BLACKGOLD2007

I don't think there is one person in this thread that think Penn is going to win this game. Penn fans included. I do want to pose this question....If CP does not beat Penn like a drum....then what is your opinion of CP? I think CP wins by multiple touchdowns.... But, I am curious what everyone will say, if the expected scenario does not occur.

@temptation what are your thoughts on Cathedral upsetting North? Does Franklin Central have a chance v Center Grove?

He is a winner, and knows how to get the best from his team when it is needed most. If Semi-State comes down to LN v Center Grove...I am giving the edge to Center Grove, even though North beat them by 13 in the regular season. Semi-State is just a different level of pressure, plus you have to beat a familiar foe for a second time, which is always harder.

With CP at 3, if they play and win an ugly game against Penn, does that hurt them? How close are your teams from 2-5?

Penn has to find a way to keep their offense on the field. If they can play keep away from CP, this will bode in their favor. I think Penn's D is the only group that has improved from week to week. I know it has not been against CP caliber teams, but from week 1 to now, that is a better group of players....with a large number of them returning next year. If the O cannot stay on the field....good night and see you next season.

Man, I see this as possible....but I would love to see LN take this down undefeated in a historic run....that is unless Penn finds a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... then I will be selfish and wish for a Penn championship.

Glad Snider got that win. Wasn't pretty, but they got the job done.

We are at home, so we will be there. Then we get to CP if we don't crap the bed this week. Well Snider got their revenge the next year when we went to the Fort and got smashed.

Sure, you could never overlook an opponent. That was just my perspective of what Snider needs to do. I think the jacked-o-meter is going to be on the side of Elkhart, big time home playoff game that isn't Penn for the first time in a while...where they are probably "favored" in their eyes. I remember my Freshman year we had Snider rolling in for the semi state game, everyone was counting us out, Corey did a great job that week getting us hyped for the game. Normally hype wears off in a half...but we sustained it the entire game and bounces went our way that night....The next week we have Warren Central....and their messaging to us was so off base. The meek will inherit the earth bs...did not play well with the players...I am in no way saying that is why we go trounced...but it was not how you get a team that just dropped 60 on Snider ready for the biggest game of their lives..

NIC schools like Penn, St. Joe, Marian and the South Bend Schools do well in various sports. Penn has had a strong showing when it comes to the none football sports this fall. The issue with the NIC is that these programs are performing despite the conference's limitations. NIC teams already play a heavy Region and Fort Wayne schedule outside of conference...Now that will change some because in baseball and basketball the in conference games have changed. Dikos (Penn's baseball coach) has already complained about the changes to the baseball schedule. I don't think Penn's best bet is going independent in football only....I think they should petition the DAC and see if they will take Penn in, if they don't....I would then reach out to similar sized schools in our area and Fort Wayne and see if organizing a new conference with them is a possibility...I would explore those options before trying to go Independent...But, if Penn went that route...you now have two Indy schools that would want to play Penn each year moving forward....Almost a guaranteed win for both schools at this point.

If this game cracks 28 I will be surprised. Snider just needs to be sound on D and not turn the ball over....Get to a week where you are playing a foe you know, and see if you can contain Carroll enough to keep you in the game...I know I have beaten this Elkhart horse to death...I just don't believe they have it. If they pull off this upset and then manage to beat Carroll....I will then give them credit.

I just cannot fathom them generating the O to score....when they could barely do it against Penn...Now if Snider gifts them a short field or two, sure...But, I am still the I wont believe until I actually see the final score with Elkhart over Snider...and still wont go around singing their praises unless they beat Carroll soundly.

Penn allowed them to move the ball, but the D held firm and special teams kept points off the board as well. If Penn doesn't fumble that punt, I think Penn wins that game 3-0. It was bad in the second half. Both teams were strong on the defensive side of the ball...but Penn's O is well pretty dismal when it needs to perform or come up clutch. I think Penn and Elkhart are at the bottom tier when it comes to potential to make a run.

Penn admin needs to see this info and be ashamed of it. THERE IS NO REASON a 6A blue blood should be playing such a crap schedule and be 7-2....two losses to local teams....it makes me want to throw up. (I know you have similar thoughts, just venting into the void)

It is my take on it as well. The teams you play have to mean something. Cathedral for decades would go into the 4A tournament with a bad record and come out state champions. If you look at the two best games each team has played, Elkhart went 1-1 and Snider went 0-2...The difference is Carroll and Warren are two of the best teams in 6A...While Concord is really good and Penn is well back to that beatable giant everyone has come to love.

Elkhart has always head talented players. If I am not mistaken they have 3 D1 commits...which is more than any school in my area....but this team is not world beaters. If they get by Snider, I will buy in. But, until then I am a skeptic of all teams from my area. Also, Elkhart is as high as 6 in the polls. So, they are getting more love than I would give them.

@BTF@Komets2727 what are your thoughts on the Snider-Elkhart game this weekend?

Yes they still won, but this year beating Penn is not a great feat. The fact that there are polls out there that have Penn sniffing the top ten is laughable. Elkhart has done what they are supposed to do, win games and at times win ugly. But, the talent that they have seen this year does not compare to what is on the field in Fort Wayne. It is entirely possible I am wrong for yet a third time this year, and Elkhart does win this game, but I have become a hardcore sceptic of this area's teams when it comes non-regional match-ups. I think Concord has had an amazing season, however I think they will struggle down state....why? Because, everything coming out of St. Joe and Elkhart Counties are overrated until they prove otherwise....that means beating a blue blood region team, Fort Wayne team and one of the Indy schools.....actually beating any Indy school at this point.

Thank you good sir!

That was also in a triple option offense. I am not saying he isn't capable of making plays. The quality of opponent has to count for something. Snider got beat by Warren (8-1) and Carroll (7-2). Elkhart has played Concord and Penn.....The Penn game they scored 7 points off of a fumbled Penn punt. I am not saying it will be a walk off, but Elkhart was stonewalled by Penn all second half.

I thought the team on the bottom of the bracket played at home....The brackets wont load for me right now, so I cant see if Carroll has multiple home games while CP is away.

Elkhart struggled moving the ball against a bad Penn team. Snider would have to be on par with Penn to get beat by Elkhart. Snider has played better competition in conference. With exception of Concord, Elkhart has not played up to the competition that Snider has seen all year. Will the game be close, probably. If it weren't for a muffed punt, Elkhart gets beat by Penn 3-0.

Penn, NP, St. Joe and Marian all move on to next week. Yes I think St. Joe gets the job done vs Northwood.

There doesn't seem to be a clear cut favorite like we had last year.

I am taking NP to the sectional finals against Hanover Central. I think Marian has a good chance to play for the sectional finals against Griffith. St. Joe will have a tough game against Northwood, but they could also be playing for a sectional finals against Mishawaka. At that point I think all NIC teams will have be eliminated from the playoffs. I think Elkhart gets beat by Snider. I think Penn gets manhandled again at home against CP. 4 teams playing for sectional championships. 0-4 as a conference in those games.