DACNUT

No I was referring to Elkhart high school football only.

I can go back and check, but I don't recall Elkhart, excluding Concord, being relevant going back to the 90s?

The problem with these urban districts closing schools or just any place where schools close, history shows people just leave and go to the nearest and better looking rural or suburban school. Hammond and South Bend have so much competition with private and charter schools, there is very little these districts will be able to do unless the folks in Indianapolis change the way in which they fund traditional public schools.

When you say north, are you dismissing the DAC and Warsaw? Penn has not been the Kings of the north the past two years. Just because they are larger doesn’t automatically make them a football power, especially As they haven’t had a culture of winning anything for multiple decades. They will be larger, but just like the larger schools in the DAC, size isn’t everything!!

Because I cannot think of another 4A enrollment school that is PUBLIC, ever be arguably the best team in the state.

Speaks even more for New Pal considering it's one, a public school, and two, has less than 1200 students. There have been a handful of HS coaches who have made their way to the upper levels, NCAA traditional DI, and the NFL, I would venture to say that if Ralph wanted it, he has proven he can do it.

I noted in one of my post about Valpos passing game, and Opperman, looks good, always has a clean pocket, but as we saw last night, inaccurate. In terms of 7 on 7, they all do it, but when you are whipping teams the way they have the past couple of years, he never really needed to pass the ball. With those unneeded Hail Mary passes, there was just a lack of imagination on the routes and in featuring their best athlete, Osario. He had a lot of targets, but heck he should have got more as he was the one clear mismatch on the field last night. However, New Pals secondary had a lot to do with them struggling with passing as he had a crazy amount of time to pass and kids were not getting wide open. Couple of post have mentioned New Pals size and that is for sure what makes this more amazing as Valpo at least for this year was pushed down somehow, still haven’t figured it out, to 5A, after going to semi-state in 6A and being larger than two other schools that are playing up, success factor math. I also agree with everyone that the winner of this game, New Pal is by far the best team in the state. I have no doubt they have the toughness, physical strength, and enough athleticism to beat Carmel. The one difference I also saw last night that I’ve seen in. New Pal the last two years is how they just get those turnovers. Tremendous offensive line play, just a pleasure to watch.

My analysis one point come to fruition. Valpo had numerous opportunities to do what Michigan City, Cathedral couldn’t, get up on New Pal and let their larger DL and OL take control. Instead, New Pal on the possessions immediately following the other teams not taking advantage give the other teams a one two three punch. In this case Valpo a one two. Great game and awesome to see three future D1 players in Hook, King, and Jones play great and impactful games. For those of us in the DAC, we also know Jones younger and more athletic brother who is a 6-6 freshman will be with him next year in the DLine. Now we will get a chance up north to spend the next several months hyping up our kids and communities, to get the opportunity to help a team north of the Indy area win a title in 5 or 6A.

Misspoke, meant to say Zionsville. You are correct about Valpo's offense, not much to say, they are a puzzle up this way. Big and strong Oline, not better than New Pals, but whose Online is? They are obviously darn good. A big and strong quarterback, with sneaky good athleticism, and a stable of RB's that are solid, but nothing great. For whatever reason, they don't pass the ball down the field as the QB generally has a clean pocket, in stead he just does three step drops and either they run the old school route tree, 1 5 and 9s. They didn't really have to pass against Mville even though they were down multiple TD's, they were down a TD against MC and threw on several 3 and longs, but other than that, they haven't had to pass the ball. I've watched those games New Pal has played against those two teams. I know both Decatur Central and MC loaded the box against New Pal last year and got exposed on the backend, I will also be interested to see if New Pal can do the same against Valpo. This will also be the ultimate test of two teams that don't make killer turnovers or penalties. Will New Pals QB outplay Valpo's is what I see as the difference. Who will make the least mistakes or the key play, which one of the two will not panic when these two awesome defenses are making the game extremely fast.

