NRRaider2001

Interesting news out of Northwood today

2 hours ago, CTP said:

I was in attendance last week for the Northridge vs Northwood game. Northridge came ready to play offensively and defensively. A couple keys for them: 1) getting #8 back on defense. I don't believe he played the first game between them and was certainly a difference-maker as he followed Tuggle all over the field. I'm surprised NorthWood only threw fade balls to him and didn't try running a post or putting him in the slot (similar to what NR did with Jethro). 2) Jethro took over the game and the Panthers didn't seem to have anyone who could stop him. He caught anything and everything that went his way. Quiet night for Sainz, but Tuggle followed him on defense. 3) I was surprised Miller played in the game after he was seen on the sidelines two weeks ago in a sling. Whatever the injury, it did not stop him for exploding through the middle of the Panthers defense for serious yardage. The absence of NW stud linebackers was really portrayed.

Now, moving onto this week between New Prairie and Northridge: Do I think New Prairie should win and decisively? Yes. However, I'm not betting against the Raiders anymore. They will show up and make any game at least competitive. New Prairie will have a chip on their shoulder based on last years semi-state game.  Since the Penn game, NP has been rolling on all cylinders and I've been blown away by their performance this post-season. My heart is telling me to predict NP to win, but like I said, I'm not betting against the Raiders: NR 31-28. Best of luck to both teams and I hope to see a great game.

Mishawaka and Snider game - not much interest in this game even though Mishawaka is technically in the NLC. Still hard to wrap my head around this. I just don't get too excited watching them play. IMO (and I'm sure this may offend some), in modern day football, at the 5A/6A level specifically, you are not going to win a State Championship running triple option football. 

Very well put, on paper and the eye test, I'd say New Prairie should win fairly easily.

Northridge has that it factor and truly believes in the Why Not Us mantra, I wouldn't want to bet against those boys either.

Hope it's another classic like last year's semi state. 

Fun fact, Northridge has never lost a Regional football game. 

1 hour ago, npcougar15 said:

Looks like 38 degrees with an 11 mph wind for kick off tomorrow. 

Sounds like nicer weather than the last two meetings between our two schools lol

I know we're big underdogs yet again and that's fine by me, how's everyone feeling about Mishawaka this week?

5 hours ago, npcougar15 said:

Where is all the Northridge faithful? 

How do you think New Prairie is different than last years team?

23 hours ago, Rocket said:

Does Northridge have a balanced attack or do they tend to favor one over the other?

Balanced, but definitely more passing this year than I can remember us doing. 

Qb has an arm and some really good WR that have been clutch. 

Still have a couple capable running backs as well, 1 that we got back from injury last week. 

13 minutes ago, npcougar15 said:

Where is all the Northridge faithful? 

I'm here lurking, just shared an article in the NLC thread.  Been busy with travel baseball so haven't posted as much this year as years past.

Ken Fox The Elkhart Truth.

The press release came over on a Monday afternoon

"Northridge High School names Chad Eppley as its new football coach, replacing the retiring Tom Wogomon."

I looked at my collegue Bob Oppenheim and asked the easy question.

"Wait, who?'

Then we realized that Eppley was just 26 years old and would be coaching in the rugged Northern Lakes Conference against guys like Warsaw's Bart Curtis and then-Plymouth coach John Barron, who each likely had sweatshirts older than 26.

But man, what a great decision it turned out to be.

In his first season as the Raiders head coach, he took Northridge to the Class 4A state finals, winning game after game that the "experts" didn't think they would win.

NorthWood, Columbia City and No. 2 Leo in the sectional. Mississinewa in the regional. And then finally, New Prairie on the Cougars' home field on a bitterly cold night at the semistate.

During the run, the Raider players and fans picked up the mantra, "Why not us?"

They rode that all the way to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where they finally met their match in a powerful Mount Vernon team.

Now, to prove that it wasn't a mirage, Eppley has the Raiders in the 4A regional again, after handing unbeaten and third-ranked NorthWood its first loss last Friday.

So, what makes Chad Eppley so special?

To me, there are two main reasons: The way he relates to his players and his very unique ability to adapt.

On the Monday prior to the title game in 2021, Northridge held a press conference with Eppley and seven of his players.

After answering the normal questions about the game, each player spoke glowingly and unrehearsed about what the young coach had brought to the program.

Words like honor and leadership. Belief and trust. Accountability and toughness.

In the pre-season, Eppley brought back a team camp to help his team bond and draw closer.

