Ballhawk

Are you saying they have rocks in their heads? Wouldn't geography serve them better? I gotta go too.

For the past 6-7 years, the Carmel middle schools have struggled with numbers. There is some talent on those teams, but it's hard to fathom a district that large with 3 middle schools and they don't have enough players to play a B game. They also all run whatever they choose as far as offense and defense, so they aren't building a good foundation. You would think Westfield with 1 middle school would be at a disadvantage, but apparently it works for them, especially when everyone is running the same system through all of their levels.

Traders Point at North Vermilion - TP has some pretty decent teams on their schedule. Problem for them is all of them blew them out. They can score some points, so that could give NV some trouble. For those saying NV has an advantage in coaching, I would disagree. The HC of TP is a former Westfield assistant and he's a pretty good offensive coach. He has some good coaches on his staff. I think this is a close game and could go either way. I see both teams putting points on the board, so a stop or two or turnovers will decide who wins this one. I'll take TP in a shootout. Park Tudor at Fountain Central - regardless of how the rich boys won at CP, they are heading to Fountain County to take on the Mustangs. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the FC coaches are counting PT defenders on every play. Maybe PT's penalty for last week should be to play the first quarter with 10 men on defense. Try out that soccer 4-4-2 instead of the 4-4-4. I think both teams will score some points in this game as well. I just think the Panthers will score a few more. Riverton Parke at Covenant Christian @ Danville HS - do you think it's a coincidence that CC rented the turf field for their game vs RP? A team that likes to use their speed and throw the ball would not want to play on some old grass field if they had their choice of some nice field turf. The Zionsville West MS field is certainly not an advantage for CC. Maybe I'm wrong, but this would seem to work in favor of the Warriors. I think RP has a puncher's chance, but I'm going with CC in this one. I hope the Panthers prove me wrong. In truth all of the WRC teams could win. It would be nice to see at least one of them playing for a championship next week.

It's typical for the officials on here to stick up for the crew and try to deflect this onto the players and coaches. This isn't about a player or coach committing an infraction or dropping a pass. It's about a crew member who forgot one of his responsibilities. My question is how are these handled by the IHSAA? Obviously you don't suspend the crew for life from the tourney. What do they do? There has to be some accountability. I'm not interested in officials rallying around someone and trying to defend his mistake. This wasn't a judgment call, it was something they should be doing every play of every game. They are the professionals assigned to officiate the game, not a bunch of guys rounded up to call it at the last minute. They are also subject to criticism just like the players and coaches are. Bob, how do you handle this is you are the HS football officiating czar? I respect you, you've worked a couple games we were a part of, so I really want to know what happens next?

Thank goodness my Halloween costume finally arrived! Will I fit in with the WRC crowd or will I stick out like a sore thumb?

I agree to an extent, but what if the extra defenders in the box forced Prairie to do something they weren't as comfortable with? Extra defenders in the box pretty much took away the run. I would also agree that if the pass is held onto there is no topic to discuss, but what if the pass was made easier without the extra players along the LOS? There's a lot of woulda, coulda, shouldas in this whole sequence. Too bad it had to happen at all. I hope this crew learns a valuable lesson and never lets something like this happen again.

Yes, referees are human, but their inability to do their jobs properly may have caused a team's season to end. For the CP seniors, their HS careers are over. This crew deserves nothing. This wasn't a judgment call, it was a routine duty that the back judge missed three times. An extra player on defense on a short field is a huge advantage.

It was quick thinking of the PT DC to come up with the 4-4-4 defense to stop the Gophers those last 3 plays. How innovative!!

3 POINT GAMES Bishop Chatard @ Hamilton Heights Kokomo @ Western West Lafayette @ Calumet Cass @ Central Catholic Rochester @ Benton Central Bluffton @ Tipton Zionsville @ Noblesville Plainfield @ Harrison - this pick is for you FoxBat! Logansport @ Northridge Gibson Southern @ Owen Valley Andrean @ LaVille Traders Point Christian @ North Vermillion Mooresville @ Brebeuf Jesuit Cascade @ Sullivan Elkhart @ Warsaw

It's Park Tudor - spoiled rich brats!

2 Point Games Western @ Jay County Twin Lakes @ West Lafayette Bishop Chatard @ Northwestern Winamac @ Central Catholic Hamilton Heights @ Maconaquah Hanover Central @ Rensselaer 3 Point Games Benton Central @ Delphi Tipton @ Eastern North Decatur @ Tri - asking for a friend - is ND only allowed male managers? 🤔 Frontier @ Taylor Speedway @ North Montgomery Guerin Catholic @ Oak Hill - I may totally whiff on this one, but GC's losses have been to 4 really good football teams.

Sheridan has nine state titles, 5 as the Southern representative and 4 as the Northern representative. I think them being just north of Indy puts them in the area where they can be moved as needed to balance sectionals.

Seeger @ Rochester - heart says Patriots, head says Zebras. I'll take Rochester at home. Linton @ South Vermillion - SV hits a buzzsaw in their first-round game. The Miners win easily over the Wildcats. Fountain Central @ Attica - Mustangs live to play another week. The Red Ramblers managed to show up for all 10 games, but their season ends at Bruce Field on Friday. Riverton Parke @ North Central - the Panthers feast on the Thunderbirds and move on to week 2. Covenant Christian @ Parke Heritage - the Warriors come out to play all over the Wolves.

