FastpacedO

Personally I would say if Crown Point were in the HCC they could be 9-0, 8-1, 7-2, or 6-3. Any of the 4 could apply to them, and not just because of them. The one thing I have really noticed with the HCC is it is very unpredictable. Brownsburg and Westfield looked like they were the most likely to go undefeated in the conference. Brownsburg beat Westfield in a very close game and at that moment it was easy to think well then Brownsburg will go undefeated. Then bam HSE knocks off Brownsburg. Franklin Central beat both Fishers and HSE. Noblesville came very close to upsetting several of the top 4 in the conference with their ball control offense. The HCC is so unpredictable that I don't think anyone could predict what any teams record would be. Injuries can make a world of difference too. Fishers for example as bipolar as they have played was a very solid team with Sturgill at QB, he got knocked out in the Brownsburg 31-30 loss (week 5) and they have been all over the map since. Westfield's QB Melvin got knocked out in the 3rd qtr of a 17-13 loss to Brownsburg. An injury to Ehrlich, Ellison, or Gibbs for example could really change things for the Bulldogs. Admittedly an injury could happen with their current schedule, but many of their games have been running clock and players sat. With that stiffer competition there can be me risk, but all teams have to play with that so it wouldn't be any more of a risk to Crown Point than it would be the other teams in the HCC. There are just too many variables to predict exactly where any team would finish in the HCC.

The rest of the indystar article As a reminder, the IHSAA made a couple of tweaks to the tournament success factor. A team must accumulate six points over a two-year period to move up a class (four points for state championship, three for semistate, two for regional and one for sectional). The threshold to stay “up” a class is now three points (it started out as three, then moved to two before going back). The biggest change is that points accumulated in a two-year window are now applied annually instead of in a specific two-year window, as it had been previously. But once that program is moved (as Cathedral football will be), it must stay in that class for two years.

Yes exactly why I have said they have flaws but they have been able to overcome them with their speed and aggressiveness. Prime example Cathedral bottled up the LN RB in the first half forcing LN to throw (which can be scary too) but Cathedral intercepted the ball multiple times. Even with a short field LN played so aggressively on defense they didn't give time to the Irish QB and forced a hug mistake that turned into a pick 6. They lead at half 7-0. Definitely not a perfect team, but if you can't manage their speed they will score quick and often.

Understood. As for Lawrence North. Brownsburg's Coach Hart statement on LN kind of sums it up. "as far as going into next week against LN, those cats are different. They may be the fastest offense and most aggressive defense I’ve seen in a long time."

I have seen in the past others mention New Pal is a pass happy team. In reality when you listen to Coach Ralph's philosophy for his team that is not their identity. Their Identity is to be a Power Spread System with the inside or outside zone. When they do throw the ball it is off of RPO and the defense has likely given them a look to force the pass (number of players in the box). Coach Ralph gave an excellent Glazier talk about his Power Zone System. With Coach Ralph being a former Offensive Lineman at St. X (Cincy OH), North Carolina he takes great pride in his O-line and running the football. I would say Chatard under Coach Doyle (who loves to fling the ball around) is more of pass happy team than New Palestine. Chatard still runs the ball but their Offensive Scheme is a lot different under Coach Doyle than it was under Coach Lorenzano.

Penn had running clock on them in 2023 in their game against Cathedral. It was 35-0 at half and the Irish started subbing for the 2nd Half. The final was 35-6 as Penn scored on a 35 yard punt return in the second half.

You can hear Coach Ralph talk about and break down the game in each quarter for yourself. During Covid Coach Ralph did a terrific set of segments with Coach Anderson and actually did a video of each quarter of the game vs. Snider. Some very good videos to watch of many of New Palestine's great games and seasons from the mind and thought process of Coach Ralph. https://www.youtube.com/@wesanderson4682/videos On to New Pal. The number of 2-way players won't matter in this game. Coach Ralph knows he will have many 2-way players and intentionally runs a conditioning program to prepare for this. He has mentioned several times over he makes sure to condition his teams to be prepared for the fact they will be playing players on both sides of the ball. I would say the number of players and strength of schedule will be a moot point. What it is going to come down to is how well both teams players play in the game. Chatard is young but very talented and New Pal is experienced and talented, we will see which players make plays I think it will be a terrific game.

