from_the_sidelines007

5 hours ago, BTF said:

Sounds like an up year for Warren on the offensive and defensive lines and a down year at the skill position? I still think WC could come together by playoff time. Clearly the QB and WR's are a work in progress. 

Looks like most of the good teams are in the upper classes and South of Kokomo.

Didn't count many teams North of Kokomo in this list.

Maybe next time

as always, the game is better 

from_the_sidelines007 

5 hours ago, FinePrint said:

The winner of the Knox / Judson game takes home the hardware. I wasn’t that impressed with LaVille. Triton had a handful of mistakes that cost them the game. LaVille wasn’t what we have seen out of LaPaz in the last few years. 

FinePrint I would say that this is a different season. Comparing any team to last year is not accurate.  This year's Triton team is not the same as the 2022 version. Therefore, the 2023 version of LaVille is not the same the last few years.

As far as this year goes, I think it is fair to say that there are several teams that could win the conference. 

Each week will be interesting to follow!

as always, the game is better 

from_the_sidelines007 

Small School Football on LVH1 - Triton at LaVille

Judson The Blue Jays win going away

South Central a little better than people think

Knox Don't know much about Braves

Pioneer improving and picks up a conference victory 

Triton-LaVille is the game of the week in the HNAC.  Shively is a dangerous QB and Prater and Reichert are added weapons on offense. If the Trojans can find a passing game to keep LaVille honest, there is a chance to get this win for Triton.

LaVille showed last week against Bremen they can be effective running the ball.  If Plummer can find time to throw and have a good completion percentage, that will be a difference maker. Plummer is also threat with his kicking game.  Kid can hit from 50 yds out.

That said, the champ is the champ until beaten.

LaVille in a tight game.

Team with ball last may end up winning.

as always, the game is better 

from_the_sidelines007 

10 hours ago, Trojan67 said:

Culver at NJSP

I am curious to see how NJSP opens the year up. Not much talk out of either camp over the summer. This is what we know. Culver has a new coach and it sounds like they are going to spread the ball out. But it doesn't help them much because it sounds like numbers are a factor. NJSP on the other hand brings back some experience, and the QB position was the main concern from what we have heard. I am going with NJSP 42 Culver 14

Knox at Winamac

Again, not much talk from either camp about who is bringing what to the table. Is Winamac going to be the dark horse and come out and surprise everyone? Should Knox be the front runner knowing how much they lost from last season? I'm going to leave that up to fate and am going with Knox 28 Winamac 21. 

Pioneer at Lewis Cass

Youth is the name of the game for Pioneer and experience is the name for Lewis Cass. Pioneer is well coached and it will take some time to rebuild that winning mentality with this program and get back to their glory days. Lewis Cass on the other hand sounds like they are bringing the heat and putting the TRC on notice that they are coming to have some fun. I don't think it will get too out of hand but Lewis Cass 35 Pioneer 12

LaVille at Bremen

This is TV 46 Game of the Week. I know it is a rivalry, but honestly do not know if it is game of the week worthy. Last year was pretty much a slugfest with LaVille getting the best of Bremen. Maybe I am wrong, but LaVille lost a ton of experience. Bremen doesn't have much experience, but they love to hit quoting from Tony Ross in the Marshall County schools interview from earlier in the week. I want to say that this matchup is going to be closer, but my heart is saying that it will be LaVille 42 Bremen 14 

West Central at Caston

My questions about this matchup is pretty simple. Does West Central continue building off of their sectional win? Caston brings back experience, does this help them take control of their rival? I think the most interesting thing is that the HNAC has the number of MWC opponents and this will continue with Caston winning. Caston 28 WC 12

South Central at Triton

I have seen what Triton can do and the hype around this team has brought a different attitude to the program. These kids love to hit and this team wants competition. The atmosphere around Bourbon has definitely changed with the new head coach installing a winning mentality with this program. The towns people will have things to complain about on their community cares Facebook page about their being too many explosions at the south end of the field tonight. I have heard some buzz coming from South Central, though, that their defense has really improved and that they gave Glenn some trouble. The offense though had a lot of issues with not being able to run the ball and their passing game was alright. However, I think Triton's depth and their ability sub players out is going to be the biggest factor in this. Triton will be able to move the ball with ease and you will everyone be involved in this game. Triton 49 South Central 0

Trojan67

Curious minds are wondering who you would have selected for the 46 Game of the Week?

Honestly, this could be a closer game for a longer time than people think.  42-0 was last year, with two totally different teams.

