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Don't take this as an attack, just an honest question. Did someone get under your skin with Cascade? I only ask because I don't typically see a lot of Cascade fans that are over the top and I certainly could have missed something. This game is very intriguing to me. I want to start with I absolutely hate (no matter what team it is) for any Senior to suffer a season ending injury, even more so this late in the season. Foster has been a fun player to watch (in the few times I have seen him) and I am absolutely sure he has put tons of time and effort over the years it stinks to see any injury to a Senior. Cascade and Gibson Southern only have 1 common opponent in Danville who had an okay season. Both Cascade and Gibson Southern beat Danville by rather similar scores and played Danville early in the season (GS week 1 and Cascade week 2), I have no doubt both GS and Cascade have improved upon their play from week 1 and week 2. No doubt there will be a few adjustments for the Titans plugging in Foster's back-up but I am sure his back-up is well versed in the offensive scheme of Hart's Titans. Cascade has the benefit of playing at home. Gibson Southern has established themselves as a State Title contending team and Cascade is on the up in becoming that type of team over the last couple of years (not unlike when Coach Hart took over at GS). As evenly matched as these teams are they differ in style of offensive scheme. GS a balanced offense that throws the ball very well. Cascade more run heavy with 3 RB's but can throw the ball very effectively if needed. Both teams have rock solid defenses. This game may come down to Special Teams and of course turnovers. That 3rd phase comes in really important when you get to Semi-State and have 2 teams that have solid defenses. Having no dog in the fight being on the outside looking in I have no grasp on who the favorite is to win the game. Under all circumstances I will give a slight nod to Cascade having the home game, but would not be surprised at GS winning the game. This is new terriitory for Cascade but the players have handled things very well the last 2 season making stepping stones. Best of luck Saturday night should be a terrific game to watch for even just general fans.

It has been a year of adversity for the Trojans. Coach Moore will never make excuses but the Trojans did a terrific job having a 10-2 season even in the face of some adversity. They definitely be better for it several players getting a lot of playing time and the young QB1 gained a lot of experience. I was surprised that WC won given that the game was at CG, but I was not surprised that WC was able to compete and win the game. They have a very solid defense and the offense has been right there on the cusp several times throughout the season. Much more improved offensively for the Warriors. I definitely feel Brownsburg is the favorite because they are solid at darn near every position but the Warriors will fight hard. Congrats to the Trojans on a solid season.

Can some of Chatard's inconsistent (playing to level of competition) be Harrington getting into the swing of things/game speed returning back after a knee injury.

That is right I forgot the Colts stopped them and made them turn it over on downs. Then on the Colts next possession they had the strip sack fumble and Steelers drove down to tie the game 7-7 in 2nd qtr.

In all honesty, the turning point of that game was the muffed punt (Downs returning punts since Gould was out injured). Colts were up 7-0 and getting the ball back to attempt to go up 14-0. If they would have went up 14-0 Steelers would have had an uphill battle and heavy doses of JT would have been coming. Offensive line had a rough game all together and I am sure they will take it personal. It was a bump in the road and for whatever reason the Colts never play well in Pittsburgh.

I agree with what you've stated. I would say Coach Ralph has had to play less 2 way players than when he first took over the job as the roster has probably grown @crimsonace1would be able to tell more about that. Coach Ralph has always had a great sense that his teams have had to be very good conditioning wise and has always put a large focus on that. Being a former Offensive Lineman at St. X (Cincy OH) and North Carolina (2 time all ACC Offensive lineman) he has put a huge focus on strength in the weight room. Not just for the football team but the entire school and their athletics teams. I will forever say that I believe Coach Ralph is one of if not the best football coach in Indiana. His 151-14 record in 13 seasons is amazing. He didn't step into a huge football blue blood (like Ben Davis or Carmel). He has made New Palestine who was 3-7 when he took over into one of the best programs in the State. I am not sure of a link. I am pretty confident it will be on IHSAATV.

So are you telling me your not purdy enough for TV? Only busting your chops! WBDG does an excellent job when I have tuned in to them.

