Boilernation

Any I can't imagine Lowell ever purchasing field turf. That picture is just the way they want the field to look for playoff football.

I'm sure it would have been close regardless of who one. Unless the opponent is Chatard, I'll give HH a fighter's chance against anyone in the Tournament. Chatard just has everyone's number in 3A.

He's probably a 5 star because of who is offering him scholarships. LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M, etc. generally don't care about the 5th best player at Andrean...

Noblesville blew the game open and was up by 30+ in the second half. Noblesville has a massive O-Line and runs power formations (7 downed OL) and Mt. Vernon's front 7 couldn't handle it. Noblesville probably only attempted 2-3 pass the entire game, so I'm sure Memorial will present an entirely different offensive game plan. Offensive, Mt. Vernon spread the field and had a really good passing attack to go along with their running game. Noblesville couldn't stop it when Mt. Vernon was on. Self inflicted mistakes by Mt. Vernon really held their offense back in that game. Looking at last weeks box score, Mt. Vernon ran for 234 yards (6.2 avg) against a really good Roncalli defense. That's extremely impressive. So, you know they can run the ball and their QB can throw it. He's 6'2 with good ball placement. Averaging 198 passing yards/game.

His production against LaVille on both side of the ball looked dominating to me, but what do I know? You sound bitter. Are you a disgruntled LaVille fan? That's a nice definitieve statement you ended with. Any logicial reasoning you care to share for your opinion? I know you're not on the ND staff since he's going to Notre Dame. What have you seen about him that you think the coaches at Notre Dame, Clemson, Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, etc. are all missing?

I think Merillville is actually much better than last year, which I wasn't expecting considering they lost JoJo to Notre Dame. That said, I just think the timing is bad for them. It's going to be very hard for Westfield to replace Maximus Webster, Micah Hauser, Popeye Williams (ironically from Merrillville), etc., from their Senior class. That group is ridiculously battle tested from getting years of varsity reps in the HCC and I think their end game is giving Center Grove one heckuva battle in Lucas Oil. I can see the Pirates putting up a fight, but I just can't envision them winning. I've been so impressed by Westfield 2 weeks in a row now. They took every knockout punch HSE could deliver and still came through in the clutch at the end of the 4th quarter. They completely knocked Carroll out of the game just when it looked like the Charrgers were creaping back in with a TD and 2 pt. conversion. I'm not worried about Merrillville playing the weaker schdule because I believe this game has been in their minds all off season and during this season. They knew what every off season workout and conditioning session was for. Everything they've done has been for this game. I think they'll be ready and give the Rocks a match. Regarding the two conferences as a whole, there's just no comparison. The bottom feeders of the DAC would be lucky to win a single game in the HCC. I think it says alot about the HCC that winless Noblesville was able to beat Mt. Vernon with complete ease. It was a 30 point game at one point in the 2nd half. And Noblesville really didn't do anything in that game that they haven't done all year. They just lined up in power formations and ran the ball down the throats of the Marauders. Realistically, only Merrillville, Valpo, and City could compete in the HCC. Crown Point can get there as long as Buzea's health remains good. LC should be there. Time will tell if Good is the guy to turn it around. Crown Point and LC really need to keep their talent out of Andrean's halls.

Interesting story line at least to me is Vince Lidy making the return to Evansville as a 1st time HC. I'm sure there will be some sentimental emotion for him. He can follow in his fathers footsteps and win a Semi-State in Evansville. He's the only QB I've ever seen who was tough enough to also be a dominate LB on the defensive side of the ball.

I'm always impressed when a HS kicker boots a game winner. I expect it at the college and NFL level, but for some reason I just assume it's much harder at the HS level.

No. None. For some reason I believe the old baseball stadium looked similiar to League Stadium in Huntingburg, but I could be completely wrong. Maybe the original Loeb Stadium in Lafayette would be a better comparison. IDK. I've never been able to find old pictures on the net. I do remember the visitor side for football at the old Ames baseball stadium was bleachers going across Right and Center field.

Andrean completely fell apart in the 2nd half of the Tri West game. Mainly because the speed of Cook on the carpet breaking a kick return and long TD run. Completely has no bearing on how HH would have faired against Andrean. Reminds me of when many on the GID predicted HH to beat Andrean when the Patriots finally got over the Chatard hump in 2004.

Random observation after watching some of the Scecina/ Central Catholic game: Scenina has the blandest uniform / helmet combo I've ever seen. Reminds me of a generic combo from a 1995 Eastbay magazine.

I just looked at the boxscore. Here was his production against LaVille: Offense: 14 carries for 99 yards (7.1 Avg) and 3 TD's 1 Reception for 7 Yards Defense: 4 Total Tackles 1 TFL 1 INT that he returned 30 Yards You must be hard to impress. He's only a Junior. Were you expecting to see someone who is already a starting LB at ND?

How so?

I remember going to game there as a kid when Portage played Michigan City Rogers. I can't remember what it actually looked like though. I believe it was tore down in the mid '90's when they constructed the current Ames Field for the consolidation of Elston and Rogers.