If you don't think that made a difference during some of those tough tournament games, then you were never an athlete.

Eppley continued to lead, even after the Raiders' loss in Indianapolis, reminding his players to keep their state runner-up medals around their neck, even though some wanted to just toss them into the stands.

And in his final speech to the 2021 Raiders, Chad Eppley reminded his players that he loved them.

As for his adaptability ...

At the start of the 2021 season, Northridge had Micah Hochstetler playing quarterback and Ricky Lloyd as one of his top backs.

But Lloyd went down in week one with a torn ACL and Hochstetler — who was off to a great start — suffered a leg injury in Week 4 and wouldn't return until the championship game (then only playing defense).

So Eppley and his staff looked at sophomore Connor Roth and junior Qade Carrington (more on him later) as a replacement for Hochstetler, before settling on a most unlikely quarterback in junior Tagg Gott.

Wearing No. 24.

But it worked.

After struggling in his first game as a starter against Mishawaka in Week 9 of the 2021 season, Gott became a sensation for Northridge, finishing with 1,103 yards rushing and 1,110 yards passing.

His picture-perfect 76-yard touchdown pass to Jethro Hochstetler with 1:31 to play against New Prairie gave the Raiders the win that sent them to Indy.

So Eppley was set to enter his second year with Gott returning at quarterback and a healthy Lloyd in the  backfield.

That didn't last through the summer.

Due to family reasons, Gott moved to Schoolcraft, Michigan, for his senior year of football last summer.

Then, incredibly, Lloyd was again lost for the season to a torn ACL, this time after just two carries in 2022.

Eppley didn't blink.

He turned to Carrington to play quarterback and the senior has been nothing short of a revelation, having already thrown for 2,714 yards and 28 touchdowns this season. Hochsetetler and Kade Sainz have been his top targets, while junior McClain Miller has been a solid halfback.

So from a team in 2021 that had Gott run ... a lot ... picking his spots behind a strong offensive line, Eppley now has a team with a gunslinger at quarterback and fast receivers.

The best comparison I can think of for that kind of adaptability is Don Shula — yes that Don Shula, the NFL's all-time winningest coach.

When Shula led the Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl titles, which included the '72 Miami team which is still the last unbeaten team in NFL history, he favored a fun-heavy offense with Larry Csonka, Jim Klick and Mercury Morris, while quarterback Bob Griese was a "game manager."

Kids, look them up on YouTube.

Then Miami was able to draft Dan Marino to play quarterback in 1983 and things changed. Suddenly it was "Air Shula" and the veteran coach helped Marino become one of the best that's ever played the game.

Relax, I'm not saying Eppley is Don Shula yet. Just making a comparison.

So here we are again, after another 5-4 regular season Eppley has the Raiders at 8-4 and heading back to New Prairie, this time for a regional game on Friday night.

And just like 2021, there are doubters that the Raiders have a chance to win on the grass field of Amzie Miller Field against a strong New Prairie squad that has been hoping for a rematch since the Tagg-to-Jethro game last fall.

That's OK ... I'm sure the Raiders and their now-27-year-old coach don't mind if you take them lightly.

Northridge will show up for the 8 p.m. game on Tuesday and they'll try to write a new chapter in the Eppley legacy.

But win or lose, I know Eppley will tell his team that he loves them, and his players will show total respect to their leader.

And in high school sports, you can't ask for much more than that.

Northridge does it again, after huge games from Miller, Carrington, and Hochstetler

Carroll big

Concord by 3

Northridge by 4

16 hours ago, CTP said:

Looks like a rematch next week at Andrews Field. Should be a good one! Obviously NW has several players out, but I noticed #5 for Northridge wasn’t dressed tonight. Is he injured badly or should he return soon? 

He's been out since early in the first sectional game, heard he was expected to miss several weeks is all I know

On 10/25/2022 at 4:03 PM, dm6002 said:

Anyone going to elaborate on the reasoning kids got suspended? 

Like one poster said, the link is out there on inkfreenews and it's all over Facebook. 

One of the players in trouble made a public post accepting responsibility, which I applaud. 

49 minutes ago, Bobref said:

I wasn’t there, so I have no opinion on the play. But I would caution everyone against forming an opinion based on a single still photograph.

I get that a bad call is gonna happen, just a tough time in the game for it to be called.   

Also the official pictured wasn't the one that called it, that was from the guy 25+ yes behind the play. 

I also misspoke, white was called for dpi not opi.

Either way, on to next week against Northwood, which will be a whole different challenge. 

