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I doubt if Triton with Schuh could beat AC. And I suppose when you're one of the final 4 teams in the tourney, you've made a "deep tournament run." So by that definition Triton, NJ or Pioneer could still make a deep run in 1A. But I agree, I don't think anyone is beating AC or Lutheran.

Personal observations as we head into the final 1/3rd of the season... Culver - I know they lost some key folks to graduation last year, but I didn't expect them to be this bad. The Cavs have always been a hard-nosed gritty team. Not so much this year. I don't see them winning a game this season. Caston - They have some senior leadership and talent, but their schedule to date has been brutal! They've played 6 games and their opponents have a combined 7 losses!! That's just crazy! Their next two games are winnable, and - depending on the draw - they have a chance to win a couple of sectional games. Winamac - I think these guys are an improving football team. They played NJ pretty well and won easily last week. I wouldn't be surprised if they upset West Central this week. And I think Triton better be careful or the Warriors could surprise them too. Pioneer - The surprise of the season in my opinion! I figured they would be improved, but to compete toe-to-toe with the best in the conference is a shock to me. At full strength this is a very solid team! Still a couple of tough games ahead, but they seem to be gearing up for a post-season run. A sectional title wouldn't surprise me. Triton - We can all play the "what if" game. But at the end of last season I was very excited for this year's prospects. The loss of Schuh was such a big blow to the Trojan's outlook for this season. Still a very solid team, but not one that can make a deep tournament run in my opinion. With three games to go, they could still win a share of the HNAC title, but it would require some really great performances. Not impossible, but I don't see it. North Judson - I've thought all along the Jays would be in the conference title hunt. But they haven't really shown me that they are a step above the pack in the conference yet. They have a chance to prove that in the next three weeks with Triton, LaVille and Pioneer on the docket. They could win all three or lose all three. Their season hinges on the their performance down the stretch. LaVille - They are proving to me that they belong near the top of the conference. I wasn't a believer early on, but they seem to be coming together and playing some good football at this point. Their offense hasn't put up the numbers we saw from last year's team, but the D is solid and will keep them in any contest. I still don't think they are near the top of 2A, but they have a legit shot to win their sectional. Knox - Just need to get past Pioneer and Triton to earn the HNAC title and an undefeated regular season. These games may be competitive, but I don't see the Redskins losing either one. And good for them! The new NSC is going to challenge them in the years ahead. That's a very solid football conference they are joining!

Agree. I don't think any of these games is a blowout. Harrell's Predictions: jh PREDICTION: Caston, 35-21. jh PREDICTION: Knox, 31-21. jh PREDICTION: Glenn, 24-21. jh PREDICTION: Triton, 28-27. jh PREDICTION: West Central, 35-24.

It’s a shame these teams didn’t get to play this game at full strength. There was a lot at stake. Still a chance for the winner to get a share of the HNAC title. Some good games again next week. The next few weeks should be a lot of fun for us fans.

What a gutsy performance by the Trojans tonight! After giving up a big score on the 2nd play of the game, they buckled down and scored the next 20 points! All that with a 3rd string running back. (Where was Prater?) Took advantage of a couple of 4th quarter Pioneer turnovers to ride it out and finish off the Panthers. That's a quality win for Triton. Close win for Knox to keep their conference title hopes alive, and a competitive game for the Comets! Almost pulled off the big upset!

That doesn't include the Culver game where I think Shively was 5/6 in the first half. I don't think he kicked the PATs while the JV was playing the second half. He's a skilled kicker! Just a couple of lapses in concentration, I would guess. But I wouldn't hesitate to run him out there for a 40+ yarder if the situation called for it.

Shively has missed one in every game he's played in this year. So I'll take Triton.

Caston at North White - Are Caston's Sr backers good enough to corral NW Sr QB Quasebarth? According to MaxPreps he averages about 13 yards per carry and they put up a lot of points! I'm guessing they'll slow him a little, but probably not enough to get a win over the 12th ranked Vikings. Vikings 28-14 Culver at Winamac - Who gets their first win of 2023? After watching the Cavaliers last Friday, I just can't imagine them beating anyone. And apparently the Warriors put up a fight with the Jays. I'm taking Winamac comfortably. Warriors 34-13 Knox at LaVille - One of two good games this week! The Lancers received a 1st place vote in the 2A AP poll this week. Are they really that good? I'm not convinced yet, but they can prove they belong closer to the top of 2A with a win this Friday night. Two weeks ago I said the Knox / Judson game would determine the conference champion and I'm sticking to that. Knox wins this one to solidify their place atop the strongly competitive HNAC. Redskins 21-17 South Central at North Judson - Likely frustrated by their performance last week, the Jays will take it out on the Satellites this week. SCUM isn't a bad football team, but they'll take a shellacking by a worked up North Judson team on Friday. Is it homecoming night at North Judson-San Pierre High School this week? If so, they'll celebrate with a big win. Blue Jays 42-7 Triton at Pioneer - The second of the good games this week! Both have shown signs of being in the upper ranks of the conference, but both teams have skeptics. So which team is going to prove it belongs among the 1A top 10, and who ends up licking their wounds after this one? I will be shocked if one team dominates this contest. It should come down to execution versus mistakes. Pioneer can be tough to stop when things are running smoothly! Though I hope I'm wrong, I have to take the Panthers at home. In Bourbon I take the Trojans. In Royal Center it's Pioneer in a squeaker. Panthers 21-20

https://team1sports.com/pioneertv/?B=590633

I watched some of the Pioneer / Hammond game and I must say I'm not at all surprised by the Panther win! I think there are at least 3, and maybe 4 other HNAC teams that would beat HC. Pretty sad for a 5A program. And the fact that they won their first 4 games... go figure. Give Pioneer credit for sure, but after watching it I'm not sure that was even an upset.