You are correct. Andrean came into that game thinking they already won the State Title. The '59'ers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and it looked they were going to cruise. Tri-West took the early punches and fought back. The game went into the half tied at 21. It was all Tri-West in the 2nd half. Wesley Cook returned the 2nd half kickoff 89 yards for a TD and followed that up with TD runs of 2 and 59 yards to extend the Tri West lead to 42-21. Final was 49-27.

Nah. He didn’t predict any W’s. Just said he thinks City and Ville have the athletes to make it interesting this year and is looking forward to the possibility of both winning. Seems fair. Cody would have called for a running clock in at least one of the games and the other to be 2 TD Region win. Parkhurst’s hyperbole doesn’t really bother me. What gets me is his inability to provide factual information regarding historical results. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s just a parody account attempting to troll.

I like the pictures from last week. Talk about a tale of two different eras as the the turfless Inferno looked like a mud pit in the New Prairie picture. I've seen both of these teams play a little bit this year and can't imagine this game not ending in dramatic fashion in the 4th quarter. I would probably give NP a 3 point edge just becasue of Hunter Whitenack. The 6'7 300 pount future OL at Illinois is a monster. Good luck to whomever gets to line up across from him on Northridge.

Absolutely! But, I'm a firm believer that it's more difficult to correct the future if you don't acknowledge mistakes in the past.

Michigan City would have been sent home last week had they played anyone better than Valpo. Some really, really, bad TO's kept them from handidly beating the Vikings. They gave Valpo every chance possible to stay in the game and eventually tie it. Could have likely won it in regulation with a FG had they not thrown an INT with under a minute to go.

This is the game I'm most looking forward to watching next week. Phil Mason is further cementing his legacy as he leads the City Wolves into the Semi-State round for the 3rd time in the past 5 years. This time beautiful Ames Field gets it's turn to host a Semi-State as the Wolves previously traveled to Kokomo and New Palestine. Looks like game time temp will be around 31 degrees with winds coming off the Lake at 5-10 mph. That should't be bad enough weather to create too much discomfort for Zionsville. Looking at the game from City's perspective, the Wolves will need to clean up the mistakes on offense if they want any chance of pulling off the upset. Some sloppy play in th 2nd half and a poorly timed INT with under a minute to go in the 4th really helped Valpo keep it close and force OT. Sophomore QB Tyler Bush has a thrown a few INT's the past two weeks. Those INT's are at least easier to overcome against Mishwawka / Valpo than a Zionsville team that will likely flip turnovers into points. To the Wolves beneift they do have a full arsenal of playmakers to throw at the Eagles defense. 6'1 Sr WR Giovani Laurent has great hands and can stretch the secondary. 5'8 Sr. O'Marion Hatch is the speedster that MC will try to get the ball to in the open field. He can move is a threat to take it to the EZ on any play. City has a good thunder and lightning combo in the running game with 5'9 210 Sr. Racion Anderson and 6'0 180 Soph Jaden Hart. Hart is the most talented of the group and already has reported offers from Iowa State, Minnesota, Purdue, and Syracuse. The defensive line faired well against a much bigger Valpo O-Line last week; however, Zionsville will present their biggest test of the season when Joey Tanona and Joe Cannedy take the field. Unfortunately, I can envision a scenario in which City holds Zionsville to under 30 points. I was caught off guard when saw Harrell picking this as a 1 point City win. Logically, I just can't see a HCC battle tested Zionsville team losing to Michigan City. I'm hoping City's offense can keep them in the game and pull out a 31-28 type of game, but my head is thinking Zionsville will take this one by about 42-28. Either way, I'm excited to see Phil Mason's offense and Ames Field showcased in the Semi-State round.

Mark Smith, known on here as Old Uncle Mark, passed away yesterday after a 4 year battle with prostate cancer. Those of us from The Region are well aware of the work Mark put in to showcase Indiana HS sports in Northwest Indiana. His Thursday night and Friday post game shows on Channel 56 with Joe Arredondo were must watch TV for me as a youth. RIP Mark.

Is Aurelio's consider good up there? I know they started in Homewood in 1959 and are big across the South Burbs and into the Region. They opened up a place in Fishers a few years ago that seems to be thriving. I don't remember eating Aurelios. I was always a Gelsosomo's guy.

Is it true Hobart had the ball 1st and Goal at the 1 on TWO different occasions and Lowell kept them from putting a point up? I believe I saw that written somewhere.

I've been following your interviews on Facebook. Your best work yet DT. Congrats. Top Notch! Bobref working the field in Avon. Was that during the Shelbourne era? If so, two Region legends on the field at the same time in Hendricks County.

I'm going to give the kid of the benefit of the doubt that he's a True Freshman and was playing against a team whose D-Line was far superior to the IU OL. But, it just seemed like McCulley was completely lost if he wasn't running the ball. Man, talk about baptism by fire.