45 minutes ago, Bobref said:

I wasn’t there, so I have no opinion on the play. But I would caution everyone against forming an opinion based on a single still photograph.

Agreed, however I was there.  Overall a few tough calls, but not anything too crazy.   Just hate seeing such a hard fought battle between two great programs be influenced by a really tough call.

Very proud of our guys battling a team nobody gave us a shot at going to 2 overtimes. 

FYI this was called opi on the Raiders, and would've put them in scoring position for the win. 

Overall both teams looked really good. 

Concord (1-1) at NorthWood (2-0):

NORTHWOOD BY 24

Goshen (0-2) at Wawasee (0-2):

GOSHEN BY 21

Northridge (1-1) at Mishawaka (2-0):

MISHAWAKA BY 14

Plymouth (0-2) at Warsaw (2-0):

WARSAW BY 30

Northridge had several opportunities to win the game last week but couldn't capitalize, still missing a few key players for the next few weeks as well. 

Could start the season 1-3, but I think they'll finish strong.   I'll post my nlc week 3 predictions here in a few. 

Went 6-2 on my picks last week as well. 

Chesterton (1-0) at Warsaw (1-0):

Sad to hear about the Warsaw QB going down with an injury.  Don't know much about Chesterton these days (we used to open up the season against them years ago).  But i do know Warsaw and Bart Curtis will be well prepared.  WARSAW by 10

Concord (0-1) at Jimtown (0-1):

I don't think this is the typical Concord team, although they still have a few studs, I'm sure later in the season they'll start to figure things out though,  but I'm not sold on them this year.  JIMTOWN by 10

East Noble (1-0) at NorthWood (1-0):

This would typically be a really good early season Northern Indiana battle, and still could be. I've been reading the NE8 predictions thread and they seem pretty confident in EN, but I'm buying it just yet. 

NORTHWOOD by 14

New Prairie (1-0) at Goshen (0-1):

I don't think this will be as close as last week for Goshen, but they got a preview of this type of offense last week.  Not saying Fairfield is anywhere close to New Prairie talent wise, but I think Coach Wogomon will have them more competitive than a lot of people think. 

NEW PRAIRIE by 14

Northridge (1-0) at Elkhart (1-0):

TV46 Game of the Week, looks to be an electric atmosphere tonight with a large crowd expected.  Get there early to find a seat and take advantage of the tailgate open to fans of both schools.  I think Northridge is going to have a tough time in pass coverage tonight (missing a few starters at db) if the defense can't get consistent pressure on the QB.  On the other side of the ball, after rb1 for the Raiders went down early (for the 2nd year in a row) McClain Miller stepped up huge in his place and i look for him to have another big night tonight.  Should be a shootout.  Going to be a homer here since nobody else is giving them a chance. 

NORTHRIDGE by 2

Plymouth (1-0) at Kokomo (1-0)

Not much to say here, gonna be a long trip back up 31 for the boys from Plymouth (not sure what mascot to use)

KOKOMO by 35+

SB St Joseph (1-0) at Mishawaka (1-0): 

I think the Indians will be pretty solid this year, but not tonight.  Mishawaka should roll pretty easy. 

CAVEMEN by 20

West Noble (1-0) at Wawasee (0-1):

Not much to see here either, should be pretty easy for the Chargers tonight.   I'll be surprised if Wawasee wins more than one game (Plymouth) on the year.

WEST NOBLE by 24

I was pleasantly surprised by the Northridge Offense last night, stepped up big even with a few key guys missing.  McClain Miller with almost 200yds rushing for 17.5 a run and 4 touchdowns after Lloyd went down early. 

Defense will have to adjust and step up big next week to have a chance though.  I think they will find themselves this year, as defense is our bread and butter, but they looked a little suspect in coverage last night. 

Looking forward to the tailgate before the game at Rice Field on Friday night as well. 

Northridge 43 South Bend Adams 6 at the half

My quick predictions on week 1 games

Northridge over Adams by 8

Elkhart over Concord by 14

Goshen over Fairfield by 3

Warsaw over Michigan City by 20

Mishawaka over Marian by 6

Jimtown over Northwood by 1

East Noble over Plymouth by 30

Tippy Valley over Wawasee by 7

From Evan Lepak at The Goshen News on the Northwood Panthers.

From Austin Hough at The Goshen News on Goshen Football. 

From Austin Hough at The Goshen News on the Concord Minutemen.

From Austin Hough at The Goshen News on the Northridge Raiders.