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6 hours ago, crimsonace1 said:

Welcome to The Gridiron Digest Indiana Football Report. This weekly feature will run throughout the season and highlight big games and big storylines throughout Indiana. This brings us back to the roots Tim Adams began this site with, as a place to bring together and presenting news from around the state. 

"Battle of Broadway" a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 1 

By Andrew Smith
The Gridiron Digest

One and a half miles of Broadway is all that physically separates Merrillville and Andrean High Schools. 

But when the two meet up in the aptly-named “Battle of Broadway” matchup Friday night at Merrillville’s Demaree Stadium, the matchup won’t just pit neighbors against each other. It will also pit No. 1 vs. No. 1. 

Merrillville begins the year as the No. 1 team in Class 5A after winning three straight regional titles in Class 6A, while Andrean begins atop the 2A poll as the defending state champion. 

“There will be a lot of excitement for the ‘Battle of Broadway’ as expectations are high for both programs.  It's always a fun physical game where both teams play hard,” Merrillville coach Brad Seiss said. “We both have a lot of respect for each other's football teams.” 

Andrean ran the table in Class 2A last season, ending with a 21-9 victory over Evansville Mater Dei in the State Finals. But the 59ers have quickly turned the page. “We haven't talked about last year much except maybe in the context of prepping the body for the grind of a season,” Andrean coach Chris Skinner said. “The seniors are motivated to leave their own unique mark on the program. Everyone is stepping into at least a slightly different role compared to last season. It's a new team with a new leadership group.” 

Merrillville moved to 5A during the summer’s reclassification due to the school’s enrollment. 

The Pirates have had recent success, going 33-5 over the last three seasons and advancing to the semistate each year, but falling one step short of Lucas Oil Stadium. 

“Everyone wants to talk about us going into 5A because of the success that we've had over the last few years in 6A,” Merrillville coach Brad Seiss said. “We aren't really concerned about that until we get to the tournament.  We've got the same 2 non-conference games in Andrean and Hobart then we get into DAC play.  Getting better weeks 1-9 is the most important thing we can do as we prepare for the tournament in October.” 

Meanwhile, the entirety of Andrean’s schedule consists of teams in the top three classes. Merrillville is a premier opponent to begin the year. 

“I love competition. It doesn't matter if it's competition within our program or against competitive opponents,” Skinner said. “I believe in the ‘iron sharpens iron’ mantra. There are certainly challenges in playing a schedule like ours in which every opponent is at least two classes higher than us, but our players accept those challenges. We will certainly be exposed in certain areas by playing that level of competition, but it allows us to make adjustments that end up in growth down the road. I have a lot of respect for Merrillville specifically. Coach Seiss has been able to reload year after year. It's a fantastic Week 1 game that typically draws a good crowd and gets the attention of college coaches and scouts as well.” 

The scouts will have plenty of top players to see - Merrillville sports two of the top seniors in Indiana in Colorado State commit Justin Marshall - who had 1,088 receiving yards a year ago - and safety Phillip Roche. Andrean features Notre Dame commit Drayk Bowen, who had 965 rushing yards, 105 tackles and three interceptions a year ago. Andrean also has junior QB Scott Ballentine returning after completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,860 yards and junior WR Patrick Clacks, who had 753 yards last year. 

“Drayk is an amazing talent and certainly one that does a lot for us,” Skinner said. “He rarely comes off the field. He's also a great role model for how to train, how to prep, how to take care of the body.” 

Opening the year in Indy

Another cross-town rivalry will kick off 2022 - but 70 miles down the road at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

For the first time since 2004, Harrison and West Lafayette - two schools less than five miles apart - will meet on the gridiron. 

The 6 p.m. kickoff will begin the IHSAA football season at the annual Horseshoe Classic.

Beginning the season at Lucas Oil Stadium is always a treat, but both programs have designs on finishing it there, too. 

“We are excited to start the season in Lucas Oil Stadium,” said West Lafayette coach Shane Fry, whose teams are 94-18 in nine seasons. “This is the first time we have played Harrison since 2004.  It is a fierce rivalry in other sports, and most of the players know each other.  It is a unique situation with our football fields being two miles apart and us traveling 65 miles to play on the big stage and kickoff the 2022 season.  This is a great opportunity for our program, both to play at Lucas Oil and to matchup against Harrison.” 

