Footballking16

4 hours ago, temptation said:

Game could have easily been moved but I have a sneaky suspicion one team didn’t want it to be for obvious competitive reasons.

One team didn’t want to move from their home field and pay to host a game???

I knew I donated to the GID for this kind of heavy hitting analysis for a reason. You should have to pay next time to make a comment so idiotic.

8 minutes ago, LC_Bears_04 said:

This is why people should wait to talk crap until the game is over.

No one talked crap. Comment was in response to the playing surface. Cathedral had no trouble moving the ball in the first half playing on the exact same field as Center Grove.

Painful.
 

Eerily similar to the New Pal regional a few years back. Dominate in all facets of the game except the scoreboard for nearly 3 quarters, fail to capitalize on opportunities to blow the game open, let a good team hang around, and run out of gas in the end.

Credit to Center Grove, took punch after punch and never hit the canvas. Bunch of strong and mental tough kids on that team. 

2 minutes ago, IndianaWrestlingGuy said:

🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻

One team is out gaining the other team 3:1 on the same field. 

Cathedral up 3-0 at half. 

14-13 Irish

CG misses a FG late and the Irish this time around are successfully able to run out the clock.

28 minutes ago, southend said:

Could be, but history tells us these two schools will be at their best, barring injuries. 
You saying one is that much better?

2014 CG 44-38

2015 CG 7-0

2016 CG 44-41 OT

2017 Cath 21-14

2018 CG 34-7

2019 Cath 14-9

2020 CG 17-13

This game is always highly contested and in a few instances have been decided on the last play of the game. Expect nothing less tomorrow night. Anyone downplaying the significance of this game is lying to themselves, it will be a war. If Center Grove wins, it's very likely they are repeat undefeated large class champions. Not even the Warren teams of the mid-2000's who rattled off 4 in a row can say that. 

32 minutes ago, Dave007 said:

 It will be interesting to see how the weather truly effects the game.  49 degrees + 15mph winds + 1/2" rain projected + grass field = conditions both teams probably have not played in quite some time?

I think rain helps Cathedral in this instance. Absolutely nobody has been able to run on Cathedral this year and I don't see it changing much this weekend. Jackson for me has always been the X factor in this matchup. Sans a last minute drive in last years game that never should have happened in the first place, I was pretty meh on Jackson's ability to throw the ball down the field. He faced a ton of pressure last year and through into coverage a lot. If Cathedral can force CG into obvious passing games, Cathedral's pressure and weather could play well into their favor in the passing game. -

27 minutes ago, LCCAlum said:

2150 Tickets sold so far......

Must be the potential rain keeping people away....

Would have thought Center Grove was brining an entire battalion 

2 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

Last night's loss was the worst loss in the 37 year history of the Indianapolis Colts.  Frank needs to put away the "prevent" defense when his team gets a "comfortable" lead and he needs to find a new kicker.  Going for a two point conversion when up 22-3 was wrong.  The two missed extra points and the missed field goal was the difference in the game.  Frank's a nice man and a decent X&O coach, but he doesn't know how to win when having a lead.  This wasn't the first time this has happened.

Defense absolutely gassed. Down 3 defensive backs and a couple lineman. I don't fault the defense for last nights loss, they played about as well as you could ask and then some for 3.5 quarters despite being shorthanded.

This game was lost when Reich tried to run out the clock with 5 minutes left. Unless you've never watched an NFL game until last night, typically the team with the ball last wins. Reich playing for a FG with an injured kicker instead of trying to get a first down is the reason why the Colts lost. They were the aggressor the entire night until they got in FG range on their 2nd to last driver up 8 points. 

20 minutes ago, Grover said:

It's not black and white.  Nobody said anything about going vanilla. 

How deep did Center Grove have to go in their playbook in the tournament last year? There wasn't a game played within 3 TD's and they're a better team this year playing in a weaker 6A. 

This is a game Center Grove is playing to win, a fake punt or flea-flicker be damned. 

18 minutes ago, Grover said:

That's great.  But it isn't what motivates us.  

So going vanilla and potential losing a game does? Not sure how that makes sense. 

18 minutes ago, Grover said:

And I do not think either side goes as deep into their playbooks as they would if this was a playoff game.

I disagree. 

A win for Center Grove almost guarantees them a top 10 national ranking, possibly top 5. Center Grove (as well as Cathedral) should coast in the tournament even if they show all the bells and whistles. 

Honestly I see the game coming down to a trick play or a defensive/special teams TD with the way these two teams play defense. 

22 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

I follow a number of Twitter feeds...feels like you might be embellishing this a little.  I've seen one comment complaining about the facility, which drove a Cathedral frosh coach to jump in the fray and start commenting.   I don't see that happen much.

Truthfully, how many CG fans have you read Tweeting about the location due to safety?  I have no dog in this fight....but perhaps I am missing all the CG fans comments.  Point me in the right direction in my thoughts about your post are inaccurate.  I am a Twitter guy, so I can find them if you point me to them.  You have me curious.

It's in Neddenriep's tweet. There have been multiple Center Grove fans on here as well that have commented about the safety of the facility.

@Joncommented a thread a few weeks back about possibility getting shot at because he was once shot at near Arlington back in the 80's. 

17 minutes ago, temptation said:

Is that smart in your opinion?  I know hindsight is 2020 but this game being at the end of the season would give me pause as a head coach.  Don’t want to seem spoiled as I love the fact that these two teams are lacing it up but it’s still sort of strikes me as a nothing to gain/everything to lose type of scenario.