Graduation, players not returning on both sides of the ball from a year ago.

LaVille at Bremen

This is TV 46 Game of the Week. I know it is a rivalry, but honestly do not know if it is game of the week worthy. Last year was pretty much a slugfest with LaVille getting the best of Bremen. Maybe I am wrong, but LaVille lost a ton of experience. Bremen doesn't have much experience, but they love to hit quoting from Tony Ross in the Marshall County schools interview from earlier in the week. I want to say that this matchup is going to be closer, but my heart is saying that it will be LaVille 42 Bremen 14 

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

Time for Friday Night Lights . . . 

Just a couple of hours before the start of Week One of the IHSAA regular season.  Been looking forward to the start of a couple of weeks now.

I'll throw my two cents into the cup. Picks are:

NORTH JUDSON

KNOX

LEWIS CASS

LAVILLE

TRITON

WEST CENTRAL

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

Anyone care to make some preseason predictions on the 2023 Hoosier North Athletic Conference football standing?

Here are the final 2022 HNAC football standings

LaVille 7-0

North Judson 6-1

Knox 5-2

Triton 4-3

Culver 3-4

Pioneer 2-5

Winamac 1-6

Caston 0-7

Does anyone go undefeated?

Does LaVille go back to back

Is this a year for a shared conference championship?  If so, who?

What say you?

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

21 minutes ago, DumfriesYMCA said:

Tanner Boyd Gibson Southern.

was 3A Jr all state last year 

 

don’t know where on the list he should be but he should be on the list for top QBs in the state.  
 

see no reason to think Coach Hart wouldn’t have the QB at GS prepared to perform as a top QB in the state on a yearly basis.  11 years in and he is 5/5 on all state QBs 

Thanks for adding to our list, YMCA

My list was not rating the QBs, just wanted to discuss some of the best as we enter the 2023 season.

Sounds like Coach Hart has a good thing going at Gibson Southern.

Appreciate your contribution,

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

Great!

Thanks Whiting89 and scarab527 for the update on Noah Ehrlich.

Any other updates on the 'transfer portal' ?

Keep 'em coming!

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

As we get closer to start of the 2023 high school football season, there are some pretty good quarterbacks around the state.

I do not know them all, but am willing to put myself out there to start the list.

Feel free to add some of the best in your area - no matter what class.

Alpha by school . . . 

Dash King, Bloomington South

Thomas Gotkowski, Brownsburg

Danny O'Neil, Cathedral

Tyler Cherry, Center Grove

Noah Ehrlich, Hobart

Jackson Willis, Lutheran

Braxton Birner, Maconaquah

Brady Fisher, Mishawaka

Donovan Williams, New Haven

Christian Kramer, North Putnam

Owen Roeder, NorthWood

Nolan McCullough, Penn

Owen Wanner, South Adams

Adam Kunkel, South Dearborn

Jace Stuckey, Triton Central

Izak Wright, Wabash

Apologize if I misspelled a name.

As I mentioned, I don't know them all, so feel free to add to the list!

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

It is truly unfortunate to hear the unnecessary ending to the North-South All-Star Football Classic.

For the player, this is a great honor to represent youself, the high school team you played on, your family, and your school.

Everyone involved should be held to a higher standard.  If you want to play in this event, then you follow the rules, listen to the coaches, play hard and clean, and with great sportsmanship.  If you want to display unnecessary roughness, cheap shot and other unsporting behavior, then you just don't play.

After this year, the organization leadership should address everyone moving forward about what the expectation will be during the game.

I do believe that the Coaches and Game Officials are ultimately in control of the game once it is started. This group along with the event administration make the ultimate decision.

I also believe that each coaching staff makes the decision as to who plays and who does not - All-Star game or not.

Yes, coaches want players to play.  Make a rotation, 1s and 2s, whatever.

With that said, the expectataion is made clear.

The coaches and officials are the adults here. 

Someone step up, be a leader and stop the non-sense.

Football is football. Physical, hard-hitting, good competition.

If a player(s) don't want to act like an athlete, then they get removed. Plain and simple!

Everyone knows how the game is meant to be played.

I hope this is a lesson that is learned by everyone involved.

In all honesty, this should have never happened.

Best to everyone!

As always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

And the dominoes keep falling. . . 

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

3 hours ago, Justafan said:

Valley has filled their schedule for 2023. Just can't say anything until all contracts signed.

Good For TV!

So glad they were able to fill that football schedule!

Looking forward to seeing the completed schedule for 2023!

