TheDoctor22

Thanks for the detailed recap. I was there as a spectator for all of these games except the 1997 game. Despite the 7-1 Chatard series lead, almost all of these games could have had a different outcome if the ball bounced the other way on one or two plays. This series could easily be 4-4. Always had tons of respect for the HH program and how they are seemingly always in the mix in November. Looking forward to another great game! I haven't seen the Patriots play this year, but it sounds like they spread it out a little more than the old wishbone/option days? Must be pretty good defensively too with how they were able to slow down the GS offense last night?

No. Chatard has advantages of being a private school that have been discussed ad nauseam on this forum. I won't argue that (although I would argue against anyone saying Chatard "recruits" it's athletes from across the city). I, like many of the public school posters on here, pray Chatard at least wins a regional title, bumps up to 4A, and never comes back down. But Chatard does not have 6A talent. I don't think Chatard has had more than 1 or 2 players with division 1 offers in the last decade. I don't think this current team has any either, although the Chatard posters that are closer to the current team would have to confirm that. Chatard has very good football players, and they have more of them than most 3A schools (see: private school advantages). But they do not have any multiple star athletes that will take over a game like your top tier 6A schools. I watched one of TV's games online, and they look like a very good football team. I expect a good game Friday night. Safe travels down to Indy to all Tippy fans making the trip.

Lawrenceburg's coaches know how to coach to their team's strengths. That's good coaching. I respect the hell out of Vince Lorenzano, but he took the opposite approach. His stubborn offensive play calling was always very frustrating for me. I personally think coach Doyle does a better job of tailoring his offense to his positional talent, but everyone has different methods for running a successful program. Sounds like you guys have a lot of pieces coming back next year. Coach Knigga's son #10 was also very impressive on both sides of the ball. I would not be surprised at all to see Lawrenceburg playing in Lucas Oil again next year! Congrats again on a great season!

2nd this. Hats off to Lawrenceburg. Really good football team that laid it all out there. Absolutely nothing to hang your heads about. That was a state championship caliber team. I hope Chatard wins regional next year, bumps to 4A, and stays there for good.

I personally put very little weight on game 1 of the season for a team that lost the major pieces that Lawrenceburg lost from last year's team. It takes time for new starters to get experience and a team to gel together. I think Chatard was in the same position this year. To your point, it looks like Lawrenceburg has been firing on all cylinders lately. I'm not sure who will win this game, but I would be shocked if this was a blow out by either team. Safe travels to all Lawrenceburg fans coming to Indy!

Glad he chose football! He was a lot of fun to watch during GS's run last year. How is he doing at Purdue? I know he's redshirting, but what's the QB room look like outside of the current starter? I always love seeing Indiana kids to have success at the next level.

@Just a dadI know you're new, don't take the bait... One of the best high school football games I've ever seen live! 3A should be a lot of fun to watch over the next couple of weeks. A lot of teams that have legitimate shot at making it to Lucas Oil on both sides of the bracket.

Agree with everything you said. I think higher strength of schedule is definitely a benefit in a vacuum. Playing better competition and having to win tough games will help you when you get in that situation during the playoffs, all else equal. But I think you also run the risk of more injuries and you may come out of it worse than when you started, especially for 3A schools who don't have the same depth as 5/6A schools. I know Chatard has several starters out right now, although not sure for how long, but that could prove to be a negative of playing the schedule they did. But at the end of the day, it's about the dudes, like you said. If you've got the dudes, it doesn't really matter who you've played. 2015 GS team is a perfect example. They had the dudes and Chatard's strength of schedule would have made no difference. The only thing that could have stopped that team from beating Chatard was an act of God, which is why I'm grateful we are a Catholic school (only kidding, tons of respect of GS and know that outcome would have been different).

I agree, this is one of those games that I think everyone has had circled almost all year. Hope it lives up to the hype! I may have to go see this one in person, even if my Trojans are still in the playoffs at that point.

I haven't seen Warren play this year so hard for me to say, sounds like they've had some issues. I would think they fare better than Chatard just because they're more capable of matching speed. Chatard is slow this year, and when those boys got to the perimeter, no one was catching them. Maybe Warren can keep it close in a shoot out? I'd be shocked if CBC scored less than 40 points. Or maybe Chatard is just that bad this year...

I'm not going to argue that Chatard would beat Merrillville this year, but to be fair, the speed from Christian Brothers would be way too much for most teams in the state to handle. I thought Cathedral's skill players were phenomenal (and they are), but CBC's cats blew them out of the water. They have multiple players on offense with SEC offers. Most impressive high school offense I've ever seen live.