Is it smart? Cathedral wouldn't play their games at Arlington if they thought the playing surface was unsafe, it is as simple as that. Outside one game in this series, these games have been rock fights the last 6 meetings with the final score being one possession games. No coach or team is getting conservative here, they certainly didn't last year.

20 minutes ago, temptation said:

That being said, and maybe I’m just creating conversation out of nowhere…

if you had to pick one of the two, who has a larger margin for error when it comes to the tournament?

I think both teams are so head and shoulders better than their competition in their respective classes that an injury or two doesn't affect much. 

21 minutes ago, temptation said:

I hate to suggest this but with that considered and the much publicized topic of a natural grass field, is there ANY shot one or both coaches play it safe and conservative considering the bigger picture in mind?

More specifically, and I will not pretend to know the health status of either club, but if I’ve got a kid with a nagging injury, do I even chance it on Friday night?

What do I have to gain other than street cred in some mythical national poll?

Cathedral will be playing this game like its their national championship regardless if the game was played on turf, grass, or concrete. 

Not sure Center Grove's status, don't really care. The facility this game is being played at is garnishing more attention than the game itself which is sad. You have Center Grove fans on Twitter complaining about safety due to the surrounding neighborhoods. Do Center Grove fans not realize they literally play across the street at Lawrence Central every other year?  

26 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Serious question...is there no longer an agreement between Cathedral and Tech high school?  I believe that is where the last couple of CG vs Cathedral games have been hosted by the Irish.  I ask because the Tech schedule has them on the road against Kokomo, so I assume the Tech field is open friday night.  Turf field, larger seating capacity, perhaps better parking (not sure), so it just made me wonder.

Thanks!

Cathedral could theoretically have an agreement with any facility in the state if they so wish, the problem is that is costs Cathedral money to rent and host even at a place like Tech. That isn't the case with Arlington. Cathedral's "home field" for the longest time has always been Arlington (when available) and with Arlington no longer playing high school football the field is readily available every home game. It's less than a mile from campus. The playing surface at Arlington is more than fine and the game of football was played on grass for almost 100 years before synthetic turf. It is unfortunate that the parents of Center Grove student athletes may have to grab an extra tide stick at Target this week, but rest assured they will live. Trust me. 

18 minutes ago, temptation said:

Revising my prediction on this one after hearing Brebeuf became the latest outfit to put garbage points on the board late.

CG 20-14.

Points will be at a premium in this game, especially with inclement weather expected. Will be a field position game all night. 

21 minutes ago, StatQueen said:

Everyone knows this Arlington "venue" is a joke.  Typical Cathedral trying to act like it's not.  A shame this game isn't getting a better environment.  The real issue is that the Irish are actually lucky they don't have to deal with Rebel OLine this year.  Actual best game would be CGvsRoncalli this year.

Cathedral would beat Roncalli by 4 TDs.

Wish you’d go run and hide and disappear just like Roncalli has the last decade.

Chickensh*ts

1 hour ago, temptation said:

I’ll drop the first prediction.

27-21 CG.

48 O/U too high.

Honestly worried about Cathedral’s offense against this CG defense. Cathedral had a juggernaut offense last year and really struggled to do anything. This game will be played in the low teens.

1 hour ago, temptation said:

Hate the term “moral victory” but is it possible Brebeuf IMPROVED its standing in terms of being the 3A state title favorite in this one?

21 points against that Irish D is no joke!

If scoring 14 cheap ones late is a moral victory, I need to get with the times. That being said, Brebeuf is a solid team and should fare well in 3A.

1 hour ago, temptation said:

PLEASE tell me this is hyperbole.

It's not.

Ripped up his hamstring on the very first carry of the season on an 80 yard TD run against East Noble. Don't think he played another down in the regular season.

During the Ben Davis blowout in the regional, BD scored on their first drive and then the second Cathedral reached the red zone on the ensuing drive Stepp went untouched into the end zone. Unfortunately for Cathedral, that was the only time they reached the red zone until the game was way out of hand and Stepp only carried the ball one more time. 

7 hours ago, JustRules said:

If they seed the sectionals it is much more likely they'll get paired with a top seeded team on the road and get blown out. I'm not sure how much of a factor that is, but I've heard coaches share this belief. Bobref has mentioned several times if they seed the sectional it will ultimately lead to a qualifying tournament. I think there is truth to that.

Bobref has been the longest advocate on the GID for a playoff qualification and I've adopted his thoughts in the last 6 or 7 years. I do believe seeding would ultimately lead to a playoff qualification system. There are very few sectionals in the state that have widespread parity and pitting the two best teams furthest away from each other would ensure more blowouts in the first two rounds. 

As it stands now the IHSAA can justify 70 point blowouts because "it's the luck of the draw". They would no longer have that justification once they artificially manipulate the field. 

3 minutes ago, jets said:

Again - back to the topic at hand - can anyone explain WHY the reluctance to NOT seed the sectionals?? After 3 pages on this thread, I still don't see a valid argument?? 

I think MOST are in favor of at least some type of seeding, even if it’s just seeding the top two teams. But you’d have to petition the IHSAA as to why something hasn’t taken place.

8 minutes ago, XStar said:

If Brebeuf and West Lafayette square off in the first round this year, I'll probably go to that game and then find another good game in other sectionals in northern Indiana in the subsequent rounds of the sectional.  In fact, having a blind draw usually generates great games in every round of the sectional instead of clustering them all in one weekend. 

I’m guessing you aren’t the typical high school football fan. Would guess most high school fans are partial to either a specific school or town. Still an interesting perspective and cool nonetheless.

Going to be a tough sell getting the casual Indy high school football fan to make the trip to West Lafayette the first or second weekend of sectionals with so many games in the area to choose from.