Nice work Vikings!

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

6 hours ago, FinePrint said:

I like the way this has worked out for Triton.  Since Triton already plays South Central in football, we might be able to keep LaVille on the schedule after they leave.  Our two non-conference games could be Bremen and LaVille.  That would be ideal in my mind. 

Seems like with some schools not having some sports and some not having a junior varsity team, along with M-Thr travel and late nights could be part of the reason for this switch for the likes of Knox and LaVille.

I was a little surprised that Knox decided to leave, but not so much LaVille based on their location and the schools that ended up coming together.  

I am not surprised that Bremen, Glenn and Jimtown wanted something different.  I recall hearing the gound rumble before, but this time there was traction, smoke and fire along the way.

Be interesting to see how the new HNAC fares and then what happens with this new conference that looks a lot like the old NSC. Tippecanoe Valley is looking for games, so I hope they can fill in where they need to.  Football could be tricky for TVHS.

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

2 hours ago, FinePrint said:

The HNAC has soccer too.  Missed that one...

From a competition and rivalry standpoint, I like Argos better than O-D for filling out the non-football conference spot.

In doing some HNAC searching of girls golf, boys soccer, girls soccer, boys tennis, boys golf and girls tennis, I found the following schools to have the respective sports during the 2022-23 school year.

GIRLS GOLF

Caston, Culver, Knox, LaVille, North Judson, Pioneer and Winamac.  Triton did not have girls golf this season.

BOYS TENNIS

Knox, North Judson, Triton did.

BOYS SOCCER

Caston, Culver, LaVille and Winamac did.

GIRLS SOCCER

Culver and LaVille did have a team. 

GIRLS TENNIS

Knox, LaVille, North Judson and Triton did.  The rest did not have girls tennis.

BOYS GOLF

Caston, Culver, Knox, LaVille, North Judson, Pioneer, Triton, Winamac all had golf this season.

From what I have observed, there seems to be a lot of movement in several conferences this particular school year for whatever reason.

I only hope that every school that would like to be in a conference can find one.

Being in a conference can benefit the student-athlete in a variety of ways, from academic compeition to athletic recognition.

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

Do we know if the HNAC has further developed interest in finding schools to join when Knox and LaVille leaves?

The ground is moving again.

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

25 minutes ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

I think it is time for Penn and Elkhart to move on from the NIC.  Elkhart more than likely finds a home in the NLC and Penn either goes independent or Joins the Duneland.  Playing Riley and Washington again does nothing for the schedules of either team.  Washington and Riley do not want to play either school.  Good luck to Jimtown, Glenn and Bremen.  While Penn never saw you on the field it was nice having you all.

I know the NLC would never want this, but if Plymouth left and they kicked Wawasee to the curb, I think a conference of:

Mishawaka, Penn, Elkhart, Northridge, Concord, Northwood and Warsaw would be very fun schedule.

If Penn and Elkhart do remain in the NIC after Bremen, Glenn and Jimtown moves on and SBCSC does decide to close South Bend Clay, that puts the updated NIC at 8 schools and gives both Penn and Elkhart 2 games to fill with other opponents.  Which is what both teams do now anyway.  Find 2 schools that you want to play as non-conference games and book them.

Using your reference: "Playing Riley and Washington again does nothing for the schedules of either team."  If these games do not do mean anything for either schedules, then if you are Penn, start your first unit, play the game, then play the #2s and #3s and #4s to get those units more game time action and build depth.  We all know that when you play a sport, injuries can happen.  Coach that next kids up to help them be the best they can be.  Give those kids that come to practice everyday some memories that they can take with them for the rest of their life.

Play the two games - against South Bend Washington and South Bend Riley and make something productive out of each of them.

Show some respect to the team you are playing and work on helping both teams better!

This isn't really that hard.

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

Breaking on WHME Sports.

Jimtown, Glenn and Bremen have sent letters to Northern Indiana Conference asking to leave the league by 2024-25.

Tippy Valley sent a letter to Three Rivers Conference asking the same.

LaVille and Knox have asked to leave the Hoosier North Athletic Conference.

Rumor has it Rochester turned down a request to join, and Fairfield is entertaining the offer.

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

On 3/13/2023 at 2:49 PM, FinePrint said:

So if LaVille and Knox are leaving the HNAC, who does the conference go after to replace them?

South Central

West Central

Argos

Rochester

Westville

Oregon-Davis

So has there been an announcement that I missed that has LaVille and Knox leaving the HNAC?

