BLACKGOLD2007

I think that Penn gets the job done against LC but then lays a turd against CP. Snider traveling to Elkhart is going to be a tough game for the Panthers.... I think Snider comes out with a one score win. While Carroll gets to rest up after halftime. I believe we will see the matchup everyone expected to see in last years regional. Carroll v CP. If I am not mistaken would be at Carroll. Carmel v Zionsville...idk coin flip. It stinks that Westfield is playing Harrison in game 1...but I think Westfield wins the sectional. HSE and Fishers should be playing one another for the sectional title, setting up a great game against Westfield in the regional. I am going to take HSE in the rematch against Westfield. I am going to take Carroll over CP if the game is played at Carroll. I will then take HSE to represent the North in the state championship game. In the south I think Brownsburg and LN will be playing in regionals While Warren will be waiting for the winner of sectional 8, which could have a new representative for the first time in a while...However, I am taking Center Grove until I am proven wrong. I am buying the hype with LN (that four week stretch to end the season is impressive to me). I think LN will play Warren again in Semi-State.... LN will play HSE for state, with LN coming out undefeated state champs. Which would be a historic run, since the Wildcats have not made it through Regionals...ever...(at least based on the data I can see on Harrell)

Well I will say I was surprised Penn won the game by double digits. I figured the D would play well, but the O I gave up on. Wont be at the St. Joe game, we are going to watch a real life murdering of Purdue next Friday night. Then a week off to consider going to the playoff game...If Penn draws CP...I hope they play at CP, so I have a built in excuse to not go. Sad state of affairs being a Penn fan.

LN has had an amazing 3 week stretch. I know BD is down, but still a huge win against a traditional power. A blowout against an undefeated Warren Central. Then beating Center Grove by 13. Keep it up Wildcats

I had someone close to the Elkhart program tell me yesterday that he fears Penn wins the game by multiple scores. He is worried about the teams lack of discipline (which encompasses penalties). I assured him Penn is like a mirror in this situation, they are struggling with inconsistency on both sides of the ball (the D seems to be finding their footing against lesser competition) and penalties. Penn likes to use the how can we sabotage this drive before it starts method of Football. I will say it really works, just not in the way they were hoping. lol

Who do you have as the #15 team...because if it is Penn, then that has already been accomplished. lol I will curb that statement and say I think the Penn game would be significantly different if it were to be played on week 9 rather than week 2. With that being said, Mishawaka took care of business when the game was played, and my hat tips to them. I hope they go on to win state in 4A.

Chatard (Columbus North 5-1) and Mishawaka (Penn 5-1...over inflated record due to a poor schedule) both beat 6A teams... Mishawaka was also 14 points down and came back with 2 mins to go against #1 (5A) Concord and lost on a failed 2pt conversion. I would say Mishawaka right now is possibly the best overall showing when it comes to record and schedule. I know the Penn game is not as nice of a win now, but nonetheless they beat a larger school who is traditionally a much better program then they are, and beat them soundly. Chatard got mashed by Cathedral but I don't think that game should reflect negatively. They are a 2A/3A school playing with some of the biggest and best programs in our State. I think, like Temp does, we should reward winning games, but we cannot just overlook the fact that two teams have better wins. wouldn't say it is clear in 4A, I think that 1-4 is tighter than you might think. Could any of those teams win a state title in 4A, I do think that.

So, if Penn beats Elkhart, lets say by 14, that proves our stance Elkhart is overrated. If Penn wins in a one score game less than 5 lets say, are the still overrated? If Elkhart beats Penn by 14 do they get a boost and a see they are for real, or do they get the well you beat a highly overrated (over expectations) Penn team. Idk. I think either way both Penn and Elkhart should not be considered for a top 10 spot. maybe keep them somewhere in the 11-15 slot. I did have a person who is close to the Elkhart program tell me yesterday that he thinks Penn will win by multiple scores.

I know, but I still need to admit when I am wrong.

I think Penn wins this game at home by 14. NP v Marian is a hard one to pick for me. Marian played Penn tough at Penn. If the NP team that came to play against Riley shows up I expect them to win this game. Washington maybe? Both teams are not good. St. Joe from what I am seeing week to week is a better team than Riley. I think Riley falls to 2-4 after being reintroduced to the NIC big schools. They end the season at 3-5.

