BLACKGOLD2007

I clearly cannot figure out the rest of the NIC teams just don't want to fit in the box I am trying to put them into. NP v Marian, both teams are down I am hoping for a shootout. My guess is who knows anymore. Washington v Adams, Adams is small in numbers but looked physical in their opening drive against Penn. Otherwise they got steamrolled. Washington has let me down this year. Another idk in this situation. I want a tie Riley v St. Joe, I am going to take St. Joe, but that could be the kiss of death for the Huskies as I don't pick games correctly. Penn v Elkhart, after the showing Elkhart gave against St. Joe, I want to assume Penn is better than St. Joe. There is zero way they were over looking St. Joe. I think Penn gives up a couple TD's but will score another 40 + points again this weekend.

Same could be said about Penn.

I would venture Indy schools didn't want to pay him what Carmel could.

🤷‍♂️time will tell.

I agree I thought those Mishawaka teams were good, but they don't seem to get over that hump. I think they have had only a few trips to semi-state and only one visit to state. I just do not trust teams from the Elkhart/St. Joe county areas anymore.

I don't disagree. I think most of the NIC schools would like to see Penn leave in Football, which actually open it up as a small school conference and they could bring back some of the smaller schools that left. If Penn left in all sports then I think the more natural route would be head west to the DAC, I think Elkhart may try to squeeze into the NLC, if not they may tag along with Penn as a package deal. At this point idk if the DAC would even be interested in Penn and Elkhart. I think the SAC bigger schools would be interested in teaming up in a conference. SAC Big - Penn, Elkhart, Snider, Carroll, Dwenger, Homestead and Northrop that is a decent division (worst case you go to Ft. Wayne 3 times in the regular season). 6 conference games 3 non. Penn gets to keep Mishawaka and Valpo on their schedule and could go search after a game with another DAC school (CP or Mville) or head south and do a meet and greet with Westfield, HSE or Fishers.

One thing I am worried about is how little Penn's starters are playing right now. I know that Penn used to blow teams out by half and get backups reps, I am very leery of comparing current Penn teams to teams 2017 and back. Almost all of those Penn starting teams were capable of competing at least up to Semi-State. Now, Penn isn't even a lock to get out of Sectionals. I am still very skeptical of Elkhart, but Bardo might be the key to this Offense becoming prolific. Their D is what will undo them when they play a team that take Bardo away.

Goshen is a modest sized 5A team that got taken to the shed against a 4A team. The size of the school in the situation of Penn coming back against Mishawaka had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. Mishawaka came into the game more prepared and with more passion. Penn eventually got their feet under them and was able to exert their will. Only giving up 6 points over the next three quarters. This was against an unproven Penn, and to this point in the season Penn is still unproven. We have seen 4A and 5A teams upset their larger counterparts in the past, yes it is the exception to the rule. Mishawaka, Penn, Elkhart and Concord are about as reliable in the playoffs as used diaper. They should have brought Wright back. They would pop off another 4 or 5 season run of state titles.

Penn beats Warren, change my mind.... hahahahaha In all seriousness I am kidding I just want to bring you two into agreement, that no Penn would not beat Warren.

They played Goshen. That is like claiming that Penn is back because they have held their last three opponents to 20 points total while scoring 165....They played Riley, Washington and Marian. That isn't a pat on the back. They took care of business like they were supposed to. Mishawaka lost credibility when they crapped away a 16-0 lead over Penn and lost by 6. No team from North Central Indiana should be taken seriously right now. Concord on down, we are all paper tigers until I am proven otherwise.

Well, Washington I don't think has the team to get a win until maybe the final week of the season (in conference). Riley will beat NP had a surprising defeat to Adams who has had a rough go of it this season. Penn will have it's fourth week in a row where the starters don't make it out of the first half. Penn's three phases have dominated the last three teams with a combined score of 165-20. I expect Penn to have over 40 putting them over 200 points scored in 4 weeks. Elkhart, has issues on the Defensive side of the ball. They are letting bad teams score on them, Washington only got 13 but that game was close late. Riley scored 22 on them and NP dropped 28. Elkhart with Bardo is more dangerous on the offensive side of the ball. St. Joe's D has only allowed 19 points this year, but this is against less than quality opponents. I think this is going to be a shootout. Bardo will likely have 2 or 3 tds. I think 35-30 area where Elkhart gets the win.