When I say Plainfield was solid and the game went about how I expected with New Pal, I meant that Plainfield wasn't quite up to a competition level of New Pal. Plainfield has struggled with Decatur Central over the last couple of years and New Pal is better than DC and a lot more disciplined. Not all the teams on New Pal's schedule are pushovers. I don't think it really matters who New Pal is playing. They have shown over the years under Coach Ralph they really don't play up or down to their competition. They play very disciplined and control their own play. If they are light years better than a team they will blow them out. If they are on par with the team they play they do well in a tight game. They are very well coached and run their scheme's very well, they have had some years they have been young but still play very well. I have also seen some try to use the (they have 2 way players) but Coach Ralph keeps them very well conditioned knowing they have 2 way players. They will be strong and smart. Looking over Cathedral's schedule I would put New Pal on par with Chatard, Center Grove (considering the CG injuries), and Covington Catholic. They are slightly below St. Xavier and above Ben Davis (at least this year) and Warren Central. I wouldn't put them on Brownsburg level of good, but not many teams are this year. I also will say Trotwood-Madison is a lot more athletic than New Pal but not as disciplined as New Pal. I think Covington Catholic and Chatard is a perfect comparison to New Pal. Regardless you are going to see a very well disciplined and conditioned New Pal team. They run their schemes very well and will be strong and physical. Both the Irish and Dragons defenses are pretty darn good. So if each teams defense plays to their best and their offenses don't make costly mistakes it will be an excellent game.

Plainfield was solid not great. The game went about how I thought it would go just basing off Plainfield's performance against Decatur Central and Whiteland. I just really felt like New Palestine was going to control and dominate that game. As for Cathedral at New Palestine. If Cathedral is as healthy as they can get they can make a game of it, but it will be an uphill battle and they need to play pretty well especially at Kelso Stadium. Both defenses are pretty good and equal, I will give New Pal the advantage Offensively, and Cathedral the advantage in Special Teams. Should make for a great Sectional Championship (although I would prefer to see it at a Semi-State or State game.

That my friend is hilarious!! So you would be bringing back the Ronnie Lott facemask tackle! 😂

This is no dig towards you. In some aspects I would say Noblesville's previous coaches offensive philosophy was outdated and mundane to the parents not fully the competition faced (the results don't lie for sure). Noblesville was very competitive in 2023 except for 1 game against Westfield. When you look at the results they had many one score ball games. They were not getting the wins yet but were competitive, they did struggle if they got behind by more than 1 score because they couldn't control the clock. I will say Coach Sharpe is a stand up guy, and he was pretty much ran off by the parents. It has been a rough start for Coach Herbert and things certainly can change, but right now it looks like a careful what you wish for. I get it in this day and age many want the flashy offense, but ball control was working for the Millers. Noblesville 2025 (1st year Coach Hebert) DATE OPPONENT EASTERN TIME OA 10.6, DA 30.3 Aug. 22 at Mount Vernon (Fortville) 4A W 21 6 Aug. 29 Homestead 6A L 10 13 Sep. 5 Fishers 6A © L 17 42 Sep. 12 at Westfield 6A © L 7 41 Sep. 19 Zionsville 6A © L 7 30 Sep. 26 at Franklin Central 6A © L 10 37 Oct. 3 at Hamilton Southeastern 6A © L 6 31 Oct. 10 Brownsburg 6A © L 7 42 Oct. 17 at Avon 6A © L 10 31 Oct. 31 Fishers 6A 7:00 pm Sectional 4 Noblesville 2024 (Coach Sharpe) DATE OPPONENT RESULT TNY Aug. 23 Mount Vernon (Fortville) 4A W 43 24 Aug. 31 at Homestead 6A W 49 6 Sep. 6 at Fishers 6A L 14 17 OT Sep. 13 Westfield 6A L 18 38 Sep. 20 at Zionsville 6A L 28 35 Sep. 28 Franklin Central 6A L 28 35 Oct. 4 Hamilton Southeastern 6A L 21 28 Oct. 11 at Brownsburg 6A L 18 22 Oct. 18 Avon 6A L 18 24 Nov. 1 Fishers 6A L 21 31 sect Noblesville 2023 (Coach Sharpe) DATE OPPONENT RESULT TNY Aug. 18 N Mount Vernon (Fortville) 4A W 48 30 Aug. 25 Homestead 6A W 42 0 Sep. 1 Fishers 6A L 22 48 Sep. 8 at Westfield 6A L 21 28 Sep. 15 Zionsville 6A W 24 7 Sep. 22 at Franklin Central 6A L 27 28 OT Sep. 29 at Hamilton Southeastern 6A L 22 43 Oct. 6 Brownsburg 6A L 22 27 Oct. 13 at Avon 6A L 7 14 Oct. 27 at Zionsville 6A W 31 24 sect Nov. 3 Westfield 6A L 12 24 sect Noblesville 2022 (Coach Sharpe) DATE OPPONENT RESULT TNY Aug. 19 Mount Vernon (Fortville) 4A W 43 35 Aug. 26 at Benet Academy (Ill.) W 21 13 Sep. 2 at Fishers 6A L 25 49 Sep. 9 Westfield 6A L 33 34 Sep. 16 at Zionsville 6A L 7 39 Sep. 23 Franklin Central 6A L 7 21 Sep. 30 Hamilton Southeastern 6A L 14 38 Oct. 7 at Brownsburg 6A L 28 45 Oct. 14 Avon 6A W 43 41 Oct. 28 Zionsville 6A W 35 10 sect Nov. 4 at Westfield 6A L 21 42 sect