No everybody doesn't suck unless they beat an HCC team, MIC team, Cathedral, or Center Grove. When I look at Crown Points schedule and talk about their SOS it is not to say they are a bad team or they suck because they don't they are a very good team with solid players. I struggle where to place them because haven't played a team (yet) where I can really gauge them to the rest of the teams left in 6A. I don't know how they will do when: their secondary is tested by a good offense that can throw the ball, they play a team that has a very good defense that can challenge their offense, they play a team that can match their size, they play a team that can match their speed or is faster at every position. I have watched them play but they have been far superior to their competition by a long shot. I felt the same last year they squeaked one by Penn (who I feel was better last year than this year) so I was 50/50 on how they would do against Westfield. They came out looking great from the start against Westfield then once Westfield got in a groove and stormed back I felt Crown Point was more respectable because they pulled out a tight one in Double OT against Westfield. That being said I felt Crown Point easily could have lost that game and that Westfields coach made a couple bad decisions when they had momentum. Immediately after that game I knew Crown Point was very good, but they were not going to be good enough for the buzzsaw they were about to see from the 6A South. Didn't make them a bad team just they weren't quite at that level. This year I can't really make heads of it yet I am still staying reserved on Crown Point. This week against Carroll we will see how their secondary does against a good passing team, but I still feel Crow Point is better than the Chargers and will win. I would say a 35-14 type of game maybe. The real judge for me will come the following week. I would like to say it is going to be Westfield they play and Westfield is very good. I only hesitate saying it will be Westfield because Fishers has been very bipolar and the game is at Fishers. Westfield should beat them handily, but Fishers has one of those teams that you don't know what to expect. Not to mention all of these HCC teams have seen each other once. So no I am not counting Crown Point out it is just the competition has been so subpar that I can't fully gage them against the really good competition left in 6A. From the South I do know this: 1. Center Grove is very well coached has an excellent offense and physical defense they have had a meat grinder of a schedule. 2. Warren Central a defense unlike any other team in the State probably the only thing that keeps them in games because their offense is apathetic. 3. Brownsburg yes they exorcised a demon against Ben Davis. They have the biggest O-line I have seen this year and have speed. They are pretty balanced with good offense and good defense, but they have a tall task this week. 4. Lawrence North I don't think words can describe the speed that they have. Not just offensively but defensively at DB, LB, and D-line. They have enough speed to play man to man and blitz 7-8 guys to not give your QB time to throw. They have flaws yes, but their speed overcomes their flaws. Remaining teams in 6A and their SOS: 1. Brownsburg - SOS 41.5 2. Center Grove - SOS 40.5 (personally Jeffersonville drove that down a little they easily could be 1) 3. Fishers - SOS 39.8 4. Westfield - SOS 37.7 5. Lawrence North - SOS 35.3 6. Warren Central - SOS 25.4 7. Carroll - SOS 23.3 8. Crown Point - SOS 16.8

Their defense yes, their offense leaves a lot to be desired.

Interesting that you have already crowned Crown Point as the 6A North representative (with Westfield still waiting in the wings). Also interesting that you think they won't get thumped by the 6A South representative (Be that Brownsburg, Lawrence North, or Center Grove). We will see how it plays out.

