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NRRaider2001

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Posts posted by NRRaider2001

  1. Northridge looked better than Laporte by a pretty good amount, but scrimmages aren't always the best way to judge what a team will actually look like during the regular season.

    We lost Tagg Gott to his former school (Schoolcraft) due to his dad changing jobs.   

    That will be a big loss, but we also got some serious talent back that missed most of last year.

    We also have some very promising upcoming talent that should fill in some of our skill positions that graduated quite well. 

    My biggest question mark is can our O-line hold up with the loss of a couple of really good ones from last year. 

    We live and die with our defense, schematic wise, we are in great shape.  We did lose a few dudes from last year that were difference makers on that end too, but also got some people back that were injured much of the season. 

  2. 9 hours ago, US31 said:

    Does the current NHS gym still have the stage at the end??  I could be dating myself by asking this question....

    No stage, but only 1 end with bleachers + 2 sides (where the stage would be).  For a poor design/ bad pa/ hvac system, I'm gonna definitely miss the Middlebury Madhouse.

  3. On 1/18/2022 at 3:28 PM, Whiting89 said:

    With schools getting kicked out (CG Carmel) or possibly leaving voluntarily (VL), who would kick out and why and where you would reassign them?

    greater south shore

    bishop Noll and lake station, they bring nothing and should go independent to play smaller programs. 
     

    northwest crossroads

    munster the Carmel of the north in regards to wealth, independent. They are 4a playing with a 2a roster they’d be better served choosing their opponents. 
     

    have the greater south shore take in the Great Lakes conference 

    with bni and lake station gone and Hanover leaving this makes sense now

     

    Nobody out from the NLC, if anything I would add a couple schools like Jimtown, New Prairie, Elkhart, or Edwardsburg to make 2 divisions. 

    But don't see that happening and I'm fine with that. 

  4. Some news for this otherwise slow time of year for football. 

    Northridge will have a scrimmage with Laporte now that Elkhart replaced South Bend St. Joe as their (Northridge) week 2 opponent. 

    Also for 23/24 seasons Northridge will now play Ft Wayne North, replacing South Bend Adams in week 1.

  5. 11 hours ago, Yuccaguy said:

    Wow.  Coach Sattuck IMO is a great coach, who brought to our crew, an understanding that each play is an individual thing.  By saying that, I mean that he was able to immediately construct what happened, and move on to the next.  An absolute pleasure to work with at Elkhart Central and Elkhart HS.

    I don't know his future plans, but I hope to see him again within Indiana HS Football.   He is a wonderful young man and educator! 

    Heard he's moving to Michigan, and he and his wife have the opportunity of a lifetime.  We're sure gonna miss him here in Elkhart County that's for sure. 

    • Thanks 1
  6. 8 hours ago, HHF said:

    All Im suggesting is that NIC football looks much better and much stronger than it did 3 to 5 years ago, when Mishawaka was mulling this decision.  Fact is, the declining participation trend has hit the NLC harder than most other conferences, why I'm not sure.  I referenced the "Lake Life" issue in prior discussions on this topic as a potential contributor .  We just saw a highly regarded NLC coach leave the conference for the NIC for a perceived better football opportunity.  

    I wonder if the new Big/Small divisional lineup in The SAC might lure Warsaw to Fort Wayne.  Another potential headache for the NLC to be concerned with.  

    A highly regarded coach also just took over a struggling Goshen program, he built Northridge into a respectable program in short time.  He even took Wawasee to new heights before coming to Northridge. 

    There's no doubt that Mishawaka is a great football program (i believe they finished 3rd in the NLC this year), but as mentioned on here, the conference isn't just about 1 sport.

    I think New Prairie would also be a great fit for an expanded NLC with 2 divisions, but that's probably about as likely as Warsaw leaving for the SAC.

  7. 1 hour ago, NLCTigerFan07 said:

    Warsaw moves Michigan City to the first game of the season and brings in 6A foe Chesterton to beef up their non-conference schedule. Then with the NLC schedule shakeup take on rival Plymouth at home before arguably the most difficult 3 game conference schedule any team will face at Concord, at NorthWood and home against Mishawaka.

    image.png.e8f9cd64367d20b63bc0d9e078417641.png

    The Chesterton series is a home and home before the Tigers add Warren Central to the week 2 slot for the 2024 and 2025 seasons 😳

    Good to see some NLC contenders beefing up their non conference schedules.   Should pay off during tournament time. 

    • Like 1
  8. 16 hours ago, foxbat said:

    Probably not accurate as Harrell's also has Carmel's schedule looking like the following with their games against Pike, NC, WC, and CG listed as MIC games.

    image.png.eca1c5e58ee119f36ff741d8b7bc65cd.png

    Yes, my understanding is that Elkhart needed to find a new week 2 opponent due to Carmel changing conferences and not being able to guarantee a week 2 game in 2023.

  9. 14 hours ago, US31 said:

    Correct.  Concord HS is technically in a small town (?) called Dunlap.  But is basically the southeastern part of Elkhart.

    Concord has historically been the “little brother” that typically beat up on his older brother/brothers of Elkhart (or Central & Memorial before the merger).  
     

    Has always been a rivalry there…my guess is someone at Elkhart was trying to make a statement.  

