oldunclemark

9-18: 4A No 4 Hobart (3-1) at 4A No. 9 Lowell (4-0) has been cancelled. A positive Covid test at Lowell.

Its important to you to 'Wander Indiana', Gip......can we pick foes within 200 miles??? .....(Its important to me to see if that turtle in the lake...in Churubusco. Ever been to 'Turtle Days' They party hardy over there.

I couldnt agree less, my man. The school doesnt owe football players anything. Its a privilege to play for your school and your town. Its an honor. Kids do not DESERVE the right to play sports. Its extra curricular and its a privilege... ..and Merrillville will play plenty of games this year....at least nine...probably more..../ I think with Valparaiso (one of the state's 10 best teams in any class) coming in 2 weeks, the Pirates should just chill (that's region hipster talk) this weekend. Winning does matter.,,and a week off is better than 'Pickin' up Strangers' (Johnny Lee - 1983)

I'd like to see Hanover Central play at Churubusco. But only because I want to see if Oscar the Turtle is really in Blue Lake. (Its a long story)

Most teams are not looking at a long playoff run. Elkhart needed a game after the consolidation. You may know better but I'd be surprised if Columbus North wants to come 3 hours to Merrillville on a Friday night. . In a pandemic era where conference rival Michigan City just lost two games, I dont see the point for Merrillville. Send the boys home Friday afternoon and tell 'em stay out of trouble. We'll see you Monday. I would doubt either side wants to play Saturday. I cant find a coach up here who likes to play on Saturday.

Because there's no reason to from Merrillville's standpoint. Especially in the Covid era...Why ride 3 hours to risk an injury? DAC teams play 2 non-league games and then 7 league games......Nonconference season is over. Merrillville is looking at a long playoff run and a week 7 'Judgment Day' with 5A No. 2 Valparaiso . They've played 4 games.......take a week off and play four more.

They have 20 future college players certainly, DB

Just too far to go for a mid-season nonconference game, isn't it.? A mid-season open date is probably the better option

Since there's been a Class 6A, the DAC has done better state wide.... Valpo 2019, LaPorte...2014 have both reached finals they might not have reached if there was no 6A.....when all DAC teams were 5A, all but one DAC team eliminated each other by the regional This year (5A) #3 Valparaiso and 6A #4 Merrillville may both have a ticket to ride.

Dial up some highlights of Merrillville, BTF. Its their hour of power.

Nobody wanted to play you back then. Talk about 'old school' The defense gave up an average of one point a game?. Monticello is Twin Lakes, right? Kentland is South Newton. What is Attica now? 1927 Rensselaer (7-0,0-0) ----------------------------------------------- Sep 24 LOWELL................. 26-0 W Oct 01 at Attica.............. 12-7 W Oct 08 at Crown Point......... 36-0 W Oct 15 MONTICELLO............. 13-0 W Oct 21 LAFAYETTE.............. 32-0 W Oct 29 at West Lafayette...... 6-0 W Nov 04 KENTLAND............... 26-0 W

Sorry coach, I just said the first thing that popped into my head. I should have known better. You ARE in the 'region'. Newton and Jasper Counties are home to the 'OGs' (original gangsters) of region football. Y'all were playing ball before there was a KV (or a Munster or Merrillville or Lake Central) (and as soon as you start up that series with Lowell again, I'll be heading down your way some Friday.!)

2013 Andrean (15-0)....Coach Phil Mason

I've seen this written before. What do you mean? What is the 'direction of DeKalb/Auburn n angola"? Just curious.

4A Poll 1.Mooresville 113 2.Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 89 3.East Noble 80 4.East Central 70 5.Evansville Central 65 6.Jasper 58 7.Hobart 57 8.Delta 35 9.Columbia City 15 10. LOWELL 14

What are we talking about here? Who is the Brown and Orange? What does 'impacted' mean?

Guys, anybody think Columbus North (2-1) would like to play Merrillville (3-0) on Sept. 18. ? Its a long bus ride one way or another. Nobody's held North under 30 points but nobody scores much on Merrillville.