Brownsburg @ Hamilton Southeastern Eastern Greene @ North Central (Farmersburg) Elkhart @ New Prairie Evansville Reitz @ Evansville Mater Dei Fishers @ Zionsville Cathedral @ Center Grove Roncalli @ East Central Sheridan @ Carroll (Flora) Western Boone @ Lebanon Twin Lakes @ Northwestern

3 POINT GAMES Benton Central @ Tipton Lafayette Central Catholic @ Hamilton Heights Rensselaer @ Cass Twin Lakes @ Northwestern West Lafayette @ Western North Newton @ Tri-County West Central @ North White North Vermillion @ Seeger Kokomo @ Lafayette Jeff Sheridan @ Carroll

C. Central @ Delphi - I see a victory for the Oracles C. Prairie @ Carroll - the Cougars set up a date with Sheridan for all the marbles T. Central @ Taylor - somebody has to win. Trojans topple Titans Eastern @ Sheridan - Mighty mighty Blackhawks get the home win on senior night

Maybe the loss of one of their assistant coaches had something to do with it. The same coach who won as the HC at TC? The one who took LCC to the wire a few years back? Hmmm....... 🤔 There's a lot going on there. I have some inside knowledge and it isn't looking good for the Spartans.

Hammond Central @ Gary West Side Evansville Memorial @ Vincennes Lincoln Eastbrook @ Madison Grant Cincy Elder @ Roncalli Westfield @ Fishers River Forest @ Calumet Park Tudor @ Covenant Christian North Judson @ LaVille Martinsville @ Moorseville Leo @ Columbia City Hamilton Heights @ Lewis Cass

To paraphrase Ron Burgundy - "Stay classy Tipton".

1 Point Games Lafayette Central Catholic @ Benton Central - man I miss 09er. Take that back, maybe Mr. Mills, but not niner. Northwestern @ Rensselaer - Nowlin, if I drive to Renssy do I still get two Wagonmasters? West Lafayette @ Twin Lakes - Red Debbels beat the Milk Drinkers by a whole lot, or at least by 2%. Western @ Tipton - Panthers over Indiana's only Blue Debbels. 3 Point Games Hamilton Heights @ Cass - Huskies show Jack a thing or two. Culver @ Pioneer - Panthers are suffering through a down year, but they still get the win here. Knox @ Triton - Knox has been better against common opponents. Frontier @ West Central - WC has been a doormat for the past few seasons, but not this year. Seeger @ South Vermillion - the Indians (Patriots) pull the upset over SV to take the lead in the WRC. Harrison @ Logansport - da Raiders beat the Berries into a smoothie. Eastern @ Sheridan - the Mighty Mighty Blackhawks win to set up a battle with Carroll for the HHC championship. 5 Point Game North Judson @ LaVille - I'll take the Blue Jays in the upset. I can't pick the Lancers. That nickname sounds like a float in the Pride Parade.

Attica at Covington - I feel for the Ramblers. They have been fighting coaching turnover and low numbers and still give it a shot every Friday night. If I recall they were winless in all major varsity boys sports last year and it is continuing this season. I would love to see them break the streak but unfortunately their best shot was PH. The Trojans aren't that good but they are good enough this week. Fountain Central at North Vermilion - I'll take the Falcons because they are at home. The Mustangs have shown some good things but can't seem to put four quarters together. Seeger at South Vermilion - I'll take the Indians (Patriots) to pull the upset. South Vermillion wasn't that impressive in the game I watched and I think the boys from West Lebanon get it done. Parke Heritage at Riverton Parke (Saturday) - the Battle of Parke County is now on Saturday. Still doesn't make it a good game. Does PH have a balanced attack? If not, have Donnie Baker check their PH balance! I swear I had to take that shot at him. Let's hope he gets it.

I was sad to read the story of his health issues that forced him to leave before this season, which was to be his farewell year. I had a son who student taught under George and he spoke very highly of him. I know we made fun of the tie and cowboy collars and all, but his teams always played hard and could execute that split back veer very well. I hope he wins his health battle and has a long retirement.

You got Donnie Baker on your back. I swear to God that's the last place you want Donnie! I gotta go.

Delphi @ N. Newton - Spartans are struggling with numbers. Oracles grab another win. Taylor @ C. Prairie - Gophers bounce back in a close game with the Titans. Both teams had under 100 total yards vs. Sheridan, but they'll get plenty of yards against each other. Carroll @ C. Central - Cougars will beat the Bulldogs like a red-headed stepchild. Eastern @ Tri Central - Comets make the short trip to Sharpsburg and trample the Trojans. Sheridan @ N. Central Farmersburg - Mighty mighty Blackhawks make a long trip to Farmersburg and throttle the Thunderbirds.

HSE & Fishers were moved into Sectional 3 in the Ft. Wayne-area with Homestead & FW Northrop. Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield & Zionsville are in Sectional 4 and also in the north.