Fry’s squad won the 2018 state title and was the 2015 3A runner-up. The Red Devils posted a 9-1 record last season and have won at least seven games in each of the last nine years. 

Harrison is coming off an 8-2 season. The Raiders won sectional titles in 2018 and 2019, but fell to eventual 5A state runner-up Zionsville in the sectional each of the last two years. 

The second game will be another marquee matchup, as last year’s 3A runner-up Brebeuf Jesuit faces 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard in a matchup of top teams from the Circle City Conference. Chatard, which has won 15 state championships, returns to 3A after spending a year in Class 4A due to the Tournament Success Factor. The two squads have been frequent sectional foes, but they will not meet in the tourney this year, as Brebeuf has moved to Class 4A and begins the season ranked No. 5 

New coach in Columbus

One of the most high-profile coaching changes over the offseason came in Columbus, where Tim Bless retired after 22 years at the helm of the Columbus North Bull Dogs. Logan Haston, a former standout quarterback at Avon and Manchester University, takes over. 

It’s Haston’s first head coaching position, but he had previously been on staff at Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers and his college alma mater, Manchester. 

“I am very thankful to be taking over such a well-established program,” Haston said. “Coach Bless has built a strong reputation at Columbus North with tough, hard-working athletes who play the game the right way. I am excited to build upon the tradition & success that has come before me, while also implementing my own cultural identity that meshes with the players & coaching staff.” 

Haston played for two standout coaches at Avon - Dave Shelbourne and Mark Bless - Tim’s brother - before matriculating to Manchester, where he played for Shannon Griffith. 

“I'm not sure if I'd be where I am today without my experience at Avon,” Haston said. “Between two years with Dave Shelbourne, to my final two years under Mark Bless, I was mentored by some incredible coaches. I learned what the standard of excellence looks like, and how to compete in a first class manner. I will forever be grateful for my time as an Oriole.” 

Haston takes over a squad that went 6-4 last season and won its second straight Conference Indiana title. It has a strong non-conference schedule, beginning with a Week 1 matchup at Decatur Central. 

“I'm very pleased with our growth this summer as a team,” Haston said. “Our players have really bought in to what we're trying to accomplish, particularly the seniors. Their leadership has thoroughly impressed me, and we're going to lean on it during the season. Decatur Central is well-coached and will be a very tough Week 1 opponent, but we're excited for the challenge.” 

Marauders building off a title

Another defending champion is Mt. Vernon (Fortville), where first-year coach Vince Lidy led the Marauders to a 14-1 record and the Class 4A title. 

It was the Marauders’ first football State Finals appearance after advancing to the semistate the year before. 

MV graduated several key players, but has a pair of building blocks in WR George Burhenn - a Purdue commit - and QB/WR Eli Bridenthal to lead the way. The duo combined for 1,064 receiving yards a year ago. Burhenn and senior linebacker Kellen La Belle are the top returning tacklers, each with 44. La Belle also had eight tackles for loss. 

“The success of last year is a result of great work and weekly improvement from the players and coaches as we worked through each week,” Lidy said, noting the Marauders’ 37 wins over the last three seasons are third-most in the state behind Center Grove and Cathedral. 

That has built as the Marauders have more than 110 players in four grades on the roster this fall. 

“A huge benefit of playing so long in the postseason is the amount of reps and practice our younger players were able to experience as we moved through the tournament.  The success was also a great springboard into winter training.  Excitement has stayed at an elevated level and this next group of players wants to continue to build on the success of the past three seasons and add to their legacy in the MV football program.” 

The Marauders open the season at Noblesville, which gave them their lone blemish last season, a 57-36 defeat in Week 1. It will be the first game in the Millers’ new stadium. Lidy said the Millers will bring a challenge with their power running game and large offensive line. 

“We always aim to play the 'perfect' game each Friday, but the most important thing in Indiana high school football is to find ways to get a little better each week and be playing your best football towards the end of the season.  

“I feel as though you don't win the state championship based on the result of Week 1.  Our program lived through that in 2021.  Before we can worry about conference championships, sectional and playoff championships, we have to take care of ourselves and focus on week 1 first.” 