Center Grove has both Jimmy's and Joe's and X's and O's most years. Football has been a chess match for years. Center Grove will run formations and plays outside of the Wing T now, but you will see them line-up to their bread and butter. And if you can't stop it, you will get a heavy dose of it.

My biggest example of speed is probably the 2023 6A State Championship between Ben Davis and Crown Point (there have been other years but this is the most recent). Crown Point had a couple of fast players at QB and RB, but they had not through their entire season played a team with the team speed Ben Davis brought Offensively and Defensively. When BD was on defense it was very evident. The CP O-line had not faced the speed along the D-line. The offensive skill players were use to their speed in open field getting them big gains but when BD could match that speed and then some with 6-7 guys closing once they got past the first level. I don't mean that as a negative for Crown Point. Center Grove had the same problem in 1998 and 1999 having solid teams that just got outmatched with the speed some of the MIC teams were bringing. It was in the early stages at CG of the speed development. You could really see it pay dividends in 2000 when CG had lost to Ben Davis in the regular season 29-14 and beat them at Ben Davis in the Semi-State with Zwitt and McClurg. They got banged up and ran into a very good Penn team in the State Championship 21-0. It took a few more years to develop overall Team speed. Since that time CG has been 5-2 in the State Championship losing 1 in OT to Carmel 16-13 in 2016 and losing another in 2019 to Carmel 20-17 (those teams were very familiar with each other having played in the regular season. It takes patience for sure and I think Coach Buzea has the Bulldogs on the right track. I think Coach Dinan has the Chargers on the right track too and they have stepped up their non-conference games the last few years.

Two things that can be modeled is what Coach Moore has done at Center Grove: 1.) Youth football, if your program wants to model success head on down to Bargersville and check out Center Grove Bantam Football. Coach Moore implemented stuff with a lot of buy in from the Youth Football Board. Emulate that and your success will go way up. The Center Grove offense will line up in many formations but their bread and butter is the Wing T and all of them could run it in their sleep they have been doing it since they were 8 years old. 2.) Speed development overall. Center Grove when it joined the MIC was not near the top of the schools with speed. Coach Moore being the Football HC and Track and Field HC put a large focus n speed development and they had to out of necessity in playing the Warren Central and Ben Davis. Fast forward to today and Center Grove has as much if not more speed (even though they had a hiatus from the MIC but are going back). Those are 2 areas that take care of 1 "fundamentals" and 2 "speed". The old saying is speed kills and couple that with fundamentals and discipline. You are on the right track.

