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Center Grove 7 Bloomington South 6 (end of 1st)

Center Grove 7 Bloomington South 6 (2:10, 1st) South pressured the CG QB who threw a pick which was nearly a pick-6 with the ball ending up at the two yard line with South scoring on a running play. The extra point was blocked.

Center Grove 7 Bloomington South 0 (9:18, 1st) CG received the opening game kickoff, and barely picked up a first down on the initial series. They then ran off guard and when the runner broke the line of scimmage there were no defenders out there in what had to be a breakdown on the defensive side.

Good to see you are still around. IMO, South's defensive front seven has played really well this season with the secondary being suspect at times in their coverage and would be considered the weaker part of the defense. I know in the Columbus North game, the corners were giving too much cushion to the receivers and the front seven was not getting much pressure on the Bull Dog QB, which resulted in two TDs in the 1st qtr for the Bull Dogs. After adjustments, they tightened up their coverage and started putting pressure on Ratliff, and the Bull Dog offense pretty much struggled the rest of the game. The Center Grove game tonight could come down to the secondary vs the Trojan receivers, and that certainly has me concerned. Hopefully, we can get enough pressure on the Trojan QB to help the secondary out. We have also given up three kickoff returns for TDs this season, and that possibly caused the Panthers a trip to the 5A state championship game last season when Decatur Central ran a kickoff back for a TD with 2:23 left in the game to break a `13-13 tie. The penalties have been a big issue this season, but for the most part, they have cut down on the major penalties (mostly holding calls on the o-line) in the last couple games, so there is some improvement there, and they can't afford to have that problem arise again against Center Grove.

I forgot about the Elmore injury, and he's been a big target for Ratliff this season. The Bull Dogs have the better QB in Ratliff, but I believe that the Braves have the better running game with sr RB Tyisaac Corbin lining up in the backfield. It will be an interesting game.

Week 9 games in CI. This is it for Conference Indiana with the regular season coming to a close and it is sayonara, au revoir, etc. for the conference. Without knowing what is happening at Bloom. South, Col. North, and Southport right now as far as conference affiliation, it's looking to me that those schools may be scheduling an independent next season. For the final weekend in the conference, two games look to be competitive while the other two have a running clock written all over them. As usual, my favorites are in boldface. Center Grove (7-1) @ Bloomington South (8-0) The 6A No. 4 Trojans played a much tougher schedule coming into this game, and while the 5A No. 2 Panthers have run the table up to this point and have been dominant in doing so, I just don't know how good they are against one of the best 6A programs in the state. This game will be a good measuring stick for the Panthers as they enter the sectional. The Panthers are averaging 443 yards per game and have a game scoring average of 45 ppg, but the yards and points will probably come grudgingly in this game. The Panthers lead the series against Center Grove, 10-8, but the two schools haven't met since 2009 when Center Grove won a sectional game over South. The last time they met in a regular season game was back in 1997 when the Panthers had Rex Grossman under center, with the South winning 28-0. My heart says the Panthers will win this game, but my brain tells me to go with Center Grove with the Trojans winning by one to two scores. Harrell's site prediction: Center Grove 38 Bloomington South 28 Terre Haute South (6-2) @ Columbus North (4-4) A hot Braves team travels to Columbus to take on a struggling Bull Dog team. The Bull Dogs are certainly good enough to win this game, but they have lost four of their last five games, with their only win over that period being against a horrendous Terre Haute North team that everyone has pummeled including a bad Southport team. On the other hand, 5A No. 12 TH South has won 6 of their last 7 games with their only loss during that period being a home loss to Bloom. South. The Braves will come into the game with all of the confidence in the world, so I see them taking this game by one score. Harrell's site prediction: Columbus North 35 Terre Haute South 31 Bloomington North (5-3) @ Southport (1-7) No need to go into much detail on this game. The North Cougars are going for their fifth straight win, while Southport only win was against winless Terre Haute North. This game has running clock written all over it. Enough said. Harrell's site prediction: Bloomington North 38 Southport 14 Terre Haute North (0-8) @ Brebeuf Jesuit (1-7) I have seen both teams play, and Brebeuf is light years better than the North Patriots despite having just the one win on the season. Brebeuf could put this game into a running clock situation. Another enough said. Harrell's site prediction: Brebeuf Jesuit 38 Terre Haute North 21

Center Grove 38 Lawrence North 35 (final) Center Grove scored a TD with 15 seconds left in the game to pull it out.

Bloomington South 38 Brebeuf Jesuit 7 (final) The game had a running clock near the end of the 3rd.

Bloomington North 31 Columbus North 28 (final) Crazy game at the end. Bloom. North attempted a fake punt on 4th down and the Bull Dogs stuffed it, and scored on a fairly short field to take the lead 28-24. Bloom. North then scored on a 24-yard pass with 0:44 left in the game to regain the lead at 31-28. The Bull Dogs had a chance to tie the game and put it into overtime, but the FG attempt was blocked.

Lawrence North 34 Center Grove 21 (1:31, 4th)

Bloomington North 24 Columbus North 21 (4:22, 4th) Huge mistake by the Col. North Bull Dogs as they coughed the ball up with time running out on them in the game.

Bloomington South 35 Brébeuf Jesuit 7 (4th with running clock) South has inserted many subs in the 4th.

Bloomington North 24 Columbus North 21 (7:19, 4th) The North Cougars scored on a 52-yard pass play to retake the lead. Col. North's Parker Elmore was hurt earlier in this qtr.

Columbus North 21 Bloomington North 17 (9:09, 4th) Center Grove 28 Lawrence North 21 (4th)

Bloomington South 35 Brébeuf Jesuit 0 (late 3rd) Running clock.

Bloomington North 17 Columbus North 14 (about 10 minutes left in 4th)

Lawrence North and Center Grove all tied up at 21-all with the 3rd period just getting started.

Bloomington North 14 Columbus North 14 (6:34, 3rd)

Columbus North 14 Bloomington North 7 (early 3rd) Bloom. North received the 2nd half kickoff and coughed the ball up on the drive to give the Bull Dogs a short field TD to take the lead. Bloomington South 28 Brébeuf Jesuit 0 (half)

Bloomington South 28 Brébeuf Jesuit 0 (near end of half) South Panthers scored on a 95-yard drive to extend the lead.

Bloomington South 21 Brébeuf Jesuit 0 (late 2nd) After forcing a three and out, the South Panthers went on a 53-yard drive to extend the lead.

Bloomington South 14 Brébeuf Jesuit 0 ( early 2nd) South Panthers went on a quick 86-yard drive with a 60-yard pass play for a TD finishing it.

Bloomington South 7 Brebeuf Jesuit 0 (start of 2nd) The Braves attempted a 40-yard FG to start the 2nd and had it blocked by the Panthers.

Bloomington North 7 Columbus North 7 (half)

Bloomington South 7 Brébeuf Jesuit 0 (1st) Brébeuf opened the game and punted. South scored on a fairly long drive to take the lead on their first possession.