i take it you haven’t watched the second half of the New Pal and Cathedral game? You sort of validate what I’m saying in that the big DT in the middle for Cathedral was a non factor in the second half. Please go back and watch and see how it wasn’t that he was getting blocked, he wasn’t, there were several plays in which he just stands up and body bumps, the people in front of him, some in which New Pal doesn’t even block him as part of their scheme. I don’t think I really have to say anything about New Pals o-line as we’ve all seen several highlights over the last several years to know how well coached they are. I’m simply making an argument for Valpo. Now have you watched the last game New Pal lost to Noblesville or the other teams with big DL they have faced in 5A in the tournament besides Cathedral the last two years, Michigan City and Decatur Central? All of these games have a common theme, they have an opportunity to go in for multiple TD leads but don’t. Somehow all of these teams have missed that opportunity and then it’s the avalanche of New Pals offense and defense just running them off the field and they are doing it with kids going both ways. That will be one huge advantage that no one is talking about IF Valpo can keep the wheels on through the 4th quarter is that they don’t have two way players while New Pals two best players, Hook and King never come off the field. Usually they are also the best players on the field, that won’t be the case this game. Maybe the second and third best for what it’s worth, no doubt they are darn good. Can’t wait to see Jones and King go against each other, heck and maybe when Hook is at HBack, him getting at Jones too.

This week is taking too long because the longer it takes for this game to happen the more I believe Valpo has a shot. To think Valpo will get smashed mouth, difficult for me to see. Two legit D1 defensive lineman, Jones being probably the best DL in the state and big, solid Lbs. I keep hearing how Cathedral had a big DL, but if you watch that game, that big DT in the middle didn’t move unless he was getting blown off the ball back into the secondary. I cannot imagine in any case in which that will happen with Valpos DL, especially Jones who is a mini JJ Watt. I can say it here, but watch Dwengers last few plays and see how this junior just dominates the big tackle in front of him, just amazing to see a kid that young and big beat up a kid in front of him. I can’t wait to see if New Pal will be able to take advantage of Valpos cover 3 or man coverage on the backend as very few team have had the time to get a pass off against them.

As much as I want to be a homer, Valpo’s offense will have a tough time against that NP defense, not for anything else than they don’t play stupid football. Valpo will shorten this game and if you haven’t seen in person, their size on both fronts is ridiculous. I know King and the safety from NP are D1 players defensive players, but no doubt Cooper Jones will be the best defensive player on the field. The secondary for Valpo was exposed by Merrillville and Michigan City, but neither team could do it consistently, even Dwenger could not even though there were clear mismatches. When big Cooper is bearing down in qbs, it helps cover up the weak secondary they have. Going back to when NP plays teams with big d lines and athletes, they may not blow the top off, but they just wear them down, thinking of semi state and state last year and then Center Grove and Cathedral this year. I see the same happening against Valpo.

Arguably the best athlete to ever play any sport in the DAC, that 01 team was awesome, unfortunately so was James Banks. No doubt he would have been a solid NFL WR, but that baseball money and longevity is hard to beat.

Game of the Week by Far in the Region and maybe of the year as Michigan City travels this week to play Valparaiso. Valpo is the only team Mason has not defeated in the conference since coming to Michigan City and the last two years, Valpo has won in defensive struggles with the 2017 last second touchdown pass on 4th down with a backup QB the most exciting game of the three. I expect this to be another defensive struggle as Michigan City is clearly not as explosive this year with a different QB, now they have a sophomore, and running backs that appear to be more bruisers than the slasher of last year. On the other hand, Valpo appears to be more explosive and have an experienced QB. Not much to say defensively other than two of the best players in the state will be featured, Cooper Jones and Marquan Hurt. Valpo has only allowed 14 points this year on D and Michigan City held Chesterton to -27 total yards last week. I have to pick Valpo by the home field advantage and it appears Michigan City can't make XPs or FGs based on the way they lost to Warsaw, that will continue to hurt them if they rely on their defense to win games. These two teams will push each other and I see Merrillville benefiting in the tournament for having to play these two in the next several weeks.

The DAC is only improved in that Merrillville is better and finally playing up to its potential. The rest of the conference is still mediocre to poor. No doubt the top three will push one another and I see the Pirates having a great battle in their sectional with Lafayette Jeff and the winner of the Valpo and Michigan City sectional playing in Indianapolis. I see the winner of sectional 1 also playing in Indianapolis as Penn will be lucky to not have 6 losses this year. Not a good year for them to have Homewood Flossmoor on their schedule.

Interesting how people forgetting MIchigan City. Just read they were up 41-0 at end of first quarter, running clock second quarter on. Can’t wait to see them play against Valpo in a few weeks.