scarab527

Since there are other similar posts about different classes, I decided to make one about the class that I feel is the most interesting this year: 2A. This class and 4A feel like the most wide-open classes in the tournament, which is nice in year where 3 classes have overwhelming favorites. On the eve of the first round of sectionals, I’d like to see people’s opinions/projections of how 2A will play out. The North is absolutely stacked this year with Andrean, Pioneer, and Eastbrook all having legitimate shots at making trips down to LOS. Leurs and Eastside are also teams to watch out for. In my opinion the South is somewhat wide open, with Triton Central as a presumed favorite but I think many other teams are capable of making a run to LOS. I’ll go ahead and give my (totally unbiased Andrean alumni) predictions: S33: Andrean should play Rensselaer Central in the title game. I think it’ll be a good game to start but Andrean should pull away. S34: Pioneer will likely play Bremen for the championship. Again, I think this one will be close early, but Pioneer should pull away. S35: I think Eastside and Leurs will meet up in a rematch of a sectional game from last year. I think Leurs wins this time in a close one. S36: Eastbrook will be challenged by Tipton in round 2 and Eastern in the title game, but I think they have to be considered the solid favorites here. S37: I like WeBo to beat South Vermillion in the title game. S38: I think Heritage Christian will play Scecina in the title game after Scecina beats Shenandoah in a rematch. I’ll take Heritage to beat out Scecina in a good one in the title game. S39: Triton Central should win this relatively easily, I don’t see a team in this sectional challenging them. S40: I like Mater Dei to beat Linton-Stockton in the title game. Regionals: Andrean over Pioneer by a TD Eastbrook over Leurs by 2 TDs WeBo over Heritage Christian by a TD Triton Central over Mater Dei by a TD Semi States: Andrean over Eastbrook by a TD Triton Central over WeBo by 2 TDs State: Andrean over Triton Central by 2 TDs Happy Tournament everybody!

Andrean will have to get through a meat grinder to get there though, assuming Pioneer in the regional and then Eastbrook in the semistate. If the Niners get to LOS, no one will be able say it was a cake walk. I agree that I give Dwenger the edge in the presumed semistate matchup with Valpo, but the saints will have to get through Zionsville in the regional first and a rematch with FW North. I don’t think Valpo will be challenged until they play Mishawaka in the regional, which they should still win relatively easily. We’ll see if Valpo’s rest and easier path to the semistate pays off. Out of all the teams I mentioned, I’m actually the most confident in Hobart to get to LOS (though they likely won’t win). I think they match up very well against Leo, East Noble, or Delta, assuming they’ll play one of those teams in the semistate. Their path to the semistate is also very easy, which could give them the opportunity to be rested going in. I agree Westfield is the team to beat in 6A North, but I do think Merrillville will make it to the semistate to play them, where they will most likely lose.

Exciting year for region football, as 4 teams (Merrillville, Valpo, Hobart, and Andrean) have chances for deep playoff runs. You also have teams like KV and Hanover Central with legitimate chances to win sectionals, which would be KV’s first since 1985 and Hanover’s first ever. I’ll go ahead and make the bold prediction that at least 2 of the 4 teams I mentioned as playoff contenders will represent the North at LOS (knock on wood!) Can’t wait to see how the tournament plays out!

Sectional 1: Merrillville beats out Jeff in a close one for the title. Sectional 2: Penn gets revenge on Elkhart in the final. Sectional 3: Homestead handles Carroll again to get to the regional. Sectional 4: Westfield easily, beating Hamilton Southeastern in the final. Sectional 5: Brownsburg over Carmel in a barn burner. Sectional 6: Ben Davis easily. Sectional 7: Lawrence North gets revenge on North Central in the rematch. Sectional 8: Center Grove cruises. Regionals: Merrillville over Penn by 2 TDs Westfield over Homestead by 4 TDs Brownsburg over Ben Davis by 3 TDs CG over Lawrence North by 4 TDs Semistate: Westfield over Merrillville by 2 TDs CG over Brownsburg by 3 TDs State: CG over Westfield by 3 TDs