There should be some good games this week! At least one conference team will get their first win of the season. And I wouldn't be surprised if it's two! Here are your John Harrell predictions for this week: jh PREDICTION: North White, 38-24. jh PREDICTION: Winamac, 35-21. jh PREDICTION: LaVille, 24-23. jh PREDICTION: North Judson, 38-17. jh PREDICTION: Pioneer, 28-21.

Definitely agree about the kicking game. It makes a huge difference when you have to start every drive at the 20! I wonder if Plummer could get some D1 looks as a kicker? Probably hasn’t kicked enough field goals in high school to get the attention, but with some dedicated coaching you have to wonder if he could do it.

Just going by my own eye test folks. LaVille barely squeaked past Bremen and Triton and neither of those teams are at the top of their classes. They just don't have that impressive win yet. The next three weeks will tell the tale. Right now I would see the Lancers beating Glenn, but probably not Knox or NJ. Even then, they would still have a good shot at a sectional title if they can get past Andrean, who appears to be down a bit this year. Triton is solid with Shively playing, but not a top 10 in 1A yet. They'll need to beat Pioneer and compete with Knox and NJ for me to put them higher than about 15 in 1A. And unless they beat Pioneer they'll end up the bottom half of the conference. With a win this week Pioneer moves up in my mind, and that speaks well for LaVille too. North Judson is definitely a top 10 1A team and I think they should win out and probably win the regional again this year. We'll see if Triton has anything to say about that. I hope so, but I'm skeptical. As I've said before, I think Knox runs the table and wins conference. But their sectional has too many good programs in it. I don't see them bringing home the hardware this year, although they are capable! Just my own thoughts midway through the season. Don't take me too seriously! I certainly don't!! Just throwing out some comments for discussion. That's what this place is all about, isn't it?

I think we all know it has and does happen. And as I said, I wouldn't be surprised if Pioneer wins this year. I'm just saying it shouldn't happen.

I'm going to be out of town the rest of the week, so I'll make my picks today: Hammond Central at Pioneer - I think Pioneer could win this one, but I'm going to take the Wolves in a close one. A 5A school should never lose to a 1A school in football! Never! 21-14 Glenn at Knox - Another rivalry game for the Redskins this week, and a preview of the new NSC. I think Knox is the better team and they win this one at home. 28-14 LaVille at Caston - Sorry LaVille supporters, but your Lancers are not the 3rd best 2A team in Indiana. The pollsters have it wrong this week. A very solid team, yes. But there have got to be at least 10 2A teams better. No trouble with Caston this week though. 42-7 Triton at Culver - Shively should be back, but the Trojans could win this one without him. Triton has a solid sophomore class that should compete for the conference title the next couple of years. Triton win this one comfortably. 38-0 Winamac at North Judson - No trouble for the Jays this week. But the running clock will keep the score from being crazy. 48-0

Friday, Sep. 15 Hammond Central at Pioneer, 7:30 pm Glenn at Knox, 7:30 pm LaVille at Caston ©, 7 pm Triton at Culver ©, 7 pm Winamac at North Judson ©, 7:30 pm Knox and Glenn is probably the only one that's close this week. Or does Pioneer have a chance to hang with Hammond?

Bremen 28 Triton 21 Final

Bremen 28 Triton 21 final Good effort by the short handed Trojans.

Shively is not playing, but Triton is hanging in there. 14-7 Bremen at the half.

Bremen 14, Triton 7 halftime

Shively posted on social media this morning that he would not be playing tonight. Bremen by 35.

Bremen at Triton - With Triton's QB (safety) and fullback (linebacker) out of commission, the Trojans don't stand a chance in this one. Add the motivation from the passing of Bremen's long-time football coach Don Bunge, and this has the makings of a rout. I see a running clock before it's all done. Maybe a late score by Triton. Bremen 42-6 Culver at West Central - Culver isn't very good. The Trojans have begun the season with some momentum, winning their first three. I think WC takes this comfortably. West Central 28-8 North Judson at Knox - Definitely the game of the week! And I think it's the conference game of the season. Long-time rivals vying for bragging rights AND a conference title. All the makings of a classic high school football battle! My gut says the Redskins finally play up to their potential as a 3A school and hold off the Jays for the win. Knox solidifies themselves as the conference front-runner in their final season. Knox 21-14 Pioneer at Caston - The Comets have a decent defensive front, and their inside backers move well and bring the hammer. But the execution of the Pioneer offense will wear them down and eventually break things open. Not a blowout until the second half. But I'm taking the Panthers. Pioneer 33-14 Winamac at LaVille - Allen or no Allen... no problem for the Lancers in this one. No way the Warriors will be able to execute 80 yard drives, which is required against LaVille. The Lancers run away with this one. LaVille 45-0

Friday, Sep. 8 Bremen at Triton, 7 pm Culver at West Central, 7 pm North Judson at Knox ©, 8 pm Pioneer at Caston ©, 7 pm Winamac at LaVille ©, 7:30 pm In my humble opinion, this week will determine who wins the HNAC. Big game in Knox!

Sorry to hear of Coach's passing. I had the privilege of playing for him in the late 70's. A Bremen icon for sure!