FinePrint

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!

Caston will win some games this year! I was impressed with how physical they were and they have a couple very nice players. Triton was up 17-0 with 7:00 to go in the 1st quarter and Caston outplayed the Trojans for the remainder of the game. A very uninspired performance by Triton. But credit the Comets. They played hard.

If the line is THAT good, you could throw the art teacher back there and she could get 5 yards a crack!! Ha!! Seriously though, things look bright for the next few years for the Panthers. And with LaVille and Knox making their exit after this year, the path to the HNAC title is a lot easier.

Caston at Triton - The Trojans will have too much offensive firepower for the Comets to corral. Another long night for Caston fans. Triton 42-7 Knox at Culver - The Redskins will have too much offensive firepower for the Cavaliers to corral. A long night for Culver fans. Knox 42-0 North Judson at Culver Academy - I'm going with the Jays here. It could be close, but I see Knox and North Judson meeting next week with a lot on the line, including undefeated regular season records. North Judson 28-14 Pioneer at LaVille - Even though the Panthers are young, they remember the beatdowns their teams have received from the Lancers in the last two meetings. The boys from Royal Center will be ready for some revenge. I'm going with Pioneer and I'm not calling it an upset. Pioneer 27-24 Winamac at North White - Winamac has a history of putting up a lot of points on the Vikings D. But I think fortunes are reversed this year. Winamac will get their first points of the season, but in a losing effort. North White 28-13

As I watched the Triton / LaVille game Friday night, I saw something I had never seen in a high school game. LaVille attempted a "Fair Catch Kick" as time expired in the second quarter. Triton punted from deep in their own territory and the LaVille returner executed a fair catch at around the 50 yard line with 6 seconds left. LaVille informed the officials they wanted to attempt a free kick and lined up in kickoff formation where the ball was spotted on the field. The Triton defenders were placed 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and the LaVille kicker was given a chance to kick a free kick in an attempt to make a field goal. He was allowed to place the ball on a kickoff tee. The kick fell well short, but I suppose it was worth a try! Triton did have a return man deep, but the ball crossed the goal line, so I assume he was unable to return it by rule. Follow the link for Wikipedia's explanation of a fair catch kick. Interesting play! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick

Looks like there could be a couple of good games this week... Friday, Sep. 1 Caston at Triton ©, 7 pm Knox at Culver ©, 7:30 pm North Judson at Culver Academy, 7:30 pm Pioneer at LaVille ©, 7:30 pm Winamac at North White, 7 pm

The winner of the Knox / Judson game takes home the hardware. I wasn’t that impressed with LaVille. Triton had a handful of mistakes that cost them the game. LaVille wasn’t what we have seen out of LaPaz in the last few years.

LaVille 13 Triton 13 half

Friday, Aug. 25 Caston at North Judson - No trouble for Judson this week. They will roll over the Comets and prep for a more formidable opponent in Culver Academy next week. Blue Jays 49-0 Culver at South Central - After seeing South Central last Friday, I think they have enough offensively to score on the Cavs. I'm giving them the nod at home this week. Satellites 20-12 Knox at Maconaquah - Knox will be tested a bit this week by the Braves who put up a lot of points on Southwood last Friday night. But they should have enough to get another W. Redskins 28-21 Pioneer at Winamac - I won't be a believer in the Winamac Warriors until I see them win something. But I'm a believer that Pioneer is on their way back to the top of the conference. (Next year) Pioneer will beat Winamac with a methodical lesson in Wing T efficiency. Panthers 27-7 Triton at LaVille - I would like to think this is the game of the week, but I really don't know how good either teams is. I was surprised by LaVille's smallish offensive output at Bremen last week. Is the Lion's defense good? Or will it take the Lancers a few weeks to find their footing? Shively was good running the ball last week, but he'll need to add a passing game against LaVille to keep the Lancer defense honest. This should be a better game than Harrell is predicting. (jh PREDICTION: LaVille, 31-3) But I'll take LaVille at home. Lancers 21-17

Friday, Aug. 25 Caston at North Judson ©, 7:30 pm Culver at South Central, 7:30 pm Knox at Maconaquah, 7:30 pm Pioneer at Winamac ©, 7 pm Triton at LaVille ©, 7 pm

I just took a few minutes and watched the Pioneer / Cass replay. I have to say that I agree with your assessment of Cass. They aren't winning the TRC this year as some have speculated. They just didn't impress me at all. That said, Pioneer ran their wing T pretty well and that in itself will give some teams fits. But ya, the Panthers are a year away from being at the top of the HNAC. Also watched some of the Judson / Culver game and the Jays looked good. Granted, it's Culver they're playing. But they will definitely compete for the HNAC title this year.

Congrats to Pioneer on the win over Cass! In my mind, that instantly makes them a player for the HNAC crown. I don't think they'll win it, but they will be a factor in who does. Triton was not as explosive offensively as I expected them to be. They were solid and moved the ball well. I just thought we would see some home runs, but it was a lot of singles with a few doubles scattered in here and there. But disciplined teams can win a lot of games that way!

This first week is always a mystery. But here are my guesses for this week: LaVille at Bremen - Gotta go with the Lancers here. I doubt if Bremen is as bad as some of their supporters on here are saying. But LaVille should compete for the HNAC title and they'll get a good tune up for conference play this week. Lancers 28-14 Cass at Pioneer - I'm sure Pioneer will be improved this year, but I don't see them outscoring Cass this week. Kings 21-14 North Judson at Culver - Both of these teams lost some key spots to graduation, but I feel like NJSP probably has more to reload with. Blue Jays 35-7 South Central at Triton - I'm really curious to see who steps up for the Triton this year, especially in the trenches. The Trojans have some exciting skill position players returning from last year's solid team. The line will play a key role in their success this year. Triton should win this one going away. Trojans 42-8 West Central at Caston - I'm sure Caston will be improved this year, but I doubt they will be able to keep up with the Trojans. Trojans 28-0 Winamac at Knox - Knox is my early favorite to win the HNAC in their final season in the conference. They'll get off to a great start by running over the Warriors. I think Knox will score early and often. Redskins 49-13

He posted back in the spring that he felt called by God to pursue ministry over athletics.