If the winner of the Penn Elkhart game pushes either team into your top 20, as you said in a different thread...does that put Penn at 26?

I agree with that! I just hope it is true. I expect Penn is going to struggle with CP's size and speed. But, maybe it will be a shootout like last year. BAD TEMP! BAD BAD BAD lol That must have tasted awful coming out of your mouth. Good luck to you guys the rest of the way. I hope you make it to state.

So, there has been a bunch of chat about Elkhart this season. A couple of Transfers in from Mishawaka, a new coaching staff who is trying to change the culture at the school. As of right now they are meeting those expectations. A close week 1 loss to the 5A #1 team (in some polls) Concord. Then going on to beat the teams in front of them have set up the NIC title match vs a Penn team who in all reality is propped up with a down schedule. A bad loss to Mishawaka in week 2 and a messy win vs Valpo in Week 1 has just been diminished by CP who thrashed Valpo 41-7 on Friday night. Right now, based on the Concord ranking, the Penn game will be their second best game of the season. After weeks of settling in, I think it is fair to say this will be their first true test. Does Elkhart take the next step in their program evolution and overcome their newly minted rival in Penn, or does the status quo remain in tact in the NIC? This game is at Penn, I anticipate that Penn's Offense will struggle some, because they are beat up at the RB position our pass game is inconsistent and our QB run game fell off the face of the Earth after week 1. I think our D is starting to settle in, but will give up a big play here and there. I expect Penn to win 28-14.

I want to believe in what people are saying about Elkhart, but I feel the same way about them as I do Penn. Easy schedule with their best competition coming in sectionals. Elkhart gets exposed in sectionals, if Penn doesn't do it next weekend. Penn will not look good against CP who just waxed Valpo 41-7 last night.

Hey, I was wrong. I admit, I thought they would pull up on them. Adams kept giving Penn short fields/

Penn calls off the dogs at half. We probably get up 28-0 and start practicing. If it goes anything like the Washington game, Penn scored like 21 points in the first few minutes in that game.

IDK why. Penn did not look good in win over Valpo, beat a game Marian (3A) and got destroyed by Mishawaka....nothing to celebrate about or think we are worthy of any consideration of a top 10 ranking.

Thank you for taking the time to compile this list....Please kindly remove Penn from all consideration of the Top 10. Thank you, from a concerned Penn fan.

I didn't realize that the game was over and that blown coverages and onside kicks aren't part of the game. Maybe Concord got the signals mixed up. Nevertheless that is a heck of a comeback to come up short on failed 2pt conversion. If Mishawaka scores, we are talking about Concord differently in this scenario. I mean you cant really put CP in the Michiana area....They are about 2hrs from us. So, for the Elkhart/St. Joe area Concord by far is the best team in the area followed by Mishawaka...the rest is a push.

On another note, I just noticed that New Pal only has 8 games on the schedule (per Harrell)....maybe I missed it being talked about elsewhere....but does anyone know why?

The Concord v Mishawaka game came down to the failed 2pt conversion. Mishawaka proved their PAT game is not good during the Penn game. It was a heck of a come back by Mishawaka in the second half. I think if they play that game over again, Mishawaka would likely win. Concord however is finding ways to win games, which is what you need to do.

hahaha

Thank you for your insight.

I was thinking the same thing....If you have Valpo ranked then Mishawaka and Penn need to be in there....However, Penn doesn't deserve to be looked at for the rest of the year. The only way they pull themselves out of this mess is if they win their sectional. Mishawaka is being punished for getting beat by an undefeated Concord who is only 24th on this list while Valpo is sitting at 14? BRO look at the results please.

Right!?! Everyone in the stands was like it is a fumble. Fans around me, including myself heard a whistle blow, but when the white hat dropped the bean bag I was like, nope the ball is live and Marian eventually walked it into the endzone. Without knowing that rule, we thought the touchdown should have stood. The only thing that I could come up with to justify the ball going back to Penn was the whistle. @Bobref did you find the play on Hudl?

Was the Elkhart performance what led to moving them down this week? Just curious.