NLCTigerFan07

Friendly reminders for those that have not yet - you can still donate to the GID this year! Even though we hit the goal of $3,300 - every dollar counts! It is a constant, revolving cost year in and year out. A surplus is ALWAYS good. To make things interesting, if anyone is willing to take me up on a friendly wager for a donation, I'll take the 6 North teams this weekend and you can take the 6 South teams this weekend. For each South team that wins, I'll donate $5. For every North team that wins, you donate $5. If the South or the North teams SWEEP, lets add another $5. Any takers?

For sure. I do not disagree with this at all. My point was more if Coach Park has been struggling to build numbers at the lower levels with all his ties and connections and history at Goshen... good luck to the next guy. Of course, this is only the view as an outsider. For all I know (but highly doubt) the coaching staff was not doing the necessary things to build the ranks. Either way, huge challenge for whoever undertakes this position.

Really interesting. The last two years in the NLC thread, I've proposed the question if Coach Park was on the hot seat at all. I figured after going 4-6 this year, it at least cooled off some. Granted, the four teams they beat (Fairfield, SB Clay, Plymouth, Wawasee) had a combined record of 5-34 and Fairfield accounted for 4 of those wins.. I will be interested to see how this plays out. I think there was concern that levels of participation are basically at all time lows within the program. I'm almost positive they had no freshman or JV team this year as a 5A school. Demographics have changed quite a bit the last two decades in Goshen and Elkhart County, and if Coach Park (with all his ties to Goshen) was not able to build a foundation/pipeline for the football program... I'll be surprised who they can get to come in and do otherwise.

I know you know this... but Div. I College roommate went to Upper Arlington, so I'll be pulling for the Golden Bears this week against your Eagles this Friday night! Depending on where the game is, I just might go.

Good luck to the NLC Northridge Raiders! What an unbelievable turnaround in the postseason. Rolled through inferior opposition the first 4 weeks of the season only to go 1-4 the rest of the regular season, with those 4 losses by 33, 34, 33 and 44 points. Absolutely incredible job all around from the coaching staff to the players. I gave the Raiders ZERO chance against Leo two weeks ago, and they proved me wrong then. If they were able to stop the Lions, I think that proves they at least have a shot to hang around with the Cougars tonight.

I have always said Chris Kramer of Purdue basketball lore was one of the best football athletes I ever saw when he played at Huntington North. Our sectional game against him his junior year, he never left the field. Stud QB, stud safety, stud kick/punt returner. He did it all. He's a guy that I think always gets lost in this conversation because of his location and the fact that they never had an amazing record, but if you saw him play, you knew he was just as good on the gridiron as he was on the hardwood.

Picture is from Lowell's field.

That is correct, for enrollment purposes. However, I think there has been some confusion on how Success Factor points will play into things since teams were moved up/down this year based on Success Factor points, even though enrollment changes did not happen. So now the question is... who moves based on that? And what is being calculated? The last three years post season totals? I do not think I have seen anything definitively state that.

They actually have their student section there as well. They are at a lower level and the tilt of the bleachers is at a lower angle so they can stand and then not block the view of those sitting in the "upper" section. Genius actually.

I know they are buliding a new high school, but did not think a new football stadium was part of that construction plan at this time. Could be wrong.

Not sure what you mean by this comment? Norwell has had a number of ups and downs in their football history and overall as a school they have a winning record of 300-281-1, with 6 double digit win seasons since 1980. They have 8 sectional championships to their name along with 2 state runner-ups (1999 and 2006). Sure they had a bad stretch between 2010 and 2018, but even in 2012 when they went 0-9 in the regular season they won their first 2 games of sectional play before falling 14-7 against FW Dwenger. Norwell has always been a strong program, especially being one of the smaller teams in the Northeast Hoosier/Northeast 8 conference. http://www.almanacsports.com/football/team.php?team=NORW

Two schools with arguably the best facilities in the state. I was unbelievably impressed with the new digs at Carroll last week! Easily one of the nicest football stadiums in the state and it's not close. Very few can compete with it. Fans that make the trip from Westfield will be pleased. The Warsaw game wasn't AS bad as it seemed... well kinda... shoulda/woulda/coulda game here, but if Warsaw scores on their drive before halftime and gets to the locker room down 22-7, then scores on their opening drive of the second half, the game easily could have been 22-14 with about 3 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter. Instead, Carroll stopped Warsaw at the 20 yard line with less than a minute in the half, and Becker took a QB draw 65 yards for a TD with only seconds to spare before halftime. That gave Carroll a 29-0 lead at halftime, and then the Tigers made their way inside the 20 yard line again on their first drive of the second half before the Chargers stopped them again. IMO - the long drive up to Fort Wayne for Westfield could play a little into things. If Carroll can start hot, they can certainly be competitive in this ball game.