Other key games

• 6A No. 5 Warren Central at 6A No. 1 Center Grove
• 6A No. 4 Brownsburg at 6A No. 7 Ben Davis
• 6A No. 6 Westfield at 4A No. 2 New Palestine
• 5A No. 8 Mishawaka at 3A No. 5 Mishawaka Marian
• 4A No. 6 Evansville Memorial at Jasper
• 3A No. 3 GIbson Southern at Terre Haute South
• 6A No. 2 Cathedral at Lafayette Jeff
• 1A No. 1 Lutheran at Beech Grove
• 2A No. 2 Evansville Mater Dei at Evansville Central
• Louisville Trinity at 6A No. 3 Carmel
• Elkhart at 5A No. 9 Concord
• 3A No. 6 Lawrenceburg at 4A No. 7 East Central

 

Great write up...as always! Hope you do more of these throughout the season! 

One thing... MV went to Semistate in 2019, Lost in regional in 2020 (Roncalli), State Champions in 2021. A great three year run nonetheless, but a slight edit from your MV section. 

On 2/4/2022 at 9:58 AM, QB said:

Eastern Hancock (2A) High School's Head Coaching position open... Will be their 5th Head Coach since state finals appearance in 2013. 

This opening was referenced in the Indy Star article about the Pike HC resignation... was a footnote, but saw it wasn't listed here. 

Quote

 

Eastern Hancock (2A) High School's Head Coaching position open... Will be their 5th Head Coach since state finals appearance in 2013. 

8 hours ago, foxbat said:

The classes don't matter all that much directly.  Sagarin is, for the most part, class-agnostic in its formulation, although size, etc. does play a part indirectly ... i.e., all things relatively equal a 6A school should wear down a 3A school over four quarters.

Realize that Linton has played a pair of teams, Sullivan and Southridge, with 86.x and 85.x ratings respectively.  Outside of Washington, those are the strongest schedule teams in 3A so far.  Monrovia's sitting at 53.x. 

For Luers, the opponent strengths are Carroll at 77.x and Wayne at 79.x. and Homestead at 65.x.  The Wayne strength is fairly decent for 4A, but the others are average at best for the respective class.  Toss in that there's the "in-breeding" factor of the SAC for scheduling ... they play a "self-contained" league schedule for their nine games ... and that's going to skew some of the Sagarin numbers that you see for Luers and other SAC teams.

Something I've been thinking about since instituting the running clock rule.... Does that factor in at all to Sagarin's calculations? The difference between a 35-0 game and a 35-14 game because a team put in the JV against the opponents starters seems like it would make a pretty big difference if there was no consideration to getting the mercy rule to trigger. 

On 4/8/2020 at 6:06 PM, DT said:

 

 

Hoosiers need to aim for the ceiling on Tanona and Center Groves Caden Curry, the top offensive and defensive linemen in the state Class of 22.

Will be watching this one closely to see if Allen can close these two blue chippers.  

https://247sports.com/Season/2022-Football/RecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=IN

Last week was a big one for Tanona.... THE Ohio State University and Notre Dame added to his belt. He is quickly becoming the most sought after player in IN 2022 class. 

https://247sports.com/Player/Joey-Tanona-46084550/

Zionsville's Joey Tanona added Kansas State and Arizona State in the past week or so. https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Joey-Tanona-130179/RecruitInterests/

Looks like HSE will be looking for a new coach as Adam Morris was named the OC at DePauw University. Great opportunity for Coach Morris, and a great opening from a district/talent/conference perspective. 

https://depauwtigers.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20200311kzfneb

My personal favorite is Brownsburg. No track makes the crowd feel like they are on the sidelines. 

Zionsville's Joey Tanona (2022) was offered by Tennessee. This makes offer number 5 for the incoming Junior.

 https://247sports.com/Player/Joey-Tanona-46084550/

Congrats to Charlie! Would not be surprised one bit if he were to earn himself a scholarship down the road. 

On 12/4/2019 at 12:14 PM, DT said:

Admins are forcing an athletic menu down kids throats.  Football is not a requirement, like math and basic english.

And high school football is designed to support other sports through gate revenue and concessions.

Where football is on the cusp of contraction, I say let the kids decide.  

 

Football was growing leaps and bounds back then.

 

It is contracting today.   We are past the peak, at all levels.