Without seeing Elkhart, but looking at their current competition they have struggled against the two better SB schools that Penn worked over. Elkhart v Washington 34-13 (Elkhart pulled away in the fourth) Elkhart v Riley 39-22. Penn beat these teams 111-6. I think Carroll is likely the best team in their sectional and have a tough matchup against CP in the regional.

St. Joe opponents combined record of 4-12 Elkhart opponents have a combined record of 6-10. St. Joe remaining schedule opponents combined record is 12-8 with 3-1 Elkhart and 4-0 Penn remaining. Elkhart remaining schedule opponents combined record is also 12-8 with 4-0 St. Joe and 4-0 Penn remaining. I think it is safe to say Elkhart has seen a better team in Concord than St. Joe has seen yet. Elkhart's D will give up points, The O has put double digits up in each game. I think this game in two weeks will really give us a clue on who will be competing with Penn for the conference title. Elkhart has St. Joe and Penn back to back.

I think this is going to be a big week for the road teams...even though Washington and Adams play at the same field. I think that Elkhart gets a breather when it comes to their schedule. They have struggled with the two better South Bend Schools the last two weeks. A trip over to NP might be a solution the doctor ordered for their team. Penn goes into Marian and ends the game by half. This Penn team is better than last years, but I just don't know if they are ready for a team of CP's experience. St. Joe is starting to form into a contender for the conference championship. With their last game of the season against Penn, could we see an undefeated Penn v undefeated St. Joe for all the marbles. I think Washington exercises some demons from the 62-0 thrashing they took from the Kingsmen last week. Riley may be overlooking their crosstown rivals and end up in a tight battle that it appears Washington might have the players to get them over the top.

NORTHERN INDIANA ALL TIMES EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL GAMES W-L Pts OP W-L Pts OP Streak Penn 2-0 111 6 4- 0 160 41 Won 4 St. Joseph 2-0 74 13 4- 0 136 19 Won 4 Elkhart 2-0 73 35 3- 1 119 77 Won 3 Marian 1-1 21 31 2- 2 49 80 Lost 1 Adams 1-1 35 55 2- 2 76 116 Won 1 Riley 0-2 28 88 2- 2 96 94 Lost 2 Washington 0-2 13 96 1- 3 65 134 Lost 3 New Prairie 0-2 47 78 0- 4 75 161 Lost 5 Friday, Sep. 19 Elkhart at New Prairie ©, 7:30 pm Penn at Marian ©, 7 pm St. Joseph at Adams ©, 7 pm Washington at Riley ©, 7 pm

I know it is essentially win the games in front of you, but I would avoid moving Penn up much further. They will struggle to get out of sectionals. Like Merrillville does they will find a way to make it interesting. haha

What is going on over in Elkhart, allowing Riley to score 22 on them? Plus struggling with Washington the week before until late in the game...Penn dropped 49 before half on Washington and held Riley to 6 points. I think St. Joe might be the second best team as of right now in the conference.

Penn coaches allowed the team to score 62 against Washington. WOW. Normally Penn calls the dogs off and starts asking the refs to throw flags if we score. Avon is a dang good 2 loss team nail biter against HSE and then a shoot out vs Brownsburg. They appear to be better than years prior.

CG drove just a hair over 2 hrs and won the game by 9pts. I think it is fair to say they are pretty good. Most teams don't travel long distances well and come out with a multi score win.

To be fair Rodney, the North is always weak, even with Carmel, Westfield, Frishers and HSE. CP and Carroll help elevate it, but the North is still not the monster that 6A South has been for over 2 decades now.

The two options that may make sense are LaPorte and Michigan City. But, I don't see them leaving the DAC. Plymouth is too far south and Mishawaka is never ever ever getting back together with the NIC.

CP will play the winner of the FT Wayne sectional for regional. It will be in Semi-state when they see a HCC team or Carmel.

They re-up for another 3 years. Penn wont bail.

I think Penn, might struggle with the pass game at first. But, the D will adapt and start to get pressure on the QB. Penn will score on them. I expect it to be a 40+ point night for Penn again.

I for sure thought Elkhart would be better than they have shown. I think they have a lot to show this weekend. With Riley, and Penn just beat the brakes off of them, they should do the same. If they don't I think we have a decent idea of who Elkhart is, playing to the level or their competition.