BLACKGOLD2007

I know this is an open forum, and anyone can comment, but those from the Indy area telling Penn to get over themselves? Did you call the school and speak to someone who actually represents the school and did they give you the travel excuse? Are you applying one person's defense that is a Penn fan on this forum and applying it to the school. Most of you Indy schools don't actually win state. That area of our state is like the SEC, if one of us wins we all win...Nah bro, just that school won. Noblesville, Zionsville and Franklin Central etc. don't get a piece of that action. Yes Penn has a competition issue. Yes Penn could fix it by leaving the NIC, in football only would be the best solution. However, until it actually feels like the school system cares about winning a state title in football again, we likely won't be leaving this conference....unless forced out. So, the question is why don't the other NIC schools actually do something like that? I personally don't care what the schools do in the southwest corner of our state, but you make valid points in that argument. Richmond plays a team across the state, so this can be done. Unless the 6A and High achieving 5A schools of the True North leave their conferences and make a scheduling agreement with one another, we will have region based conferences here in the very north part of the state. What does the scheduling agreement look like: The Region: CP, MVille, Valpo (Portage and LC if they want) Central: Penn, Elkhart (maybe Concord) Ft. Wayne: Warsaw, Snider, Carroll, Homestead (maybe Northrop) All agree to play their regional teams plus Penn and Elkhart and play at least one away cross state game each year (that would be one home game and one away game) What Penn's schedule could look like: (this is using this years Home/Away schedule for reference) 1- Valpo (H) 2- Mishawaka(A) 3- MVille(A) 4- Warsaw (H) 5- Snider (H) 6- Carroll (A) 7- CP (H) 8- Homestead (A) 9- Elkhart (H)

St. Joe (3-0) @ Marian (1-2) Holy War '26 SB Washington (0-3) @ Penn (3-0) Elkhart (2-1) @ SB Riley (1-2) New Prairie (0-3) @ SB Adams (2-1) There is a chance each game is over by halftime.

However those other sports are already playing many DAC and Ft. Wayne schools, so now that argument to oppose the move would carry less weight. I also think that the NIC could ask Penn to leave in just football and have the rest of the teams stay in conference... That I would say is a logical and fair solution.

that doesn't help, but still we can both be correct here. Penn varsity is not helping anyone by crushing teams by half. This isn't a shot at the SB schools or Marian, however those Varsity teams vs the Penn JV squad would be a good game.

Penn and the NIC need to come to an agreement where either they leave the conference in football or allow them to play the JV vs other school varsity teams.

Marian (1-1) at SB Adams (1-1) - 21-17 St. Joseph (2-0) at New Prairie (0-2) - Sorry NP but I think SB. St. Joe hangs a tough loss on you. 42- 7 SB Washington (0-2) at Elkhart (1-1) - Elkhart gets back in the win column, wins 49-0 Penn (2-0) at SB Riley (1-1) - Penn has 42 by half, then takes the foot off the gas. 49-7

The one benefit Penn should have going into the playoffs is being able to stay healthy. The O-line against Valpo pressure gave up big hits on Hall, and at times looked a little slow. They sure looked improved against Mishawaka, but that is a hard game to draw any information from. I want to say Penn's O, should be able to move the ball and score, but with the lack of big games on the schedule from here to the end of the season, I still cautiously put them as a potential top 5 team in the North. (this is not a stab at St. Joe or Elkhart) 1- Westfield 2- Carmel 3- Carroll 4- CP 5- HSE or maybe Penn

Based on what the Ft. Wayne folks were saying this off season, I am shocked by the Carroll v Center Grove game score....I know North Teams don't travel well to the Indy area, but I anticipated a tougher game. Not sure if someone got hurt, there could be details I am missing. But, I am still not sold on Penn, and CP beating Pike doesn't move me one way or another. I think Carroll still is likely the best team from the true North of the state. I would like to be wrong.

Happy to be wrong, but I was surprised.

I feel like this might be better thought out than whatever maxpreps puts out. However, I am still struggling with this Franklin Central being ranked ahead of Penn nonsense..... but whatever.

Penn's run D against Valpo was not good last week. Valpo got in their own way. I think this will either be a shootout or low scoring due to limited possessions.

South Bend Adams @ Culver Academy - Culver Academy will be better coached than Adams. Hammond Bishop Noll @ SB Riley (Jackson Field) - Riley is the best team from he South Bend Public Schools by a wide margin, Bishop Noll is not good. South Bend St. Joseph @ Lakeland - St. Joe starts strong in a year they are expected to do well. Hammond Central @ SB Washington (School Field) - Wash game, going with the home team. Mishawaka @ Mishawaka Marian - Mishawaka too big, too much for Marian Valparaiso @ Penn - Penn's O works out some kinks but the D will be firing on all cylinders...28-0 LaPorte @ New Prairie - NP bounce back year....hopefully Elkhart @ Concord - Concord is probably the second or third best team in our area. I expect them to win this game. I don't trust or believe in Elkhart.

I understand, but my position was not Penn should be top 10, it was simply FC has never done a thing in 6A ball, while Penn has history of success in 6A.

Max Prep is on something. Franklin Central ahead of CP Penn and Merrillville?

Rotate the south bend schools and drop Marian, I think Marian is better competition than the south bend schools, but we shouldn't be playing a 3A school. We would be better off playing Concord each year, if we cannot get consistent FW or Indy competition.

I wish Penn would do this.

Sectional 3 is loaded, and Penn was gifted a favorable sectional after a favorable regular season schedule. I think Penn is heavy favorite to make the regional game against sectional 1. Carroll has heavy lifting to do against sectional 3. If they get through that, they will be favored over anyone from sectionals 1 and 2.

Penn was given a gift with sectional 2. Sectional 3 is stacked! Who ever makes it out of that sectional will be a strong favorite the rest of the way in 6A north, assuming they aren't beat up.

Seems like we are going to keep seeing the same faces in regionals. Some combination of these teams making regionals this year in 6A North. Adding Merrillville and Valpo while make sectional 1 tougher, I think CP is the team to beat, CP has not lost to Merrillville since 2021. Sectional 1 - CP Sectional 2 - Carroll or Penn - I left Penn in this consideration because their offense is going to be better than last year. Sectional 3 - Carmel or Westfield - under Wright, Carmel will win a state title, it is just a matter of time. Sectional 4 - HSE or Fishers - This sectional will always come down to these two, it will take a generational Noblesville or Homestead team to walk away with this sectional crown.

I did not pay attention to all the teams moving up potentially and missed valpo. So, my statement is just nonsense into the wind. Sorry about that.

Sectional 1 in 6A just got more interesting. Merrillville moving up could elevate this sectional to one of the hardest in the state. This is assuming CP and Penn have similar seasons to last year.

Penn returns a lot of threats on Offense. They will be a tough out barring any injuries this coming season.

Ooof that is a kick in the balls. @Bobrefwould the refs announce (over the PA system) that the timeout was given back during an IN state game? I am not a coach, but if I were the Shaw coach, and I had a timeout remaining I would have called it to make sure I had all the pertinent info. I know that in times of confusion we forget to collect all the data and this is how games fall apart. The clock was going to stop anyway, use the timeout to gather yourself and make sure that the team is refocused on getting the first down now.

Wait, this is likely sarcasm, but I haven't been on here much this week... We think Carroll would not be a top 2 or 3 team in 5A? Like New Pal will be playing 6A ball soon, but I don't think there is anyone in 5A north that is stopping Carroll... Especially Merrillville.