 

It happens

When I was in MS our Varsity football team won 6 games in 4 years and had less than 30 kids on the team. We hired a new coach my freshman year and by my Junior year was playing for the state championship with over 60 kids on a 1A roster. 

At a 1A or 2A school it only takes a couple of good classes or a coach that instills belief into the program for numbers to turn it around. Was the school supposed to close the doors on the program after 5 years of ineptitude and historically low numbers? In my opinion, success and numbers, especially at a small school level is cyclical. There were maybe 2-3 kids on my state championship team that would have played at a larger school, if the administration would have given up on the program it would have deprived the other 60+ kids the opportunity to be a part of something special. 

1 hour ago, FastpacedO said:

It will definitely stand for awhile. It will take a RB starting as a Freshman and starting all 4 years to even attempt to break them. Not only that but they have to average great numbers each year.

Not only start as a Freshman, but would need to play in a very run heavy offense (like Charlie did at Delta and NP) to even have a chance. Four year starter in a spread offense that throws it 20 times a game likely has no chance.

Relevant to the fixing the 6A tournament topic thats on here right now, but also involves the 5A people too so figured it necessary to spin off. 

IndyStar did a highlight on what it would look like to seed the 5A and 6A tournament next year. Pretty interesting article: 

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/12/03/indiana-high-school-football-time-seeding-ihsaa-tournament/4346453002/

What are everyone's thoughts? I think it would make for some great late tournament matchups that may occur early on in the current format (e.g. Cathedral/NP, Avon/BB)

29 minutes ago, FormerFalcon said:

There are several deserving players, but if Charlie doesn't win the award should be retired

Patiently waiting for the Warren contingent chiming in about how the award should have been retired after last year... 

14 hours ago, dmizers3 said:

Now that the season is over, curious if anyone thinks there is a legit case for anyone other than Charlie Spegal for Mr. Football?  I know I am biased,  but objectively I can't see voting for anyone else. 

I think this is the easiest winner in recent memory. Charlie easily could have won this a Junior and probably could have been in the conversation as a Sophomore if it weren't for the SR only rule. 

Just now, DannEllenwood said:

Is CG's QB (Jackson?) a current sophomore?

@cg_holmeaid would know for sure, but I believe the answer is yes. A full season with him and Steele will be fun to watch. 

8 minutes ago, cg_holmeaid said:

I would say Caden Curry DL at Center Grove, but I don’t know if you would consider his sophomore year his breakout year or not.

I think any Sophomore playing for a state finalists is in an excellent position going into next year

Who are some of the to-be Juniors that are poised to breakout in 2020? Could be someone who is inline to inherent a great situation or someone who saw significant success as a Sophomore. Some of my favorites: 

-Clark Barrett, QB, LCC... looked impressive in the state finals game

-Gehrig Slunaker, QB, MV... going into his 3rd year as a starter... led MV to the Semi-State, also has a great to-be Junior WR in Ashden Gentry

-Houston Swan, QB, Eastern Hancock... broke almost every school record as a Sophomore and has great weapons who were also Sophomores in Cole Rainbolt and Landon O'Neal

-Colin Price, RB, Zionsville... led all 6a RB's as a Sophomore

-Omar Cooper, LN... Nearly 1k yards receiving as a Sophomore in the MIC

Would love to hear who else is out there. 

16 hours ago, crimsonace1 said:

The Hoosier Heritage Conference is a pretty tight-knit group of schools and nobody is going to leave the conference for football only. There's really no place to go at this point - the Mid-State is already at 8 teams and while NP plays a lot of those schools in other sports, it doesn't have a real rivalry with any of them. Conference Indiana is a poor geographic fit and the schools are all 5A/6A enrollments and either Marion County township schools or small-city schools. The HCC is also at eight teams and are all *very big* 5As or 6As.  

Coach Ralph has said *many times* how impressed he is with the quality of coaching in the league, and he just helped spearhead a youth football tournament for 4th-5th-6th graders at all HHC schools. Mt. Vernon, Pendleton Heights and Delta are all solid programs that are getting better. The conference will be very competitive next year. 

