and LaVille were both unbeaten in conference after the regular season and they met in the sectional as well, Pioneer coming away the undisputed better team.

After 6 weeks, it feels like their isn't as big a gap from top to bottom in the conference this year. Of course Pioneer has always been head-and-shoulders better than everyone else. But I felt like the second tier teams were always a lot better than the bottom dwellers. It feels a little different this year. Last Friday Pioneer and Winamac - two of the conference's best - only put up 26 & 28 points against what most would say are a couple of the conference's bottom dwellers. The largest margin of victory in any conference game all year has been 36 points. Not exactly what we're used to seeing. I don't think there will be any conference blow outs this week. Knox will play Pioneer tough. And I think Triton has a chance to beat Judson. I expect a close game on the Triton Tundra this week. Culver and Caston should be a good one. It's really too bad we haven't had a chance to see everyone playing at full strength this year. Could have been a really exciting year.

Pioneer scores right before the half to take a 14-0 lead over Triton into halftime.

Great use for my Capital One rewards points!! Ready for my adds to take a hike!

Those are nice words. But no one wins a game when they turn it over that much. Anthony Schuh is the running back you're talking about. He's a sophomore, but runs like a senior. He's big, fast, and has a great straight-arm in the open field. Very hard to bring down by one guy. Triton also has a soph quarterback and a young line. They obviously have a lot of stuff to clean up, but the future looks bright.

Was LaVille short some players tonight?

Six HNAC teams getting some votes in pre-season polls. This young conference is getting a reputation for playing some pretty good football, and not just by the top couple teams.

I feel like there are some coaches (or ADs, not sure which) in this league who have bought into the "participation trophy" mentality. They've messed up the MVP award more than once - see 2018 - and hand out all-conference based on each coach's list of favorites. Let's give the MVP to players who actually make a difference in game outcomes. And let's award all conference to the best players at each position - 1st and 2nd team like @Mayo77 said. Make the awards mean something! I don't care of you're the best player on your team, if you aren't one of the best at your position you should not be all-conference! (BTW - Sam Smith is a very good player and would definitely be on my 1st team all-conference at LB.)

Bremen chewed up yards and used up clock, which is what you have to do to have a chance against Pioneer. But they couldn’t finish drives. The Panthers were efficient on offense as they always are. Congrats on the 2A sectional title! What in the world happened to NJ? Wow great win for Winamac!

Me too! Wanted that from day 1!! They belong in the HNAC not the NIC.

Coachspeak for sure! 😁 But Bremen is a proud football program and they won't back down from anyone! (Unlike many of the HNAC teams who are beaten before they walk on the field against Pioneer.) I expect them to be extremely well prepared and excited for the chance to make a statement. My head tells me Pioneer should win handily. My hunch says it will be a great game into the 4th.

Friday, Nov. 6 Pioneer at Bremen, 7 pm Winamac at North Judson, 7:30 pm Does anyone think Bremen or Winamac will pull off the upset?

I'm looking forward to this one too! Since we play both of these schools every year, I can sort of get a feel for the programs. I would say Pioneer - as a small school program - is farther along than Bremen. They just seem to reload every year, regardless of what they lose to graduation. But Bremen has a good team this year, so we'll see if they can hang around. It will be up to Bremen's defense to keep the game within reach. I believe Pioneer scored touchdowns on every offensive possession against LaVille last Friday. And that was a one loss LaVille team giving up less than 10 points a game. Pioneer has also played a much more difficult schedule than Bremen (according to Sagarin). Curious to see what Bremen can do.

Friday, Oct. 30 Calumet at Knox - This is a rematch of last year's sectional final that the Redskins won by a TD. Calumet is just getting ramped up on their season and Knox is trying to relocate their mojo. By now I would think the QB situation should be settled and the Redskins should be humming again. I'm going with the home team in this one. Knox 28-21 Pioneer at LaVille - The Panthers have too much offensive firepower. They score on a very high percentage of their possessions and LaVille won't be able to extend enough drives to keep the game close. The only way to beat Pioneer is to keep the ball out of their hands. LaVille won't be able to do enough of that. Pioneer 44-14 Culver at North Judson - The Jays will cruise to another sectional title contest by handling the Cavs with ease. Culver rushed for over 400 yards last week! This week they won't break 100. North Judson 56-6 Triton at Adams Central - Triton's run defense has been pretty stout over the last several weeks. And run is usually what the Flying Jets do very well! I think Triton might slow down the Jets ground and pound offense a bit, but when the home team goes to the air, the Trojans will struggle. The Jets will pull away in the second half and get their shot at Southwood. Adams Central 35-13 Caston at Southwood - With everyone healthy the Comets would be severely outmatched in this one. With a couple of studs out, they will be totally overwhelmed! A step up for Caston this season, but it ends with a blow out loss to a COVID-beating Knights team. Southwood 69-0

Sorry, but I'm not drinking the Koolaid. Pioneer by at least 25. LaVille might get one, maybe two scores. The Panthers will score on at least 75% of their possessions. (8-9 possessions each) Do the math.

Great job by the HNAC last night! Good to see everyone pull off the W. I was impressed by the Trojans. They dominated Busco for 3 quarters. Wore out a little in the 4th and let the Eagles get a couple of scores, but overall a very good performance! Triton was Busco's first 1A opponent all year and I wonder if they might have come in a little flat. In any case, very proud of the guys last night! Winamac had a tight one, but it looks like everyone else took care of business pretty easily. Even Caston had a pretty nice lead in their game. Got a little closer in the 4th, but hats off to them for their first sectional win in a while. Pioneer at LaVille next week. Looking forward to that one!

Triton 24 Busco 14 Final

Triton 24. Busco 0 4th

Triton 7 Busco 0 half

Great article from the Indy Star about Pioneer's Lewellen twins. https://t.co/O6lV8KXa2l?amp=1 It's hard not to like your opponents once you get to know a little about them. Everyone has a story and they are all unique and interesting! I'm glad this story got told and wish I could hear many other stories about kids on other teams.

I've been hoping for a Bremen / Pioneer matchup since the Panthers moved up to 2A. We may get to see it if things go the Sagarin way.

I would expect half the HNAC teams to be playing for sectional titles on November 6, and at least 2 to claim titles. Triton and Caston are toast in Sectional 44, although the Comets could get a sectional win for the first time since 2014! The Trojans are a long shot against Busco, but I wouldn't use pen to write the team from Turtletown into the semis. Winamac and NJ should battle for the Sectional 41 title, eliminating Culver along the way. But it's Judson's to lose in my opinion. Pioneer and LaVille should get their 2020 meeting in the semis as the Panthers cruise to the Sectional 34 title. And Knox has a chance to claim the Sectional 25 crown if they can pull things together. They got a favorable draw.