RingLeader

Will be shocked if it isnt Kiser

Bowen hasn’t played a snap yet of defense.  A little surprised with Navy and Tennessee St already passed on schedule 

If Laville can incorporate Plummer more into their run game I believe that would make them a pretty dangerous team come Oct and Nov.  Defense is fairly solid and Kicking game is already top notch.  Cannot stress enough how important it is to make high school teams drive the length of the field repeatedly.  Very tough to do. 

On 9/13/2023 at 11:46 AM, FinePrint said:

I think we all know it has and does happen.  And as I said, I wouldn't be surprised if Pioneer wins this year.  I'm just saying it shouldn't happen. 

C’mon man, it’s 11 on 11

it’s not 11 on 40 cause you’re 5A 

But I hear ya and see where you’re comin from

Panthers get two starters back this week who have been out all season.  Should help them down the line whether win or lose tomorrow.   Have five games to get up to speed for tourney. 

Hammond Central lost to them 2 years ago

Chesterton lost to Pioneer 3 years ago

It can and does happen

Just a note on Caston-Pioneer game

Pioneer led 21-0 at half and 35-0 with running clock in 4th as Caston punched one in.  Really was impressed with Caston linebackers, thought they played their tails off.  Made play after play.  Score not indicative of how well that group played.  

Laville 38 Winamac 6

Pioneer 35 Caston 6

West Central 52 Culver 18

Knox 22 North Judson 18 

Pioneer fought hard but credit Laville for making some big plays to pull away for the win 29-13. Often over-looked weapon in high school football is having a kicker who can put it in the end zone every time. Plummer leg left the Panthers with long fields time after time. 

panthers had two big drives total of 24 plays in first half with no points. 

Laville scored with :01 left in half for a 10-7 lead.   First drive of second half saw Pioneer freshman safety with interception with Panthers at midfield.  Back to back illegal procedures killed the momentum.  Plummer made huge plays with his legs and arm to doom Pioneer.  

Triton snd Knox will be on cruise control this week.

I like CMA to get the W over Jays. Jays lost a wealth of talent to graduation and have some injuries. CMA size may be too much for NJ as well. Good opponent to only help NJ down the road win or lose.

Baby-faced but hungry Panthers look to continue improvement. If they win, great, but the goal is to be hitting their stride week 10.  they should look to continue growth and develop some needed depth. Laville has another nice team with 4-yr starter at QB. Looks like they have some size as well. Laville RB looked on tv liked he was knocked out.  Hopefully, its nothing too serious and he is able to get back to form. I like these Panthers tho, mental and physical toughness are forged in games like this for young teams. 

Winamac starts quite a few seniors and I think they find some success against a 2-0 N White team. Can they score enough to pull out the W? I think so. 

3 hours ago, Scat said:

Didn't see this coming, was this just a physical beat down?

No clue

couldn’t resist 

Rochester still might be team to beat in TRC as Valley might be that darn good this year.  What do I know…

On 8/25/2023 at 3:06 PM, Scat said:

Rochester is the team to beat in the TRC! 

Tippy Valley 39 Rochester 8

how bout now?

25 minutes ago, AG said:

It's looking like the HNAC championship will be a five team race this season between Knox, NJ, LaVille, Pioneer, and Triton. LaVille might be in the driver's seat if they can beat Pioneer next week.

What if Pioneer wins? Oh wait, none of their players are old enough to have a driver’s license. 

Pioneer 38  Winamac 0

Like I said, Knox is the team to beat. They returned a ton from a 3A sectional champ team. Nuff said. 
 

I believe Peru is prob favorite to win TRC 

I would not count out Maconaquah either. Cass prob few steps behind those teams. 

Still believe Knox is the team to beat. Pioneer took a big step Friday.  Panthers start 14 freshmen and sophomores, but they are talented. Seniors are well seasoned and provide excellent leadership.  Friday is just one game, but if they can stay healthy they could be a dangerous draw come tourney time.

Pioneer 29 Lewis Cass 22

https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/football/2023/08/16/notre-dame-football-linebacker-jack-kiser-turns-professional-drayk-bowen-mr-indiana-football/70601329007/

Interesting in that they are super young still but many players appear to have had a good off-season.  Finishing games was tough for them last year. In a lot of games (except Laville and maybe knox) but fell apart. Leadership and mental toughness is crucial to finishing games. Seem to be different this year. 
 

Didn’t help their youth last year that basically 4-5 teams in HNAC had their best teams in years (maybe ever) 

Interesting to see if growth and confidence will translate to Friday nights.  

Lewis Cass is at Pioneer

On 8/11/2023 at 9:31 PM, Oldschool said:

How’d scrimmages go?  Manchester is not very good!

Pioneer looked interesting.

Best thing about starting a bunch of freshmen is they become sophomores.

Opening with Cass won’t be easy as it never is, but should be indicator for season. 

New coaches at Laville, Culver, Triton, 
 

Those teams plus NJ lost a lot to graduation and retirement 

how will new coaches change/shape those teams

Knox probably is early slight favorite. 
 

Laville and Triton QB’s prob early favorites for POY 

On 7/16/2023 at 4:50 PM, foxbat said:

Those are the only three that I can think of.  LCC probably came closest of those that didn't; dropping a 17-14 semi-state game on the road to eventual 2A champ RCHS back in 2014.

After bumping up Pioneer in 2020 started a freshman at Qb, beat 6A Chesterton during season, lost star RB in sectional, beat #1 Andrean in Regional before heart-breaking collapse and loss at Luers in SS.  A game they led 28-7 at halftime. Definitely had talent to win 2A. 

On 6/2/2023 at 1:54 PM, FarmerFran said:

This looks like it will be a solid small school conference for football. I'm not sure what the addition of SCUM brings to the table other than a long drive for the southern half of the conference and a filler game for everyone. I'll be curious to see how many teams keep Knox and LaVille on the schedule. I hate to see the 2 largest teams part, they provided good competition.

If Rochester would've joined what a great league geographically with some excellent local rivalries created too. 

Get rid of the success factor. 
 

class sports was created to give more teams and smaller schools opportunity at post-season success. Success factor was then implemented to slow private school domination.  Has that happened? Idk

Tweaking the system should end. Class sports is enough. Stop punishing kids who had little(or nothing) to do with said school’s success

54 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Leaving conference is fine,  Leaving Conference without following what I am sure is some sort of by law for time is another.  That is always a bad deal for the schools you leave behind.  Leave, fine, leave with month left of school, yikes

 

Might not have been totally Cass decision to leave immediately as Valley was booted immediately if I’m not mistaken.  Cass contingency may have been join immediately

5 hours ago, foxbat said:

Hasn't Winamac actually yo-yo'd?  They were 1A back in the 2012-2014 stretch ... lost a regional game to LCC after beating Tri-County, Noll, and West Central.  Bumped up to 2A around the 2015-2016 seasons; culminating in a regional lost to Whiting.  Dropped back down to 1A in 2017 and just recently bounced back up in 2022 to 2A.

Yes been smaller 2A and largest 1A