Footballking16

9 minutes ago, DT said:

Roncalli slipped.  They stopped playing Cathedral because they couldnt compete during this period.  That is all on RHS.  They still have not fully recovered.  However, from the late 90s into the early 2000s, thay were a juggernaut.  

But that has nothing to do with the SF, which is what you said initially. 

9 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

What is the role exactly of the IHSAA then?

 

Certainly not restricting transfers stemming from parents moving into different school districts, especially in a different area code.

18 minutes ago, DT said:

It was the Roncalli people who picked up arms to defend all PPs schools during the  5 Year PP-Public War   2004-2009      Roncalli, like its brothers Chatard and Cathedral and Luers and Dwenger have all had their periods of extended, sustained dominance.  While not quite as decorated in championship hardware as some of its brethren, RHS was indeed the posterboy for PP hegemony during this period.

LOL  How soon they forget

But what does that have to do with SF impacting Roncalli? Their reign of dominance surely didn't end because they were getting bumped up year after year. Wrong P/P.

13 minutes ago, DT said:

No  The IHSAA can however say, "Mr Spegal, your son cannot transfer and play varsity football at New Pal because this will have a long term deleterious impact on the HHC and upset the natural order of competitive balance within the conference."

That is the kind of action that visionary leaders take.

 

And get sued to the high heavens in the process. 

9 minutes ago, DT said:

I want the IHSAA to step in and mitigate extreme circumstances that impact competitive balance.  In my view, the whole CS saga is a prime example of the need for more IHSAA transfer oversite.  

What's the IHSAA supposed to say, "Your family can't move to New Palestine"?

8 minutes ago, Lysander said:

In roughly the 7 seasons prior to the start of the SF Roncalli never made it out of Sectional and was marginally over a .500 program.

Apparently “Hegemony” has a different definition for some.

Honestly, the SF factor was a salvation for them.

Agreed wholeheartedly.

11 minutes ago, Lysander said:

What?

Ya what? Has Roncalli actually ever played up a class?

Edit* Should have looked myself. Yes they have, lost to Cathedral twice in 5A sectionals. Go figure, a 4A school by enrollment. If anything, the SF has helped Roncalli as they've managed to avoid Cathedral in sectionals (with the above exception) since the SF inception. If anything, the SF has helped Roncalli. 

21 minutes ago, dmizers3 said:

If that happens I expect the score to be more lopsided in the opposite direction than last year. Similar to last year the teams aren't on the same level but I'd say the difference is more significant this year.

Same level? Cathedral was some bad play-calling inside the 5 yard line away from taking a two score lead into the 4th quarter. Game got out of hand quickly but I don't think there was much talent disparity between the two, if any at all. Cathedral dictated that game for nearly 3 quarters and couldn't finish a drive before the wheels came off. 

47 minutes ago, hhpatriot04 said:

When was the WC-Carmel state championship game decided at the end with a questionable TD catch? Was either school ranked and do you recall the year? It may have been pre-six class era.

2009 I believe. Shakir Bell and Co. Doubt either of those schools were nationally ranked as they both had multiple losses. Cathedral beat both Carmel and Warren to open the season that year and was flirting with a national ranking with their lone loss to St. X until they got their doors beaten off against Reitz. 

6 hours ago, DT said:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/highschool/2020/09/29/high-school-football-national-rankings-super-25/3571419001/

CG inching closer to breaking into the National Top 10.  This should happen soon as several of the teams ahead of them have played fewer games and will likley take some losses.

Without a win over a national level opponent, Center Grove has no chance at winning the USA National Title, but a Top 5 finish would be a spectacular accomplishment for the Trojans.

Cathedral in at 25. Beat Elder and you’re potentially looking at a top 20 show down in 2 weeks.

6 hours ago, PhilLee said:

Yes a school that should be playing in 6A.  Playing against a 4A school, playing up a class, with a lot of new faces and starting a freshmen RB. 

Sounds like New Pal the last 4-5 years....

2 hours ago, OldschoolFB said:

They graduated everyone. AND, correct me if I’m wrong, Coach Ralph changed his offense to fit The Big Fella.  I believe Coach Ralph likes to spread it out.  If that’s the case, these kids have yet to run that O, add the fact that they don’t have experience and it’s possible to have a down Sr class too.  Add it all up and you get a mediocre 4-1.   Having said that, I would not want to draw New Pal in the Sectionals. 