Awesome job Raiders! Unbelievably impressed! Way to represent the NLC tonight. Unfortunately the Tigers just laid an egg after giving up a TD on the opening kickoff. I’m not making excuses for Warsaw, and Carroll was without a doubt the better team, but I really think the three week layoff killed them. That’s a long time between games. Will be rooting for Northridge next week! Will try to listen in or find a way to watch.

Raiders proving me wrong through first half! Will be checking for updates while at the Warsaw game… Tiger have unfortunately had penalties, turnovers, and all sorts of miscues. The three week layoff did them no favors.

No chance in my opinion. Could be close for a half at best. Good vibes only!!! ... but now I'll be the Debbie Downer Carroll by 17 Leo by 21 Mishawaka by 2

Wow I had not heard or seen that! I have not visited the site since the Concord game. I believe the Times-Union online free to access.

Great article! Thanks for sharing @NRRaider2001

Yet somehow Ohio has made it work for decades... if the OHSAA can figure it out, surely the IHSAA can. Again - would be interesting to see any sort of data from Ohio on this. Following the first round of playoffs, everything is neutral site. Surely the OHSAA wouldn't leave money on the table with smaller crowds at neutral site games all these years, would they?

Going to be a tall task this week for our remaining NLC teams. *The Raiders have had a nice run, but I think Leo ends up being the 4A North representative in Indy Thanksgiving weekend. *Mishawaka has the benefit of playing at home against a rolling Michigan City squad. Hopefully the Cavemen can watch the Warsaw game film from earlier in the season and see what NOT to do against the Wolves. *Warsaw will play for the first time in 21 days on Friday night. I'm sure Carroll has revenge on their mind after losing to the Tigers last year. I am not overly confident with the Warsaw pass defense, and Becker is a STUD. Not being negative, just a realist, but the NLC season could come to a close this weekend. I think Mishawaka has the best chance to capture a sectional title, while both Northridge and Warsaw will need near perfect games to pull out victories.

Okay? And they still very well could. But I do not see your point in saying "If they do it like basketball that means no regional or semi state games in Indianapolis or Fort Wayne."

Says who? They could definitely host both of those for FOOTBALL. I think for Fort Wayne specifically, they do not get to host too many basketball regionals or semi-state games because none of their basketball gyms are large enough. I think Northrop's gym is the largest capacity at 3,500, with Northside and Wayne and right behind at 3,300 and 3,200 respectively. New Haven's gym is 3,300 as well. Compared to the 16 Regional sites last year, only Northrop would be larger than 2 of the locations (Triton 3,470 and Lapel 3,051) while the other 3 I mentioned would only be bigger than Lapel. All the schools' gyms are less than half the size of the smallest Semi-State site last year (Washington at 7,090). But with Football, there are plenty of nice stadiums in Fort Wayne, with turf, that could host neutral site Regional and/or Semi-State games.

The Adams Central/Southwood game has been moved to Bluffton High School

I agree completely @scarab527. Having seen all 3 teams play against Warsaw this year, I would be shocked to see either team run that gauntlet. Either would be lucky to beat Michigan City in my opinion. No way either beats Valpo.

They definitely are not bad with a record of 9-1 and undefeated NLC Champs. They have a solid QB and a number of athletes at the WR position. The Tiger pass defense is nowhere near as good as their rush defense, and I would venture to guess both Carroll and Homestead's passing attacks will be better than that of NorthWood and Concord's.

After watching NorthWood and Concord tear up the Tigers' defense through the air, I do not think they will be much competition for either team in my honest opinion. However, if Bart Ball offense can execute perfectly (no turnovers, limited penalties, long clock-eating scoring drives, etc.) that is what can keep them in the game. But they will have to execute perfectly on offense along with hoping Carroll/Homestead makes some mistakes of their own. As well, with the two week bye, I still do not know if it is a blessing or a curse. The Tigers will have gone 21 days between playing a varsity snap. That is a LONG time. If they start the game rusty... that could potentially put them in an early hole. Sorry - I know this thread is about East Noble and Leo. For my two cents there, it definitely sucks this was the first round matchup. Would have loved to have seen both of these teams square off week 3 of the tournament. Leo should handle the next two weeks with ease.