scarab527

I think (maybe more so hope) what we'll see in the near future is that EC, Roncalli, and New Pal will become more or less permanent residents of 5A. This will make the class a lot stronger while also making 4A a lot more balanced. In that situation Roncalli and New Pal would likely be at least in the same regional, so they would probably take turns bouncing back down and up again. But I think this would be overall good for the competitiveness of 4A/5A. FW North is super intriguing for sure. They've got one of the best players in the state suiting up for them and a buzz around them as an up-and-coming program. As for their Snider roadblock, I think another big thing that gives the Panthers the edge in that rivalry is that Tippman has been coaching probably close to as long as North's coach has been alive. That degree of a gap in experience shouldn't be understated. The mental hurtle that you mentioned is probably playing a factor as well. When you've been 'little brother' for so long, that can start to effect the psyche of a team. Almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. A year after it ended up being the most exciting class in the state, 5A is wide open again and looking like it'll be just as exciting. It won't be easy for whoever is left standing. I think NorthWood has the best chance of any 4A North team in a while to make the game competitive, assuming they get to LOS. But we'll see how it all plays out. The South has been so dominant in that class that I just would like a halfway decent game.

By the eye test and judging their victories last season, in my opinion, those three 4A teams were just a step above the 5A teams. Really more a testament to how good those teams were as opposed to 5A being weak (though it arguably is). I would also say the lines for those three teams down south were better than those of the northern 5A teams, for what it’s worth. North is the most dangerous team just by looking at their roster, but individual talent only takes you so far. As of now, the top teams in the class are all very close in terms of team skill. Valpo is far from a sure thing.

They would've had to win in that snowstorm to get to the LOS turf. Either way, I'd still take EC/New Pal/Roncalli.

Well, as it actually turned out, the team that beat all those teams didn’t end up doing much in 2A that year.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. NorthWood has to be the favorite in 4A North now, no?

Hard to say a team should’ve won state in a year they couldn’t make it out of Sectionals.

New Pal beat Westfield (#6 team in 6A per Sagarin) last year by 2 TDs. Roncalli also beat Franklin Central. Don’t think it’s too outrageous to say New Pal, Roncalli, or EC could’ve beat a majority of 6A teams last year in a 1-off game (competing against a full schedule of 6A teams might be a different story however). I also think any one of those 3 teams would’ve won 5A last year. But none of that matters to this year. I think East Central is a heavy favorite in 4A. They bring back all the key players that made them champs last year, and Roncalli/New Pal, their main competition, lost quite a bit (Roncalli more so). Hard for me to see anything other than an EC repeat this year, but this class has had a few big upsets in the Southern half of the bracket the past few years.

Durant was exactly who I thought about when I saw this. If it’s really just a calf strain, he’s extremely lucky, because he dodged a bullet.

Gap between 4A South and 4A North is arguably the biggest interclass gap in the state. A public school from the North hasn’t won 4A since Lowell in 2005 (only North school to win in that time is Dwenger), and most of the games haven’t been close.

Looks like Burrow might’ve just torn his Achilles. Hopefully I’m wrong, but non contact and grabbing the calf like that usually mean Achilles.

Think you’d have to put Decatur Central & Plainfield somewhere in there, but looks pretty solid overall. This class has a lot of parity again so it should be another fun year.

🤣🤣 For a guy who thinks he’s really smart, you’re completely clueless.

Lmao I’ve been here for years, if you’re trying to suggest we’re the same guy you clearly haven’t been paying attention.

Nothing official so it can’t be posted. I’ll dm you.

More flimsy excuses to justify people being bad at their job. I hope the IHSAA pays you for this, otherwise it’s really just pathetic and bizarre.

Of course it would’ve made a difference. But don’t worry, Bob will say whatever he needs to justify horrible officiating in his own mind. He was asked point blank on that thread that night whether the call was missed and deflected and didn’t answer. Pretty cowardly, but a pattern.

You were asked point blank whether the call was missed and didn’t even have the little courage needed to answer it. You should be embarrassed.

Back to actual DAC football talk: looking like CP might not be as strong as initially thought. Stay tuned.

I’ve got better things to do than to argue with GID’s resident referee shill.

Merrillville literally was going to take the lead late in the 3rd quarter on that touchdown Bob. It was 20-16 Westfield at the time. So there goes “the outcome wasn’t in doubt in the second half”. Instead of 23-20 after the swing from the call it was 27-16. Even if you said Westfield would’ve scored on their next possession anyway, 27-23 is a lot better of a hole to be in at that stage of the game. Everyone on this message board that night (except for you, ironically enough) agreed that the call was really bad and altered the rest of the game. You were asked point blank on that game thread that night was the call missed and didn’t answer and instead deflected. I rest my case.

The horrible call took a TD off the board for Merrillville. Westfield then took the ball on downs and scored against a pretty deflated Merrillville defense. Take away that swing and it’s 34-30. Hardly what I’d call “by far the better team”. Would the correct call have made a difference had the game theoretically played out? Well we don’t know, since a touchdown everyone watching could obviously see wasn’t called by the one guy who needed to see it. Should Merrillville have responded better to the bad call? Sure, but it shouldn’t be surprising that a call that bad took the wind out of the sails of a bunch of teenagers. “Bang-bang” maybe, but hard to claim that when only one guy couldn’t see it as a TD when it happened.

Clark wasn’t the QB until second half of the MC game when the previous starter got hurt. Add in the fact Valpo will always be heavy run and his numbers look a lot better. Kid made big time throws throughout their run.

From the Region, I’d add Valpo QB Justin Clark to this list, very nice dual threat for the defending 5A champs. Also, Noah Ehrlich is now at Crown Point.

Pretty pointless debate really…the amount of D1 prospects produced does not determine which conference is better overall.

Whiteland beat LN last year who beat WC by 3 TDs. Transitive property aside, I don’t think the spread here is as high as it would’ve been 5 years ago.