First_Backer_Inside

If you want to beat LCC you have to limit the big play. This was the difference in the Rochester game that won LCC the game. LCC had a long kick return that set up a 20 yard drive. They had a four play drive where they went 80 yards right before half. A 40 yard touchdown pass and an 82 yard touchdown pass. Rochester was also able to get pressure on the QB early that helped a lot. That ended at the end of the first quarter when Rochesters 6'5" 300 lb DT tore his ACL. In my opinion Laville is very capable on defense to limit LCC's scoring. I just don't know if they will have enough on offense to make it happen. They will need to use Plummer's legs to move the ball in my opinion.

Very good defensive team, special teams has been big for them in the playoffs from what I've heard. Pretty good run game, and a big quarterback that can sling it. If they are in any other sectional in 3A they win it. Chatard should win by three touchdowns at least.

Hanover Central @ West Lafayette Bishop Chatard @ Hamilton Heights Central Catholic @ Seeger Fishers @ Hamilton Southeastern Mishawaka @ Concord Harrison @ Decatur Central Kokomo @ Mississinewa Mooresville @ Brebuf Jesuit Winchester @ Eastern Hancock Park Tudor @ North Vermillion North Decatur @ Milan North Judson @ Triton

If you get water from a glacier in Alaska that has been blessed by an eskimo medicine man you will not need any ice. It will always stay cold. Vicki Vallencourt has some, but it probably won't be enough for your son and all his friends! Whatever you do don't give them that gatorade $h!t !!!! Not as good as that high quality H2O!

I'd say most, not all. I'm sure Chatard is good with who they have, and Lutheran is probably okay with having their players over yours since they've beaten you 2 years in a row. Other than that you're probably pretty spot on.

Metzger's experience leading the offense last year when the senior was injured, and the way in which he has lead it this year benefits the Knights greatly. Not a lot of fall off if any in effectiveness at the QB position from last year to this year, just a little different style. I think the big difference is the offensive line, man were they big and experienced last year with 4 seniors upfront. Will be interesting to see how the front five handles the zebras front four in this matchup.

From an injury and preparation stand point definitely. The break does cause a change in routine that has been in place since August 18th of playing a game and preparing every seven days. I think this isn't a problem with good coaching and a good team, so I think you are right that it should be good for the Zebras.

A lot of the same names on the football roster that are on the wrestling roster. Alex Demming 1100 yard rusher this year has been a two time state qualifier in wrestling so far in his career. Brant Beck 12 yards short of 1,000 yards rushing this year qualified as a freshman last year. Brady Beck, his brother is a force on the offensive and defensive line he is a two time state qualifier. We usually tell our guys you can join the basketball team or the swim team, but if you don't want to do either of those then you ARE going to wrestle.

Your probably right. All I know for certain is they had a dude move in that is "a dude" as I was told. My mama said!

They had a move in that was bigger than their big back, so they moved the big back to HB and the move in to FB I'm pretty sure. Maybe its flipped the other way around. All I know is they got a stud move in over the summer.

Vicki Vallencourt said those singles were probably even stickier than the ones you get from your mom Phyllis!

I will agree, the HNAC was probably better than the TRC this year. The top three teams are pretty evenly matched from both conferences. After that, if you're just playing better bad teams are you really getting more prepared for the playoffs is my only thing. I don't think Rochester being in the HNAC would make that much of a difference. If you had every team in the top 200 in the state like the HNAC has had then I'd say there is an argument there. That wasn't the case this year. Also when talking about a conference change, I know its hard because I do the same thing with football being the main reason for someone moving conferences, but you do have to think about the other sports at your school as well. The TRC is just a better fit for Rochester all-around in sports. I would agree. I expect to see a 1A HNAC team in the semi-state. I think Laville is solid as well. I'm just not sold on them being great yet. They beat an Andrean team that was 3-6. They also did it in conditions that suited them for beating Andrean. The field kind of took away from the speed and elusiveness factor I think Andrean had over Laville. Did not expect Laville to move the ball going right at Andrean like they did which was very impressive. Andrean made a lot of mistakes that Laville capitalized on which is what good teams do. I just don't know that if you play that game over in better conditions that you can confidently say Laville still wins that game.

