cornfed

TV - 21 Knox - 18 Knox is not an 0-4 team. They are big and physical and will be a tough out in 2A. They switched to an under center power I based run game in this one and they found something there. Gave TV all they wanted and then some. Bremen - 49 Laville - 7 Laville still trying to figure things out and Bremen rolled. Jimtown - 20 Glenn - 13 Jimtown was just too physical for Glenn. Glenn has some athletes and should be better than this.

I don’t necessarily disagree but their recent run the last 4 years and Radtke’s resume gives them the benefit of the doubt to be placed in top tier until they prove they’re not - IMO

They all look pretty accurate to me.

Conference play kicks off this week. Takeaways from first three out-of-conference weeks. Top tier: Knox, Tippy Valley, Bremen Knox: Post Myles era has started off 0-3. No longer the heavy conference favorite. Solid strength of schedule with their opening three games and Radtke will always figure out a way to keep his team competitive. Huge game right off the bat this week with TV will go long way into determining conference. Tippy Valley: Solid football team that was supposed to drop off from last year, but I’d say they’re actually a better overall team this year. Played right with powerhouse Adam’s Central right until 4 mins left in 4th quarter. Bremen: The turnaround might be here a year earlier than many thought. Really weak opening three opponents, but they did what a good team is supposed to do against lower level opponents. Last week of season against Tippy may be for the conference. Bottom Tier: Jimtown: Better than last year, but still a little behind Knox, TV, and what looks to be a surging Bremen. Glenn: See Jimtown, but further behind Jimtown. Laville: Thacker implementing the flex bone triple option is going to take a minute. Laville is the perfect fit for him and that style. Week 4 games: Tippecanoe Valley @ Knox Laville @ Bremen Jimtown @ Glenn

Curious why the consensus here and around the area is that this is the year the Z’s reclaim the Bell? Both teams lost a lot of senior studs from the close game last year, but on paper it seems TV returns the most. Especially returning their QB and the Omondi kid (all-state all around athlete).

Probably just talking to myself here, but 2nd round games for the rest of conference are: LaVille @ North Judson: I could see LaVille giving Judson problems in this one. They only lost in week 2 against them by 7 points. NJ has played a 1A heavy schedule since then while LaVille has tested themselves against the bigger INSC schools. Will it pay off? Rensselaer Central @ Bremen: RC has an 8-2 record with some really nice wins against LCC, Kankakee Valley, and Logansport. Tough game for the Lions.

By far the biggest game this week and maybe biggest in all the North: Griffith @ Knox Can Myles break the career rushing record this week. He is right around 300 yds from it. I see a shootout and whichever team can get a turnover and get that extra possession as the team that wins it.

Warsaw had the bye so I made the trip to go watch this game. I’d heard Angola had a beautiful football facility and took this opportunity to go see it and it is indeed a beautiful football setup. Yikes. The Vikings were completely out coached in this one. The offensive operation was a train wreck with getting play calls in on time, to mass confusion on subs, to trying the same thing over and over when it was obvious Angola was dead set on taking away that inside running game. Angola is extremely well coached and the competitive schedule in the competitive conference has them ready for playoff football.

Knox @ Jimtown - Conference teams meeting in rd. 1. Knox won 56-13 just 3 weeks ago. Hard to argue the score will be any different this week. Jimtown did have a nice win against Lakeland to close out the season, so can they carry that momentum to make a competitive game? Tippecanoe Valley @ Angola - Angola is better than their record shows and it’s a 1 hr 45 minute bus ride for TV. It could be a possible upset in the making. Bremen @ Whiting - Bremen also has a 1 hr 45 minute bus ride to the NW corner of the state. But Whiting shouldn’t pose a threat and Bremen should take this one fairly easily. LaVille @ Culver - LaVille has been putting up points and is going to make some noise in Sectional 41. If they get past a struggling Culver, it should setup a 2nd rd matchup with North Judson. Glenn @ Calumet - Calumet is 5-4, but hasn’t played the schedule Glenn has and they’ve lost their last 3 games. Give me Glenn to win.

Yeah, Radtke is hell bent on getting Myles that rushing record. Then add in the revenge factor for last years upset, my thoughts and prayers are with the Lions tonight.

Not much INSC discussion lately as Knox (McLaughlin) has literally ran away from the rest of conference. In all likelihood, the real race in this conference will be who finishes 2nd - Bremen or Tippecanoe Valley. They will play last week of the season. Week 8 Can Bremen pull the upset again this year against Knox. Doubtful. But that’s why they play the game. Knox by 3+ scores. Tippecanoe Valley at Glenn. Glenn was thumped by LaVille last week and not sure they will be much more competitive against TV. TV by 3+ scores LaVille at Jimtown. Rough year for the Jimmies. Laville is a really solid team and will be a tough out for anyone in 1A playoffs. Sticking with the blowout theme for this week and saying Laville by 3+ scores

I’m not sure leaving is the answer. What I meant to get across is the competitive balance in the TRC is waaay off. I used Rochester and Mac as this years examples. It could be Peru and Northwestern next year, but there is only 1 or 2 conference games that are really meaningful each year and the rest of the conference schedule is just blowouts. Beating Wabash, Southwood, Northfield, and Whitko by 50 doesn’t do any of these teams any good. Maybe less required conference games and let the schools go out and try to find a couple non-conference opponents for a little more competitive schedule. Maybe split the conference North/South, have 4 or 5 in-conference games and have a championship game last week of season?

You’re right, not much INSC conversations happening around here. It’s Knox and then the other 5 schools this year. Knox will roll through the last couple weeks as long as McLaughlin stay’s healthy. 2nd place, IMO, will come down to the TV vs Bremen game last week of the season.

I’m not sure what the answer is for this conference, but it has turned into just a bad football conference. The TRC used to be a premier small school conference with parity and competitive games across the board every week. Rochester and Mac are hands down best two teams and really the only meaningful game of the conference season anymore. Playing this conference schedule does neither of these teams any favors in preparing for the playoffs in a season where both teams could make a nice run.

Knox has been going with 7 lineman, double TE, H-back and direct snap to McLaughlin at QB. Snap it, and they are coming straight at you. Seems to be working well. McLaughlin has 1,057 yards rushing through 3 games.