I think I have noted it in a few posts back. I feel it is possible for Plainfield to upset New Pal because they have upset a #1 team in Sectionals before, but I don't think it is probable. Having watched Plainfield lose to Decatur Central 37-19 and New Pal control the game against Decatur Central 28-6. I feel New Pal is the better of the 2 teams.

The real question is RCSC to offer a 8 year $11.6 million contract to keep their celebrity Wheel of Fortune model from going to Carmel Clasy Schools to join the Greyhound Media Network? Will they let you escape to be the Ron Burgundy of the Greyhound Media Network?

Not to be too technical but healthy for the Irish will be considered "close to healthy" there are some very key offensive starters that have been out for the season since week 2. So they won't ever be fully healthy or have collectively all of their top players. If they can get the ones that can come back healthy it can be a terrific game. I wouldn't put Cathedral as a favorite over New Pal by any means and by the same token I wouldn't count them out. I love these types of match-ups with 2 very well coached teams. I know New Pal still has Plainfield. Plainfield is very well coached and has a good team this year. I think talent and experience wise New Pal has the upper hand on Plainfield, but anything can happen on any given night. I truly feel without a doubt it will be Cathedral at New Pal for Sectional Championship. I hop both teams are as healthy as can be coming in to it so we just see a epic game.

I would bet Fort Wayne schools have them too. Carmel High School's wellness curriculum is integrated into physical education and other subjects, focusing on both physical and mental health through courses like Health & Wellness Education, Principles of Exercise Science, and Outdoor Exploration Core courses: Health & Wellness Education is a required course, often combined with other physical education credits. Specialized options: Students can choose from a wide range of electives, such as: Outdoor Exploration (including activities like kayaking and paddle boarding) Advanced Physical Conditioning and Weight Training Principles of Exercise Science Team Sports with Sports Leadership Kinesiology with Human Performance The Science of Wellbeing Lifelong skills: The goal is to build skills and confidence for a lifetime of physical fitness and outdoor activity.

Looking through State Finals Preview from last year of teams playing for State Championship: 1A North Judson Coach Lambert - MS Social Studies 1A Providence Coach McDonald - English 2A Adams Central Coach Mosser - Social Studies 8-12 2A Linton Coach Oliver - Administrator 3A FW Bishop Luers Coach Lindsay - Physical Education 9th and 10th 3A Heritage Hills Coach Wilkerson - Education and Career Planning Coordinator 4A East Noble Coach Stewart - Strength and Conditioning Coordinator 4A New Palestine Coach Ralph - Advanced PE 9-12 5A Warsaw Coach Curtis - Administrator of Attendance 5A Decatur Central Coach Enright - Just says teacher 6A Westfield Coach Miracle - AP Psychology, Mentoring & Leadership, Strength & Conditioning 6A Brownsburg Coach Hart - Athletic Development Back when I attended High School it was called Health and Wellness. Now it is just called Wellness. Don't quote me but I would bet many High School's in Indiana offer Wellness course for at least a semester. I am way out of date on High School Curriculums though.

I would say it is very common for High School football coaches to be PE teachers. Most that are PE teachers are in the classroom too and work with speed strength and conditioning. In the case of Coach Moore he use to be both Head Football Coach and Head Track coach. He has been hands on in speed and strength development at CG for years now. I would add he has done a very good job of it too and could retire completely at any moment.

