temptation

Guess they had their required racial reckoning... I am going to lay the over under at 18.5 on number of conference titles won by one of these two in the 22 sanctioned IHSAA sports. Anybody taking the under?

The first half social media takes (many now since deleted) were juicy.

Probably unfair to the 2025 edition of Merrillville football, but I just can't take them seriously on a state wide level. Just seems they fall flat on their face when playing someone outside of northwest Indiana. Carroll and Warsaw have closed the gap on the central Indiana teams and obviously Crown Point has but I can't buy Merrillville as a sure fire top 20/25 team. So, if Merrillville is a top 15 team in the state and was down 28-0 to Crown Point, I assume you have Crown Point at #1?

Me too.

Triple it.

Gimme a Carmel vs Crown Point/Carroll point spread.

Unpopular opinion: Carmel has been more impressive than Brownsburg thus far. (Ducks on the way out…)

Can’t disagree.

"True north" = north of Hamilton County?

Yeah, missed on Pike...badly.

We are doing this again? Every damn year. You even admitted that Carroll's fortunes in the playoff a couple years back was weather related. Carroll vs BD/DC (especially if the Hawks have a healthy Polson) would be a one possession game either way. As it relates to the "toilet bowl" statement, I was referring to being the best 1-2 team in the state. I'd also add Cathedral into that mix while we are at it.

Not much of an "eye test" as I am mainly going off of boxscores, heresay and victory margins. Can only argue with the "by far" of your statement about Carroll. I think Decatur Central and Ben Davis would like a word. Is that like the toilet bowl trophy Gus Macker used to hand out?

Eventually you have to win games though as moral victories only count so much. Looking at you, Ben Davis and Franklin Central.

Carmel/CG close at all?

Well, the entirety of my sports weekend wasn’t a loss. Just glad to see Connor Stalions got a new gig helping the Vikings.

Gimme LC and FC straight up.

Merrillville was my next team in if that means anything.

Cathedral has high standards.

Did the exodus to NC come to fruition? And if so, why are they still so putrid?

Side note, I am having trouble seeing more than 1 more guaranteed win left on BD's schedule. I will give them NC but there is a very real possibility the Giants are 2-7 entering the tournament. Seems they can't score?

Well, seeing how Avon put it on BD compared to the rock fight that Cathedral had was what I was basing my ranking off of. Plenty of opportunities on the remaining schedule for the Irish to get statement wins.

Bumping… I was wrong about Pike and for that I apologize. Now, Avon on the other hand…

Brownsburg Carmel Center Grove New Palestine Crown Point Westfield Fishers Lawrence North Hamilton Southeastern Warren Central Lawrence Central Avon Carroll (Fort Wayne) Indianapolis Cathedral Bishop Chatard Lafayette Jefferson Decatur Central Ben Davis Warsaw East Noble Heritage Hills Franklin Central Columbus North East Central Penn

Glad to be back!

Gonna do a combined thread and continue to include Carmel and Center Grove. Ben Davis @ Cathedral (at Butler): Don't really know what to expect from this one as both teams are capable of competing for the title in their respective classes. A lot of rumors over the summer about a mass exodus at Cathedral but I will wait and see. Ben Davis improved steadily last year after a slow start, only to blow a huge lead over eventual state champion in Brownsburg. I really see this as a coin flip game, but I will go with Cathedral, 27-23. Brebeuf Jesuit @ North Central: The aforementioned "mass exodus" at Cathedral could be the gain of these two programs. North Central has been an annual basement dweller in the MIC after showing promise pre-covid. This will be a nice test for the Panters as the Braves are no slouch. Call it a hunch, but I'll call for what could be considered a mild upset here. Gimme NC 20-17. Carmel @ Fishers: The Kevin Wright era wastes no time as they travel to county rival Fishers, right off the bat. Fishers, will be replacing Mr. Everything Jon Anthony Hall but has plenty of talent remaining. I think Wright gives the 'Hounds fans some optimism with a road one week win. Carmel 24-21. Carroll (Fort Wayne) @ Hamilton Southeastern: Kudos to the Chargers for scheduling this one and traveling down I-69. They will be better off in October for having played this game. HSE is just too much however. Royals win 31-14. Center Grove @ Warren Central: Speaking of a new era getting underway, the JT Whitaker era does not ease in as they host Eric Moore's Trojans in what I expect to be the first of two meetings between the squads this year. CG has owned this series as of late and will once again compete for the 6A title. Warren lost a lot on defense but still has a pair of studs...and their offense can't possibly be any worse than it was last year. Still, I think CG gets this one 28-13. Decatur Central @ Avon: The Hawks kickoff their premier season at the 6A level with a trip to Avon. Remember, DC started slowly last year before finishing like gang busters en route to the 5A state title. Avon has slowly shown improvement under their new regime and I am picking them for the upset. Orioles win 27-20. Franklin Central @ Perry Meridian: Feel like this is a broken record, but is 2025 the year that FC breaks into the top half of the HCC and knocks off CG in the tournament? This game won't tell us much however as the revolving door continues at Perry, who is stuck in 6A purgatory. Flashes roll 38-7. Homestead @ Westfield: Like Carroll, kudos to the Spartans for beefing up the non-conference slate with a trip to Westfield. It won't end well, but is admirable. 'Rocks win 34-14. Lawrence Central @ Lawrence North: The battle for the bell kicks off the season once again as LN is coming off of its best season in program history and has great talent returning. LC, like Avon has the potential to sneak up on some folks this season, but not this week. Wildcats win 31-14. Noblesville @ Mt. Vernon (Fortville): Honestly have no idea on this one. Noblesville starts over at head coach with Carmel's John Hebert. The pressure to win at Noblesville is probably not as big as it is at Carmel, but with the new stadium renovations and outpouring of community support, folks won't wait long. Noblesville has never had much trouble with August contests, its the conference slate that has upended their seasons. They'll win this one. Millers win 30-10. Pike @ Zionsville: Pike has been the darling of the summer dog days on the GID as they just don't get talked about. They are overshadowed by their county counterparts yet can sneak up on anyone (just ask Fishers last season). Zionsville will be a good test. I see this one as a close game. Pike wins 23-20. Spalding (MD) @ Brownsburg: A top 100 matchup of nationally ranked teams as Brownsburg hosts Maryland's #2 outfit. Won't pretend to know much about the opponent, though DMV football is always the real deal. I think Brownsburg is absolutely capable of repeating but I am going to go with my gut and pick the road team. Spalding wins 31-17. What say you?