So your telling me Rochester playing Caston and Culver would have made them better and more prepared for LCC? All the more reason Rochester needs to get the win, and send them back down to 1A 😉

Outside of Knox, how tough was the HNAC really this year?

The only thing that pride did was get you bounced first round of the sectional. And my mama said visors are the devil!

i thought this was interesting. I went back and looked at starting lineups for both teams. Both defenses return 7 guys that played as starters in the Sectional Championship from last year. The major difference is LCC only returns 2 guys from the starting lineup on offense last year whereas Rochester returns 7 on offense. I didn't realize LCC returned that many on the defensive side of the ball. Both defenses played very well last year. Will be interesting to see if that is the theme for this years game.

I don't think so, but it could go either way for them. I think you could make the same argument for LCC as well. Both have beaten who they are supposed to and lost to who they were supposed to. At the time, losing to Peru seemed like a pretty bad loss, but Peru just played Guerin for all 4 quarters and only lost by a touchdown. The only other loss was to Valley and I'm sure you saw first hand the difficulty of a 2A roster trying to matchup with Valley. I don't think their best player even played in the Bremen game. You are definitely correct with area teams being down such as Northfield and Southwood that usually are very tough, but Rochester also beat a Cass team that while they aren't great, are easily in the top half of 2A teams this year. They also handily beat a Maconaquah team that isn't great on defense, but has a very explosive offense that scored 42 in one quarter the other night and Rochester held them to 14 points. I think Rochester had a more consistent team last year, but I think when both are playing their best football, this years team is much better.

That was quite the Eastside team they ran into that year if I'm not mistaken. I think they will make it out of their sectional this year. Just not sure they have what it takes to go much further than that.

I don't know man, I still don't think Sagarin is quite right. Knox might be the #4 best team alive in 3A but they aren't the #4 best in 3A as a whole this year. Heck Sagarin has them as the #38 team in the state. I'm telling you right now there are more than 37 teams in the state of Indiana that can beat Knox right now. This isn't a knock on Knox (even tho it sure as heck sounds like it as I'm rereading it), but I just don't think Sagarin is something that I trust as far as what a team is ranked or whether or not they will win the game or not.

The more I look at it, the more I think the North will be represented by Rochester/LCC/Laville with a possibility of Bluffton. I don't think Luers is as good as people think, and i think their record is very misleading. Luers got blown out by their two non-conference opponents on the schedule, not to say they weren't good teams, but they weren't even competitive. The Fort Wayne schools as a whole only beat each other without making much noise outside of Carroll and Snider outside of the conference. If you watch Luers play, outside of pretty good defense, there isn't any consistency in the offensive game plan, no identity from what I can see. Just athletes making some plays here and there and the further you get into the playoffs, the more athletes everyone has. I just don't think they are going to go as far as people think they are going to go.

Probably said the same thing about Churubusco

They might have been one of the best teams in the nation that year. So much talent and so fun to watch.

West Lafayette @ Rensselaer Maconaquah @ Hamilton Heights Rochester @ Central Catholic Tipton @ Eastern Brownsburg @ Ben Davis Plainfield @ Harrison Clinton Prairie @ North Vermillion

My momma said North Central already packed up all their practice gear and equipment. Swear to god she did!

Rochester averages 40 points a game, so they are more than capable of putting up more than just a few touchdowns. I understand the strength of schedule isn't great, but they scored 23 on a Peru defense that only allowed 27 against Guerin. Rochester also did it running the ball where Guerin did a lot of their damage through the air. As far as pass defense goes, they played a Maconaquah team that averages 271 passing yards a game and that had thrown for 28 touchdowns to just 14 points. On the right track here! About the only two comparisons you can make for the two teams is Lcc played Guerin and lost 27-3. Rochester played Peru and lost 34-23. Guerin beat Peru 27-19. Lcc played West Lafayette and lost 37-7. Rochester played Valley and lost 39-8. Valley beat West Lafayette 35-13. Both teams have beaten who they are supposed to and lost to who they are supposed to. Which team is going to win a 50-50 game that in my opinion neither team has had this year? It's going to come down to senior leadership, defensive execution, and who can win the turnover battle. Like you said should be a great game and in my opinion the game of the week in the 2A North.