1. Highland defeated West Side by 3 TDs in their season opener. Is the Trojan program ready to take a step forward or should we expect to see the usual easy non con wins and then a 1-4 conference record? Does Coach K have the program ready to compete with Lowell , Hobart and Andrean on an annual basis? (That day is coming. Keep watching (I know you will) 2. Is there any chance that Hammond Central and Hammond Morton get invitations to join the NCC? (No, the next NCC team will probably be Hanover Central), 3. Are Griffith fans , supporters and the overall GHS football community wishing for a return to The NCC or are they glad with their new found status as the tallest midget in the GSSC? (That ship has sailed. Hanover has 753 kids, Griffith 643) 4. Is Noll going to return to full varsity status, and should they even attempt to given all the headwinds facing the program? (Noll will return to full varsity status). 5. Is competitive Munster football a thing of the past. Given declining participataion and general lackluster interest in the program at best, and with Munster continuing to become a more minority medical based community, are current demographic trends basically sealing the Munstangs future fate? (Munster will be fine. Everything goes in a cycle.) 6. Merrillville is playing 4A and 2A schools in non con action to open the season. While both are great, nostalgic rivalries, do Hobart and Andrean prepare the Pirates adequately for DAC play? Should MHS consider looking at opiut of area competition as they used to with Warren central? Andrean and Hobart are natural rivals for Merillville. With that said, a Merrillville-Elkhart game would be primo. 7. Is the Crown Point program in a position to be damaged by the potential move of Andrean to Winfield? (No. its not 1995. Andrean is 10 minutes from CP now and CP has 2,800 kids.) 8. Is Phil Mason a lifer at Michigan City, or would he consider possibly either leaving the area for Indy or taking on a local rebuilding project like Munster or Lake Central? (Nobody is a lifer anywhere). 9. Bill Marshall is having more success at Valpo than Mark Hoffman did and has the program positioned for long term elite status. Did Marshall and his staff just get lucky and catch a big wave of talent, or is their something in his methods and overall coaching philosophy that have propelled the program to new heights? (Not a question an outsider can answer but probably both.) 10. James Broyles has Kankakee Valley at 3-0 heading into games the next two weeks against North Newton and Munster. The Kougars should be 5-0 heading into a week 6 matchup with rival Lowell. Has KV turned the corner, or is the jury still out? (Depends on if the jury wants to rule in respects to the Northwest Crossroads Conferernce or 4A Sectional 18. 2 different goals.) 11. Is Chesterton having any regrets over their decision to play Pioneer? (No. Had an experience. Played a good team. Bounced back to win the league opener the next week. All good. 12. What is the future of the EC Central football program. Its been all downhill for the Cardinals since the 2013 semi state season. ECC has a 5 game schedule this year, which includes 2 games against West Side and matchups with Bowman and River Forest. How can the program advance and progress with that kind of slate? ECC along with Hamm Central and Morton should all get invites to join the NCC. (Cant judge EC football in the virus year. Does the new Hammond school have a pool, a gymnastics room, tennis courts. You need to compete (or even just participate seriously) in the majority of ther IHSAA sports to join the NCC (or most any conference) Thanks for the 'region' questions, DT. Apologies to those who dont know what its like to be on top (of the state) southend 1 Quote

You're pointing out the difference between adults and minors. The school has king size liability here. They cant ignore a contact with kids who are under age. Adults can take health risks. Kids, legally, cant. The school had to do this. The season is not over for MC.

5A No. 1 Cathedral vs. 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard.... .......does Chatard have a 50-50 chance Friday?

So Cathedral vs. Center Grove is the showdown? Have two teams both rated No.1 ever met on the final day of the regular season?

Getting that a lot up here (NW Indiana)... Teams missing a couple of players each week for unknown reasons. It hurts the small schools but the bigger schools, you hardly even notice.

I had a paradigms but I needed a quarter.

Exactly right, Fox. Its not my idea. Public television has done it for years. 'Support us and our home school in the Covid era and for $75 or more you get a special designed school t-shirt, sweater or hat' 'For $100, you get a game ball'. 'But $5 or 10 or $20 is very welcome and needed' and school swag is available at regular price. Even a school T-shirt that says, "We survived 2020!!!". (I'm surprised no one has done that already)

That is a great win for Pioneer. Does anyone know the last time a 1A school (Pioneer is not really 2A) defeated a Class 6A school? I do not think it has ever happened. I wish I could have seen this game.