Congrats Irish, that was about as thorough of an ass beating as I've seen in awhile. You've got a great team. Those skill players were as good as advertised. @Footballking16 hate to say I told you so but... I'm kidding, good luck the rest of the year. You are going to be a dangerous team come playoffs.

I'm sure we'll see a few posts from IP addresses at 56th street and keystone/Kessler tomorrow afternoon. Obviously have a lot of respect for the Irish, hoping for a good, injury-free game. Atmosphere should be electric as always. Are you going to make it out to Alumni Field PHJ? Maybe. Better than 47-10. 😉

I watched the West Lafayette vs. Harrison game at Lucas Oil before Chatard, and West Lafayette is legit. Harrison is no slouch. I've got no problem with the rankings. I don't know much about Gibson Southern this year, but it looks like they've picked up right where they left off last year! They've been a great program during the Hart era, but winning that first championship has a way of creating even more success for a program. Would not be surprised at all to see them in Lucas Oil again.

Nothing with the football team's performance specifically. I agree they've been tough out of the gate this year. I'm not a fan (to put it mildly) of a few of the people calling the shots within the school. I won't go into all of the details, but I think they've done a terrible job of getting CYO kids in the doors (Cathedral has done a great job on the other hand). I was told they could barely field a freshman team the last few seasons, and I know other sports are struggling too. Frustrating to watch for a long time fan and a big reason why I think this game continues to get less and less competitive until something changes.

Cathedral was up by 28 points at one point in the 2nd quarter last year. Isn't the running clock rule anytime a team is 35+ points in the 2nd half? But point taken, a running clock prediction was dramatic. But I still don't think it'll be especially competitive, similar to the last two years. And my comments have been more in frustration of what's going on at Chatard and not intended to down play the game or Cathedral's team. Sorry to strike a nerve.

I agree with that. Chatard is a tough, well-coached team. If Cathedral has some of the same mistakes they've had in recent weeks, this could be a semi-interesting game. But Cathedral has 30+ players on their roster bigger, faster, and more athletic than everyone on Chatard's team (and most other teams in the state for that matter). If they execute to their typical standard, this will be a running clock in the 2nd half.

Appreciate the attempt to rouse some interest in this game, but I'd be surprised if Chatard stays within 4 TDs. They don't have the cats.

Lol you will not have your hands full with Chatard. It'll be the same beat down it is every year.

Curious, do Cathedral fans even get excited about this game anymore? I get its fun to beat on a "rival", but the talent gap is so massive I wonder if this game still holds the same appeal? Hoping the new AD breathes some life into Chatard athletics and eventually makes this game at least a little more interesting in the future. This game has become hard to watch.

I agree open enrollment hasn't really benefitted Cathedral, but I don't know that its really hurt you much either. Cathedral has an outstanding recruiting program, and I don't mean that description to be taken in a negatively. They have to recruit students to keep the doors open as a private school, and they do an excellent job of marketing their school to prospective students across the city. Cathedral's roster has as much talent as anyone in 6A, and they are going to have no problem competing in that class, as we saw in their results vs. those schools over the last few years. But I do agree open enrollment has not been a benefit to Cathedral in any way. Chatard on the other hand has done a very poor job in my opinion. Two schools going in opposite directions unfortunately.

I do think it was about 45 mins before game time when they pulled up, not sure if there was additional delays with the locker room or not. I only say that because I vividly remember walking into the stadium from our tailgate, seeing Memorial's team already on the field warming up, and looking back to see Chatard's whole team running out of the bus not dressed yet. According to players I talked to after the game, they were in standstill traffic for and hour and a half from an accident on their way to a church that was a little out of the way from Evansville. I knew it was going to be a bad night for the Trojans right then, and that was before I saw how talented that Memorial team was in person. That was unfortunately the only time I've been to Enlow. Such a cool venue and gameday atmosphere, despite the outcome for us. Good luck to the Tigers tomorrow! One of my favorite teams to follow not named Chatard!

Sorry if I missed this, but is this being streamed anywhere? Would love to watch these two top programs battle it out. Good luck to both teams!

Glad to hear that he's okay, hate seeing injuries this late in the season (or ever for that matter). Although I'm a little surprised he's able to go this week. He looked like he had no clue where he was after that hit. It must not have been a concussion then? Good luck this week Roncalli! This Chatard fan will be rooting for you the rest of the way!

Congrats Roncalli, you have a very special team! After seeing them a second time, I just don't see how anyone in 4A can hang for 4 quarters. They are solid everywhere. To Chatard players, not the ending you wanted for your season, but you made the entire Chatard community proud with how you fought this year. Heck of a group of young men. I actually thought this game was much closer than the first, despite the score. Roncalli was clearly the better team, but a couple of those plays go differently and it could have been a toss up at the end. Just ran out of gas a little at the end.