I keep hearing all this talk, but not a confirmation that this has happened.

In answer to the present question, 'who does the conference go after to replace them'?

Both Argos and OD are presently in the Hoosier Plains Conference and I wonder if the fact that neither one has football, along with not having other sports as well could be a hurdle?  Not that Argos/OD couldn't change conferences, just don't see it being much more beneficial.

This present conference change reminds me of a few years ago when other schools in Indiana opted out of one conference to either join another or create their own - long distance travel or not.

With potential movement from one, two, three conferences is going to affect several schools again and affecting a lot of areas - parents, fans and student-athletes just to name a few.

My question is, why the move?

What are the ultimate benefits?

Will the move benefit the student-athletes?  Parents/Fans will follow their student-athlete.  But is the move going to benefit the student-athlete?

Are there other factors involved in this movement?

Just some questions that I am curious about.

Anyone have input?

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

For those that are interested in watching the Andrean at LaVille game, there is only one link that will get the game for you:

https://www.ihsaatv.org/?B=446748

All the rest are scams so be careful!
 

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

7 minutes ago, BendNotBreak said:

Think it'll take n upset to get the State attention u want.... but who knows... good luck!

Who you calling for the upset?

Defending 2A Champs over the unbeaten Lakeville hosts?

Or

LaVille over the 59ers?

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

This is why we play the games!

This is not the same Andrean team as 2021. And, it is not the same LaVille team as 2021.

IMO this game will be followed by a lot of people around the state tonight.

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

Here is my two cents . . . 

West Noble at Knox - Redskins a bit better.

Andrean at LaVille - Lancers out to earn respect.

South Central (UM) at Culver - Like the Cavs to roll.

Triton at North Judson - Jays moving on.

Keep the change!

as always, the game is better

from_the_sidelines007

2 hours ago, FinePrint said:

West Noble at Knox – The Chargers head to Knox to take on the Redskins.  West Noble boasts an 8-2 record with a couple of nice wins including an overtime win over 8-2 Eastside.  But their schedule hasn’t been as difficult as the Redskins.  The Chargers barely squeaked out a 7-6 win over Lakeland, who Knox destroyed last Friday night.  I don’t see the Redskins having any trouble with West Noble this week.  Knox Redskins 35-14

Andrean at LaVille – This one will determine if the Lancers are for real, or just another country school trying to play with the big city boys.  I think the HNAC was for real this year and LaVille should feel good about winning the conference title!  It was an accomplishment for sure.  But it means little outside of north central Indiana if they can’t beat the 59ers.  It’s unfortunate they’ll be playing with a backup QB, but that’s just the way the ball bounces sometimes.  I believe LaVille has the tools to compete with Andrean.  They are physical and disciplined, and typically don’t beat themselves with turnovers and penalties.  But Andrean’s propensity for big plays will be a problem for the Lancers.  Ultimately I think this will be a very good game.  But the loss of Plummer’s foot may just be the difference.  Andrean 59ers 28-26

South Central at Culver – Culver is looking to make it to the sectional championship for the third time in 4 seasons.  And they shouldn’t have any trouble getting there.  The ping-pong balls were kind to the Cavs again this year and they’ll win easily at home this week.  Shuman will probably have another 200 yard night enroute to a running clock.  Culver Cavaliers 42-0

Triton at North Judson – Another game that would have been fun to see next week in the Sectional 41 championship.  But I’m a proponent of the all-in, random draw tournament, so this is what you get sometimes!  Not a problem for this guy.  Judson is a machine on the offensive end!  They ran roughshod over the Trojans to the tune of 348 yards on the ground in their meeting a month ago.  Triton didn’t help themselves by turning it over 4 times, and when it started to go downhill for the Trojans, it went fast.  But Triton had close to 400 yards of offense in the first meeting, and they’ll be a little more disciplined Friday night.  This will be a much closer game.  I expect Triton to put up more points than any of Judson’s opponents have so far, but I doubt it will be enough to get the win.  The Jays are destined for a rematch with the Flying Jets.  North Judson Blue Jays 42-28

Always intrigued by your work each week.

Well done!

Interesting that the forecast has Triton scoring 28 points against NJSP.  Not even HNAC champ LaVille scored that many against the Jay's.

as always,  the game is better 

from_the_sidelines007 

Not trying to be a wise guy here . . .

I've wondered:

Is Indiana Mr. Football given for a senior season of play or a career award?

Or does it depend on the year?

Curious . . .

Thanks for the feedback,

as always, the game is better

from_the_sideliines007