Interesting

Definitely not the way I had expected the game to go. If you were to tell me that Cathedral would have 3 Int's and held Lawrence North to 87 total yards in the first half I would think they would have a couple score lead. Instead it went into the half LN 7 Cathedral 0. Both defenses were playing very well and Offenses no so much, I would have expected the opposite. Lawrence North game plan defensively looked to utilize their speed and leave their DB's in man to man coverage while they brought the kitchen sink on every down. They decided to bring 9 and overwhelm the O-line if it was run or pass. I am baffled by 2 decisions in the game. On a 4th and short Cathedral lined up to go for a QB sneak, LN had 9 guys at the LOS but had 1 d-lineman in both A gaps. Would have been a good time to call a time out. The second was to open the second half they squib kicked it giving the plethora of LN athletes an opportunity to return a kick, The return man picked it up at the 13 and ran it across the 50 to about the 45 giving LN excellent field position. I know the Irish kicker can hit the endzone for Touchbacks. I would have thought they would force LN to go from the 20 with the way the Irish defense was playing (had 3 Int's at that point). For the most part the Irish bottled up Zay Moore they just could not get anything sustainable going offensively. Run game was inconsistent they would rip off 5-8 yard runs or lose 2-3 yards. LN is a beast with speed everywhere so they will be a tough out for anyone. You have to take advantage if you get 3 turnovers. Coach Mallory's son had quite a game with 1 Int for a TD and a Fumble Return for a TD. The Irish mostly were a surprise to me because nobody new what to expect with O'Neil graduating what they would get at QB. Koers played extremely well in his first season at starting QB. He has a bright future at QB1 and so do the Irish with a ton of young players. I 100% hope you will be able to make every game next year too PHJIrish take good care of yourself!

Lawrence North 24 Cathedral 7 Final

Lawrence North 24 Cathedral 0 with 56 secs left in 3rd qtr. Irish starting QB out for rest of game

Make that Lawrence North 21 Cathedral 0. Cathedral fumbles a QB/RB exchange with backup QB it bounces to LN player who scores on fumble return Breck Mallory (coaches son) with a INT for TD and fumble return for TD

Lawrence North 14 Cathedral 0 Cathedral squib kicks LN returns to the 45 3 plays later Zay Moore TD run

Lawrence North 7 Cathedral 0 halftime defensive battle. Cathedral defense with 3 INT’s LN defense 2 INT’s one was for a pick 6

With Sturgill at QB for Fishers I would keep Fishers above Carroll. Without Sturgill I would place Carroll ahead. Their back-up has played solid, but I feel Sturgill brings a lot more to their offense with his mobility along with throwing the ball. He got knocked out with just over 6 minutes in the 4th qtr with a 27-24 lead in a Week 5 31-30 loss to Brownsburg. He was 17 of 29 for 277 yds 1 TD 0 Int, and had 8 carries for 40 yds 1 TD before being injured. Not sure if he will be back for the Tigers this year, but with him they are a very solid team.

spread can be great unless you are a passing team in some inclement weather in November. Then you better be able to run the football well.

Also didn't help with Melvin getting knocked out of the Brownsburg game in the 3rd qtr. losing 17-13

I will always respect Coach Sharpe in the decision he makes. Having the tragic loss he wants to make sure he spends as much time with his family as he can and if somethings pulls from that he will step away. To me he has decided to do what is best for Noblesville as well as himself. He can't give the time needed to the full program of Noblesville because it would take him away from his family which is important to him. So in stepping away it is a win/win situation. Noblesville can search for a coach that can put the time into the youth league as well as the High School and he is able to spend time with his family who is still dealing everyday with a tragic loss. Much love and admiration to Coach Dave Sharpe and I hope he achieves everything he wants in his and his families future!

Absolutely CG will be. With their passing game they can score quick and often. As a matter of fact against Lawrence North they had opportunities and shot themselves in the foot allowing LN to extend their lead. There is no way no how I am counting out Center Grove.

Amen to that! I knew it would be a tough one for CG basically they were lining up against a college team. St. Frances Academy certainly didn't look like a team that should have 3 losses. They lost to Mater Dei (CA), and close ones to Duncanville (TX) and Lutheran (CA). The Academy schools like that are a totally different level than Private schools here in Indiana. Surprisingly IMG has been on the struggle bus this year with some of the games they have won and the 2 they have lost. I definitely wasn't expecting St. Frances Academy to drub them 30-3. I bet it isn't easy being a coach at these schools. You are basically trying to bring a bunch of All Stars together to play as a team and it may not always work out too well.

It won't matter to him. He only looks at final score and lumps them all the same regardless of what happened.

Out of likes I definitely agree