BTF

People have been laughing at comments like that for years, so I can't say I blame them. Snider and Dwenger have owned this conference. You were proven correct this year. Homestead is good. They've always had an offense that could compete statewide. The difference this year is that they have a defense.

Am I hallucinating or did this really happen? Letdown from last week? Trap game? Not as good as we think? Plymouth THAT good?

1. Homestead - They just look good, plain and simple. 2. Dwenger - SAC championship looming on Friday against Homestead. 3. Snider - Good team, but lots of weaknesses exposed against Concordia. 4. Carroll - Another solid win last night, neck and neck with Snider for 3rd place bragging rights. 5. Concordia - Can't wait to see this team in the playoffs against similar enrollment schools. Gave Snider fits last Friday. 6. Northrop - Not a bad team, just playing in a conference that is stacked at the top this year. 7. Luers - Not even in the same league as the Big 4 this year. What's going on there? Major rebuilding year? 8. Wayne - Difficult to say whether they are 8 or 9 at this point. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. 9. North Side - Not near as good as we expected or is the top of the SAC just THAT good? 10. South Side - Showing some fight, but not ready for a leap in the standings as of yet.

Columbus North has been pretty solid the last couple of years, am I wrong?

Impressive

Northrop 29, Wayne 25 Carroll 42, North Side 0

Nice!

20-0 doesn't sound bad all things considered.

Homestead 51, Luers 0..................sure if its in the 3rd or 4th Snider, 31, Concordia 14

Snider 24, Concordia 14.................a couple of big plays by Snider has been the difference. Other than that, these two teams are pretty equal.

Homestead has an argument for best team in the North. Stay tuned.

Northrop 14, Wayne 13 Homestead 27, Luers 0 Carroll 21, North Side 0 Dwenger, 27, South Side 0

Snider 17, Concordia 7..................midway through 2nd quarter

I think it's a toss-up between Carroll and Warsaw. Based on how this series had gone over the last few years, I was expecting Snider to "mercy rule" Carroll. I couldn't have been more wrong about the Chargers. Their 42-0 blasting of Luers was no fluke and the Knights showed last Friday that they aren't too bad of a football team. They have some big physical kids (not that skinny #23), quick wide receivers, and a sophomore qb who is going to give the SAC fits for the next few years. I don't know if this program has turned the corner for good, but they will be solid at least for the next couple of years. I can't say I'm that surprised that Warsaw went up to MC and game back with a W. They have a great coach who's taken over a program in a great community. They will be in a thorn in the Kingsman's side come sectional time. Given that I was picking Michigan City to win at home against the Tigers, I've got to give Warsaw a slight edge over Carroll for Northern Team of the Week.

Chatard? Warsaw? Michigan City? Sounds like we need to make a Top 20.

I think you nailed the Top 15 1. New Palestine 2. Warren Central 3. Avon 4. Carmel 5. Brownsburg 6. Cathedral 7. Valparaiso 8. Center Grove 9. Snider 10. Dwenger 11. Lawrence North 12. Lafayette Jeff 13. Homestead 14. Fishers 15. Carroll 16. Westfield

The coaches came up with this? That is what is so perplexing. I just don't know how the number 35 makes any sense. I don't know how it makes any sense to keep the clock running when the team coming back is mounting a comeback? I don't care who came up with it. It's a disappointing rule to say the least. It's almost as if the rule was created during a one hour meeting. Not enough time to think things through. Is what it is I guess.

It should, they have plenty of resources.

Snider was up on New Pal 42-14 in the second quarter before the Dragon's started chipping away. It's a lousy rule, plain and simple.

Luers beat Wayne tonight. That makes Carroll's 42-0 thrashing of the Knights even more impressive. And then tonight against Snider, losing 21-20, difference being an extra point. Carroll finally looks like what a big suburban football program is suppose to look like tonight. Big and physical. Dwenger coming up September 20.

SAC is a beast this year. Keep and eye on Snider, Dwenger, Carroll, and Homestead.

New Pal solidifies their position as the team to beat in 5a. Dwenger and Valpo not far behind though.

I would agree that Perry Township (Carroll) and Aboite Township (Homestead) have much in common. Both are very affluent areas. I would say the big difference between the two is that Homestead established themselves as a "program" back in the early 90's. Just so there is no confusion, my definition of a "program" is a team that is built for success year after year. Homestead has done that. They've been good for almost three decades now. They represented the North in 1998 and probably would have done so again in 2002 had Snider not had two weeks to prepare for them in sectionals. Just look back at their history and you will see plenty of 10 win seasons. I honestly think they could have gone toe to toe with Carmel two years ago. Carroll's success didn't really come until a couple years after Dinan took over. The turning point was about 2012. Sure they had a decent season here and there, but no consistency until 2012. The highlight of the Carroll program was upsetting Penn in 2014 and taking down Snider last year.

They look like they could vie for 6a supremacy this year.

How much better is Michigan City this year than last? The Carroll district of Fort Wayne is still exploding. All of the growth is to the north side of the city. I could see one day, maybe 10 years from now, when Carroll could be mentioned with the likes of Brownsburg, Avon, Carmel, ect. But they aren't ready for that just yet. For now and the foreseeable future, Snider and Dwenger will continue to own Fort Wayne. They have built programs that have sustained decades of success and their isn't any sign of a slowdown for either program. For those of you who don't know, Russ Isaacs still plays a major role at Snider as an assistant for Coach Tippmann. And Jason Garrett of Dwenger won a state championship in his first season. A Dwenger guy to the core. Both programs looked ridiculously good last week for it being the first week of the season. Carroll's victory against Luers, on paper, is quite impressive. No one expected them to paste them 42-0. But Luers isn't the same program they were when Kyle's father, Matt, was at the helm. I'm not saying Carroll can't beat Snider, it's just more than likely not going to happen if Snider brings their A game. For those of you who aren't from Fort Wayne, keep an eye on Homestead. That's the team that could be capable of overthrowing Snider and Dwenger this year.