    Yes, Elkhart always refers to Concord as Dunlap as a diss lol

    14 hours ago, ASJCPUMA said:

    The new week nine games starting in 2022 will be Warsaw vs. Northridge, Concord vs. Plymouth, Goshen vs. NorthWood and Wawasee vs. Mishawaka.

    Looks like only 1 of which has much potential at being competitive. 

  10. Northridge and Mt. Vernon set for biggest game in each program’s history

    November 23, 2021
    From the Daily 43 article here.

    The final week of the Indiana high school football season is upon us at last and the Northridge Raiders will be competing with the Mt. Vernon Marauders for a state title.

    This state title game is incredibly unique in the fact that neither school has ever won a state title in football and both head coaches are in their first year at their respective schools.

    We were able to speak with both coaches this week in preparation for the matchup.

    “These kids had a goal at the beginning of the year that started with our saying, ‘Why not us?’ These kids have bought into that saying, and have truly believed in us as coaches and themselves as players,” said Northridge head coach Chad Eppley in regards to his squad before last week’s game.

    Mt. Vernon’s Vince Lidy had a similar attitude towards being a first-year head coach in such an incredible position.

    “As I have prepared, I am treating this like every other game this season,” said Lidy. “The magnitude of the game won’t change until the football is raised by the official at the conclusion of the game as to who is the 4A state champion. There are lots of moving parts going on this week as we prepare for Saturday that have not happened all year, so it adds more to weekly and daily planning.”

    “It’s game 15 for us, so we are not going to go out and change our approach or what we do in hopes of tricking or doing something wild and crazy,” continued Lidy. “Each week we have focused on playing at a high level, correcting mistakes after the game, and then working towards our next opponent. Since there is no next week, everything we have done during the season comes down to Saturday and all of our chips are on the table as we will do whatever it takes for Mt. Vernon to bring back its first football and male state championship to Mt. Vernon High School!”

    Northridge defense

    As for how these two talented teams match up with one another, this game could prove to be another incredible one. The Raiders boast an impressively physical defense and have developed a reputation for shutting opponents down in recent weeks.

    “Northridge’s defense has been playing at a high level during their tournament run,” said Lidy. “The defensive front seven is physical and has done a great job of stopping the run. This is very impressive since they have faced some very ground-oriented teams who want to run the football. The defensive backs have done a good job of defending the pass by keeping everything inside and in front of them. The Northridge defense does a good job of not giving up the big play. On our end, we have to find some way to move the ball on the ground to establish the presence of a run game. Our offensive line has to step big this Saturday and match the physicality and intensity of the Raiders front seven on run and pass blocking for us to have early success in the game. We will continue to focus on our pass game as well in hopes of getting the ball in space to some of our wide receivers and having their speed continue to be an impact for our offensive game plan.”

    Mt. Vernon offense

    Mt. Vernon has won many of its games by simply burying opponents offensively. Despite allowing 21 points per game, the Marauders have won nearly all of their game by double digits, surpassing 60 points twice and 70 once. The Marauders are led by senior quarterback Gehrig Slunaker who has been phenomenal this season. Slunaker has thrown for 2,793 yards and 31 touchdowns with just three interceptions. On the ground, senior Keagan LaBelle does the majority of the damage for Mt. Vernon. LaBelle has rushed for 1,518 yards and 24 touchdowns on the year.

     

    “We celebrated until 9:30 am on Saturday morning when we switched our film from the New Prairie game to the Mt. Vernon game. It is just like we do every week. We have film on them like normal,” said Eppley. “It has actually been nice this week because we are going against a pretty normal offense for us. We match up well against these guys. We are picking up the intensity this week in preparation for this game.”

    “This week the points of emphasis are to continue to focus and prepare like we have done each and every week,” said Lidy. “We begin the week 0-0 and game day is our test day. I have also told them to enjoy the week of other activities that are going on around our practice and preparation. It’s a crazy week, with the state finals and school being out on break for a few days. We can’t control all the things going on, but I told them to enjoy the food, celebrations and times together this week in our quest for the 4A state title.”

    “In regards to how we are preparing for football this week, I keep preaching play fast and aggressive in all phases,” continued Lidy. “We have to be physical, tough, and can’t flinch. Like I have said each of the last few weeks, we have to answer the bell every time on Saturday. Both teams will come out with high energy and emotion and we have to weather the start of the game. Things may or may not go our way, and we can’t let those initial plays dictate the outcome of the 4 quarter game. We are preparing for a great game that will be played by two tough and physical teams for the 4A state title.”

    Northridge secret weapon

    While Northridge relies on junior Tagg Gott to keep the offense humming, the Raiders have shown the capability of mixing things up. In their semi-state game last week, Eppley and the Raiders used Trent Jensen, a lineman, to score on a one-yard run.

     

    “We went into the game knowing that we wanted to get the big man a touchdown,” said Eppley. “Our offense has had that play in the past few weeks and the opportunity presented itself to give him the ball so that’s exactly what we did. We will play it by ear if Jensen will see more carries or not.”

    The importance of this game cannot be understated for both teams and communities. It could easily be the biggest game in program history for both teams.

    “I think it definitely is,” said Eppley. “This is the first time in school history that we have made it to a state championship game for football. It means so much for our team and our community. The community support we have had has been amazing.”

    The Raiders and Marauders will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium this Saturday at 3:30 pm.

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