There’s a certain school on the East Side of Indianapolis licking their chops hoping New Pal makes it out of sectionals....

2 hours ago, Staxawax said:

Drew Ramsey, as in Peyton’s brother?

Yes. Dad is the head coach.

Yes and no. The SEC has really taken off these last 10-15 years and that automatically raised Kentucky's profile, which has seen dividends in recruiting. Kentucky also benefits from playing in the SEC East and that has really tremendously as there are years where they avoid Bama, LSU, Auburn completely. Tennessee and Florida have had some down years these last 4-5 seasons and Kentucky has been able to capitalize although both Tennessee and Florida appear to be on their way "back" with a couple solid coaching hires. 

Indiana also has been hurt (at least in terms of W-L record) as they play in the dominant of the two Big Ten divisions. Simply put, if IU plays a Big Ten West schedule and UK plays an SEC West schedule the last 4-5 years, I think records are reversed.

On 9/26/2020 at 11:52 AM, Coach Nowlin said:

Protect for 4 seconds.....   who do you stop?  If you protect for 4 seconds?   How do you stop if you protect for 4 seconds? 

 

 

Line may be better this year, but if Purdue doesn't establish a running game early and often teams are gonna sit in a zone and/or blitz the hell out of whoever is playing QB which is another unknown for the Boilers. As electric as Rondale is, Pudue's lost more games than he's won whenever he's been in the lineup.

31 minutes ago, Dave007 said:

I expect the Irish to create more of a scoring gap in this game and the streak of 3 games with 100+ penalty yards given up comes to an end.  Elder is 3-2, lost to both Saint Xavier and La Salle which are our common opponents.

Irish 49

Elder 21

 

By the way - anyone know if attendance criteria has changed now Indiana is in stage 5 (as of Saturday)?  I keep hearing mixed messages about attendance and wonder if anyone can set it straight! 

 

Think we need to give Elder a little more credit. Of the 3 Cincy teams Cathedral plays this year, Elder has the most explosive offense in my opinion. Played an absolute barn burner against a full strength LaSalle team in week 1 which saw them lose in double OT on a successful 2pt conversion from LaSalle and lead X going into the 4th and gave up 21 straight points in a matter of 6 game minutes. That being said, still think Cathedral has the edge on both sides of the LOS and should be able to win that battle. Elder will score points, but not enough to outlast the Irish.

Cathedral 38

Elder 28

19 minutes ago, hhpatriot04 said:

I'm very surprised at the number of posters speculating that either team wouldn't do everything in their power to win a game. You're making it sound like a Tier 2 or 3 college bowl game, where an NFL prospect would sit out to avoid risk of injury. 

If both teams remain undefeated or even if Cathedral stumbles against St.X, the game has state, Midwest, and national ranking implications. That's a once in a decade or more match-up. 

I don't agree necessarily that either team plays to "lose" this game, just may not pull out all the tricks and trades right before playoffs. The way the game is called, decision-making, etc could be different. 

41 minutes ago, Lysander said:

Dunno....all the folks here seem ambivalent about that game.  I think a few of them are likely a little credible.

It's an inopportune time to have the game right before the start of the playoffs, but it still matters to an extent as bragging rights are on the line, nobody wants to ever lose. But given the all-in format where you actually know your first round opponent before week 9 kicks off and the fact there's no seeding/qualification/conference title implications on the line means it's only bragging rights for one team. For instance, I suspect if Indiana had a qualifying format, last years 4-4 Center Grove heading into their week 9 match-up with Cathedral likely would have needed a win to get into the postseason and someone like Carsen Steele who was sidelined most the year with injuries would have played.

But sans 2018, all these games have actually been terrific to watch. Each game (other than 2018 blowout) has been decided by a touchdown or less. There's been high scoring games, a 7-0 defensive slugfest, even an OT thriller. With Cathedral and Center Grove likely both being head and shoulders better than the rest of their class peers, this game probably declares the best team in the state. I don't know what the coaches plan on showing or who they will choose to play/sit, but I do know that both teams will give it their all.

Don’t know much about 1A, 2A, or 4A but they’re could be 40-50 point blowouts in the remaining classes.

1 hour ago, Boilernation said:

I read on Yappi that La Salle is banged up and playing without a decent amount of key players. I'm changing my pick to Catheral by 23.