Agree with a lot of your picks here, but here’s my thoughts for the sake of discussion. Sectional 17: Hobart will play Lowell in the final in a make up of a game cancelled due to covid, and will win handily. Sectional 18: New Prairie or KV has to be the favorite here, I’ll take KV to win their first sectional since 1985. Sectional 19: Should come down to Leo and East Noble in the title game, I’ll take Leo in a close one. Sectional 20: As you mentioned Delta is the clear favorite. Sectional 21: Mount Vernon should win but Pendleton Heights could pull the upset Sectional 22: Roncalli handily Sectional 23: I think Mooresville will win but I can’t count out East Central Sectional 24: Evansville Central is the favorite but it’s hard to beat a team twice, I could see Jasper pulling an upset. As you said Memorial is also a dark horse here. I’ll take Central to make it to the regional however. Regionals: Hobart over KV by 3 TDs Leo over Delta by a TD Mount Vernon over Roncalli by a TD Mooresville over Central by a TD Semistate: Hobart over Leo by 2 TDs Mount Vernon over Moorseville by a TD State: Mount Vernon over Hobart by 2 TDs

Sectional 25- Seems like Knox is a presumed favorite here but I like Hanover to win their first sectional title in school history. They’ll be rewarded by getting steamrolled by Marian in the regional. Sectional 26- Marian should win this easily. Sectional 27- Norwell and Concordia should meet in the final and it should be a good one. I’ll take Concordia to win and earn the right to being Chatard’s next stepping stone in the regional. Sectional 28- Can’t see this one as a toss up at all, Chatard should be favored by 2-3 TDs against both WL and Brebeuf. Maybe one or even both of those teams keeps it interesting for a half, but Chatard should cruise. Sectional 29- I think Danville and Tri-West will meet up again in the final in a good game. It’s hard to beat a team twice let alone a rival, but I think Danville makes it to the regional. Sectional 30- Sullivan or Vincennes Lincoln should win, I’ll go with Vincennes. Sectional 31- Lawrenceburg is the favorite, but Brownstown Central or Franklin County could pull off the upset. Sectional 32- Southridge should win, but Gibson Southern could pull off the upset in round 2. Regionals: Marian over Hanover by at least 5 TDs Chatard over Concordia by 3-4 TDs Danville over Vincennes Lincoln by 3 TDs Southridge over Lawrenceburg by a TD Semistate: Chatard over Marian by 2 TDs Southridge over Danville by a TD State: Chatard over Southridge by 3 TDs

Last time I checked the whole state was at 8.5%, up from 7.5% the previous month. The worst hit counties (Marion and Lake, for example) are above 10%. The only thing that worries me is that I’m the numbers are currently trending in the wrong direction. Obviously we probably won’t get even close to a 20% rate statewide, I was just throwing out a number I thought would be reasonable to actually have the discussion of cancelling the tournament.

As a fan of a team that has a legit chance to get to state and as someone who lives with a person who is vulnerable to the virus, I must admit I’m very torn in this discussion, but I hope the IHSAA doesn’t shut down the tournament unless infection rates continue to increase. Football has been a great escape and has provided a sense of normalcy during all of this for both the kids and the fans and I’d hate to see the tournament end like that. However, if infection rates got close to 20%, I think the IHSAA would have to take a hard look at ending the tournament, but I really hope that doesn’t happen, nor do I think it will to be honest.

What I don’t get is why the Sagarin ratings shifted so fast. For example: last week Luers’ SOS was ranked #23, this week it’s #230. How is that possible?

Sheesh...

Andrean 35 Lowell 7 start of 4Q

Andrean 28 Lowell 0 Half

Andrean 21 Lowell 0 3:42 left in half

Andrean 7 Lowell 0 Start of Q2

Hobart is another team I could see taking 4A. Yes they lost to Andrean but that was without Bobby Babcock and with 3 turnovers lost and at least 50 yards worth of penalties. I think that loss was a big walkup call for the team, plus they're battle-tested after their run to semi-state last year. Watch out for the Brickies.

As an Andrean fan, I hope they don’t look at it this way. I’ll take RC over Wheeler though, saw Wheeler get ran over by a solid Hanover Central team last week and was rather unimpressed. Haven’t seen RC at all this year but they’re usually disciplined and physical. Our games with them are usually pretty competitive.

haha thanks, hopefully I'm not a one post wonder

You seem to be quite familiar with how herpes works...