Now, it's hard to project a decade into the future, but it's not out of reach to see MV, NP and PH all topping 2,000 students given how quickly things are growing. MV's growth is explosive, PH's proximity to Noblesville and I-69 will likely lead to additional growth, and NP is in the beginnings of an explosion of residential growth that will likely increase high school enrollment by 250-300 in the next 4-5 years. 

New Palestine's a pretty good situation. Football-crazed community, very well-established feeder program, culture in place with kids buying in, a school that pays its teachers well, good administrative support, growing community. Why leave that to start over somewhere else? 

I don't disagree with any of this.

Want to be clear in saying I think the answer is also "A" here.

I think NP is a top 10 job in the state, no doubt. I just wanted to spark discussion to see what everyone else thinks. I think the one difference between me and the rest of the group here is I'd put it at more 80/20 as Ralph being a NP lifer as opposed to leaving at some point when many seem to think its closer to 95/5. I just think eventually someone makes a Godfather offer or opportunity that he can't pass up. 

15 hours ago, crimsonace1 said:

Every AD in the state with a job opening wouldn't be doing his homework if it didn't at least call. I don't know if that constitutes "interviewing." But there's a difference between taking a phone call. He can have pretty much any job he wants, and yet, he's stayed in NP for seven years. 

Meanwhile, two very high-profile coaches left MIC schools in the last five years to coach in the HHC, which tells you a lot about the desirability of jobs in this league and area of the state. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. New Pal isn't Mayberry - it's a growing, upper-middle class community 15 miles from downtown Indianapolis with a tremendous amount of community support and a passion for football. You don't find that everywhere. 

I'd consider "interviewing" as attending an interview at the school with an AD, which he has done. I'd say that's a little different than fielding a phone call. 

2 minutes ago, Bobref said:

Rick Wimmer was among the best in-game high school football coaches I ever saw. I wonder if I’m the only official who worked games he coached in at all four schools: Zionsville, Merrillville, Greenwood, and Fishers.

Rick always seemed to be a great guy, and the Fishers program is certainly in a really good spot. What years was he at Zionsville? Was he directly before Larry Mac? 

9 minutes ago, DannEllenwood said:

Used as leverage?

Many coaches do this. 

Absolutely they do, but how many times does that work/get out of NP range? I don't know the answer to that, but surely can't be more than a couple. 

7 minutes ago, Temptation said:

Oh, I’ve seen worse...

Ah yes the "sports performance coordinator" gig that is out there is much worse... 

7 minutes ago, Staxawax said:

They are growing. They will not be in the HHC is 5-7 years because of growth.  Possible HCC or MIC future?

As far as Coach Ralph, it seems like he has this program going like Center Grove.  Oversee's the youth program, etc. 

He's built a great program, no doubt. It's incredible impressive the stuff he has done at NP. I think your right from a growth perspective as that area is set to explode over the next decade. It'll be interesting to see if that will be enough to get them into the HCC or MIC as they are still 1k or so students away from the smallest school in either of those conferences. Not to mention rival MV growing on the opposite side of the county which is closer in proximity to the HCC schools. Perhaps they consider getting out of the HHC for football only down the road, as it could be tough to compete in other sports that don't excel as well as softball or football at NP. 

4 minutes ago, Temptation said:

 I won’t pretend to know Coach Ralph  personally but I can say that the word “premier” means different things to different folks.

 I am not sure why he would leave at this point as he basically has the keys to the city and has the train rolling downhill...

Southern Hancock is one of the highest paying school corporations in Indiana  so I assume he is making good coin...

New Palestine has great demographics and facilities and is a growing suburban community...

The grass is not always greener on the other side... see Noblesville and Lawrence Central.

 Based on the above factors I believe New Pal is just getting started.

All great points, but at what point does he get bored playing an HHC schedule? If all this stuff was true then why interview at other places? For leverage? Just seems strange to say 100% its not happening when year after year he meets with other programs with openings. He very well could be a NP lifer, and I'm not saying he won't be, just think there may be more factors in play. 

2 minutes ago, Olympian06 said:

A. 
 

Ralph is like Jesus Christ himself in New PAL. His wife is from there, he oversees almost the entire youth football program. He has such a deep relationship with that program and community, I would be stunned if he goes anywhere anytime soon. 

I figured this would be an early response. And this makes a lot of sense, but neglects the fact that Ralph has been considered and interviewed for other premier jobs in the state.