Sounds like Payne (RB with a ton of offers) is out. QB banged up but playing. LaSalle still has 4-5 other D1 commits on the team and will certainly be a tough match-up. Believe their secondary has an Alabama, Ohio State, and Cincinnati commit so definitely a tall task for Cathedral's passing game. But yes I think Cathedral has the advantage on the line and should be able to run the ball with some success.

28-17 Irish. 

Decent parity but don’t understand the need for a conference that doesn’t allow every team to play one another and effectively crowning a conference champion? That and you eliminate any possibility of scheduling out of conference, thus effectively ending long time rivalries; Chatard-Cathedral, Columbus North-East, etc.

It’s a no for me.

We’ll be 2/3’s the way done with the regular season at the conclusion of Friday’s games. With playoffs rapidly approaching that means it’s also appropriate to talk about the state’s most coveted award; Mr. Football. In my opinion there’s 3 candidates who have separated themselves from the rest the pack.

1. Carsen Steele-Center Grove. A four year starter for the Trojans, it seems like a decade ago we first heard Steele’s name. After an injury ridden season last year, Steele picked up right where he left off. Carsen is the top offensive standout on one of the best teams in the entire country.

2. Donovan McCulley-Lawrence North. This is the sexy pick. Top offensive rated player in the state committed to the states flagship university. McCulley has been fantastic this year and is the key component to a very impressive LN turnaround. A strong finish to the end of the year and a potential section victory could make him the front runner.

3. Nathan McCahill-Cathedral. This time last year you’d be hard pressed to find anybody outside the Cathedral family that was familiar with the name McCahill. McCahill’s transformation from reserve receiver to star QB has been a treat to watch. Has put up ridiculously numbers against stout opponents week in and week out and is a major reason why Cathedral sits 5-0 on the year. He’s won the IndyStar performer of the week three times now and certainly on the radar.

These in my opinion are the top 3 candidates but feel free to give worthy recognition to those out there.

On 9/22/2020 at 2:44 PM, Bears62 said:

Hope the Irish get it done but Cathedral is not Indiana’s number 1 team

I don’t think anybody can deny that on paper Center Grove is by far and away the most talented team in the state and the way they’ve dominated their competition speaks for itself.

That being said, will be tough convincing me that Cathedral to date doesn’t have a more impressive resume than Center Grove. Cathedral currently has more Sagarin top 10 wins than Center Grove and boasts a win over St. Xavier who would almost assuredly be a top 5 Sagarin rated team in Indiana.

In a few weeks we’ll have our answer for sure.

15 minutes ago, DT said:

I would not expect that Westfield would beat the Indianapolis Catholic Traveling All Stars in week 1, week 9 or any other week.  Coach Pebbles appears to have that program now where he wants it.   Will he stay or jump to big money in The Mic or HCC?

He just left the MIC...

5 minutes ago, DT said:

I think the difference maker is the 2020 CG shutdown defense.  Its impenetrable.  And thats because they physically manhandle the opposition.  I believe this CG defense would shut down those BD and WC high flying offenses.

And neither BD nor WC were highly regarded defensively in those years.  CG would move the ball at will behind that Oline 

Again, that’s not only a very bold statement but an objective one. Saying neither of those teams could move the ball against this CG defense is egregious at best. Considering the 06 Warren team had multiple OL/TE go on to play in the NFL, a D1 QB and 2 future NFL RB’s, I’m going to have to disagree with you there. 

5 minutes ago, DT said:

Precisely my point.  We do know however that kids today are bigger , stronger and faster than they were 20 years ago.  Taken in totality, this CG roster would physically dominate those teams from 15-20 years back.  You also have to consider that this team indeed does have some future NFL Players on the roster.  That alone by itself is the difference maker

That Warren team had at least 3 players play an NFL regular season snap (Andrew McDonald, Adrien Robinson, Darren Evans) along with 6 or 7 other D1 kids just from that senior class alone. 
 

Your precise claim was this “might be the best team in Indiana history”; not “team that can beat any other team in Indiana history”. 15-20 years from now we’ll be saying the same thing about another team being able to beat this CG team because the game once again has evolved and players are even bigger, faster, stronger than before.

Still don’t think this CG team beats the 01 BD team or 06 Warren team.