BTF

Tim Mannigel returns. The road to Indy got much easier with Chatard bumping up to 4A. Not saying another team won't stand in the way, just better chances of getting there.

I think you are right about Dwenger. I forgot about the "stay up" rule. The enrollment figures I'm looking at has Valpo at 31. https://www.ihsaa.org/Portals/0/ihsaa/documents/quick resources/Enrollments & Classifications/Enrollments 19202021.pdf

Dwenger's enrollment ranks 105. That puts them in 4a. Valpo ranks 31. That should put them in 6a.

Over/Under 2.5. Number of SAC teams playing in Indy next year on Thanksgiving weekend. I'll take the over. Luers in 2a (no one will stop them). Concordia in 3a (Chatard bumps up paving the way for the Cadets). Dwenger in 4a. Snider in 5a. 5A North: In: Snider Out: Zionsville, Dwenger, Valpo Really? Snider vs Cathedral for the state championship. Mark it down.

True, Westfield did somehow figure out a way to squeeze by the likes of Penn, Lake Central, HSE, and Fishers.

I like the idea of splitting it into two. Doesn't make much sense for a school of 1800 (Snider) to have to go through schools of 3200 (Ben Davis) and 5000 (Carmel). It's fun trying, don't get me wrong. But at the end of the day, it's the high enrollment schools that get to thump their chest and proclaim "were the best."

I miss the 80's and 90's when playing a team from the Region was as dangerous as playing a team from Indy. Merrillville 92' would have given any team in Indy fits. Portage 94' was solid. Valpo was, is, and apparently always will be force. Before 2001, the big school title was up for grabs, even some Southern Indiana teams staking a claim. The real Indy stronghold came in 2001. The championship was monopolized by Ben Davis and Warren Central for five years. During that time, it's seems like the rest of Indy rose to their standards and left the rest of the state in the dust.

Good post DT. I agree with you on Elkhart, lots of upside there. They have to be the hands on favorite out of the north to compete with the Indy big dogs. Don't expect much out of Northeast Indiana. Homestead seems to have their ceiling every year, which basically equates to a very good 5a team. Carroll loses some weapons and has yet to prove anything. They need to find out what Center Grove is doing. The Chargers have the community, the resources, the enrollment, and now an 8 millions dollar football stadium. When is this program going to play up to it's potential? Snider moves down to 5a even though they are on an uptick...........bad for 6a north.

Debating whether Zionsville or Dwenger is the second best team in 5a is asinine? I think it's a pretty good debate actually. Explain to me why it's asinine. Wait.............go watch the game first. I'll look for your response in a few hours.

I never said that.

Zionsville earned the red rings. But you know I'm right.

Yes, but Dwenger wins that game 8 times out of 10. A simple congratulations to Zionsville on their state runner up finish is in order. But let's not say stupid things like "clear as day" when referring to them as the second best team. Center Grove is better than Cathedral............clear as day. The CG/Cathedral game "proved" that CG is the best team in the state. C'mon man.

Oh please, stop it.

Did you watch the Dwenger/Zionsville game? If not, your opinion is worthless.

What does that make Dwenger? Congrats to Zionsville, their name will forever go down as the state runner up and will be remembered as the second best team in 5a. But were they?

I give up. Did you NOT watch the Dwenger/Zionsville game? Hardly "clear as day."

Should a team have to bump up a class if they never win a state championship? To me, that's a flaw in the system. South Adams should remain in 1A. If they can't win in 1A, why the heck would anyone believe they can win in 2A?

I was thinking that myself.

South Bend?

Those schools are a non-factor anyway. Not much to complain about.

Then yes, South Adams is a Fort Wayne area team. I was kidding with my last statement. If those teams aren't Indianapolis, then Homestead and Carroll aren't Fort Wayne.

So let me get this straight. Your the head football coach at a school with 1500 kids and no recruiting boundaries whatsoever. Your competition, schools of similar size, are limited to the kids within the boundaries of the school district. You win four state championships in a row and you're ok with that? Or do you challenge your kids and voluntarily bump up a class?

I guess I'm giving Indianapolis too much credit. Neither is Carmel, Zionsville, Westfield, or Avon.

Lol, depends on who you ask. Fort Wayne newspapers covers the area. It's 25 miles to the edge of Fort Wayne.

Has this ever happened before? Anyway, congrats to Indianapolis. They have a stronghold on high school football. In all fairness, the 2A champ resides 23 miles from the edge of Indy.............call it what you want. I call it a clean sweep.