Would it count for anything for the game against HSE? Yes and I know Vanpelt did not play against HSE. Would it make a difference in my thoughts of Carroll vs Carmel, Brownsburg, Westfield, Fishers? No. If you were to ask me I would give Carroll FW higher odds of beating Crown Point than I would Carmel and Westfield. I would put Carroll and Fishers about even if you were to ask me. I would say Vanpelt (Carroll) SR and Sharpe (Brownsburg) JR are both about equal WR's about the same style. Vanpelt has 368 more receiving yards 5 more TD's than Sharpe, that being said Sharpe has had to play against stiffer competition throughout the entirety of the 9 game regular season. Vanpelt has played against a few very good defenses and performed very well. Sharpe has played against just a couple more very good defense and performed well. I feel Brownsburg has the best team in 6A in all 3 phases of the game Offensively, defensively, and in Special Teams. I also feel Westfields defense is better than some give them credit for. They are giving up 12.2 average per game which is really impressive considering their HCC schedule and non-conference game against Carmel. W

I absolutely agree with you that the defense has improved. One of the Irish top DB's (Onghetich) that had I believe 2 Int's week 1 was injured the Brownsburg game iirc. Which didn't do them any favors and Sharpe for Brownsburg had 237 yards receiving 2 TD's. Later in the season here the Irish have been better about bringing pressure in various ways to not give QB's as much time in the pocket. The problem early in the season against BD, Brownsburg, and St. X was the Irish offense struggling to sustain drives leaving the defense either on the field too long or with their backs against the wall with short field for the opposing offense. The defense has made some terrific goal line stands. They looked to be getting things going offensively but injuries have made them a little inconsistent. Defense and special teams have been the more consistent part for the Irish. If they can get healthy and be balanced offensively it will certainly help the defense out. I hope you get to feeling better very soon PHJ! I can definitely agree with this. I think if they play defense like they have lately and not give up big plays a New Pal vs Cathedral game will become a defensive game and special teams will be very important. If they get healthy offensively and if they can do just enough in the passing game to not allow teams to stack the box against the run. Regardless New Pal and Cathedral will be a great defensive battle so long as the Irish defense doesn't have to spend a lot of time on the field like earlier games this season. The game being at New Pal won't be easy and New Pal is always very well coached

This years Cathedral team hasn't been as good offensively in many games. Not fully surprising with losing some very good WR's. They had a solid run game and returned their QB from last year. Had some struggles with dropped passes in a few games. Looked to start having some moments in the pass game and injuries set in. Defensively the Irish have been about on par with what they typically have been aside from the Brownsburg game. With Brownsburg the only team that has been able to stall Brownsburg's offense has been Westfield. There have been moments this year where the Irish defense has just been on the field too long (St. X game). They still have been pretty solid defensively. If the Irish are healthy against New Pal at New Pal it should be a pretty good game and both defenses look terrific. If not healthy it will be a stretch for the Irish to beat New Pal at New Pal. Regardless either way New Pal will go toe to toe. Their HC's coaching record (151-14) shows it doesn't matter who they play. They are well coached and disciplined at what they do.

I'm biased now I guess. So be it. Last year I would have had Crown Point seeded higher than this year. I think they were a more talented team last year. This year I feel they are less talented losing their top QB and top RB from a year ago. Doesn't mean they are a bad team though. This year I would have them seed 4th. Using an RPI like Ohio uses would likely agree however the seeding would be split into Regions. They do use. a school's winning percentage, 40% of the index; opponent's winning percentage, 35% of the index; and opponent's opponents winning percentage, 25% of the index I've no idea where you came up with the "I feel Fort Wayne is a threat to Indy hierarchy". You keep touting the same stuff about Carroll had x amount of points on homestead by halftime that Westfield had on them in 4 quarters and beat that drum until it bursts. Both teams blanked Homestead and 1 team is a lot more reliant on their pass game (which can score a lot of points) and the other leans more into the run game (which shortens the game with less scoring opportunities). I simply point out that wasn't their only "common opponent" as they both played HSE also and Carroll lost while Westfield won. Then it gets turned into (for whatever reason) me being afraid Fort Wayne is a threat to Indy hierarchy. Sure if you say so I just laid out the facts you make what you want of it.

You could probably say that about Warren Central. I will say Ben Davis just won a State Championship in 2023 over Crown Point so I think they can still be a considered a blue blood. I don't feel it is trending in the correct direction right now, but being 2 years out from a State Championship is better than 7-8 years removed.