hhpatriot04

It can be a positive or negative at lower levels given how involved the league's administration is, the pedigree of the parent, and the need for the varsity HC to heard in the community if he or she can't have direct contact with the feeder programs. The best is to have an experienced youth coach, who is trusted and prepared by the time their children will become their players. At the varsity level in football, even relatives of (assistant) coaches had it harder and were often the first to be called out when an issue cropped up. I also understand now why it makes sense sometimes for a coach to take a step back and enjoy watching their children play HS sports instead of staying on the bench. Also, I've seen HoF SS baseball coach Kuester coach three of his sons without issue on the state level. I believe all played in college and some have gone on to coach.

2004 3A South Semistate: Chatard leads Heritage Hills by 10-0 after one quarter. The Trojans's D1 RB Dray Mason breaks his collarbone early in the second quarter. It was like a light going off for three-time 3A defending state champion Trojans, who had only lost by less than a score to nationally ranked Elder and Roncalli. HH defense locks down against a Chatard team still full of D1 players and wins 13-10 on a late field goal. Without that win, Chatard wins consecutive 3A state titles from 2001-2007, a feat never likely to be duplicated with the success factor.

Random query here...speaking of the Knights rushing attack, what happened to the RB the year Castle played at Bedford for (I think) a regional title? Did he play in college?

Beyond the obvious with Southridge at No. 1, it's a very similar list if you take out the Kentucky teams. It also has Jasper and Castle swapped, but I think that game is probably a coin toss. Could Tell City really beat Gibson Southern? Interesting question given their results against Southridge. I'd be more interested in seeing the CalPreps list.

@IndianaWrestlingGuy is that correct, 90 years since the Irish last beat Elder (not that they play alot), but that losing stretch predates my grandfather, a Cathedral grad (true southsider) by less than 10 years. Good luck to the Irish on ending that drought. Hope all these GCL games are multi-year and Cathedral gets to spend half the season in Cincy next year.

Hope Heritage Hills gets healthy and can string some wins together before tournament time. I hear business is down at the Chateau, while Haubs is on the rebound. Say it ain't true. (I kid)

Yes, much of this senior class has played varsity since freshmen and sophomores. After multiple head coaches, Rookie Coach Mac Webb (from neighbor and rival South Spencer) is getting the most out of them and probably has the best TC team in three decades. Those who are older know the Marksmen were a small-school powerhouse in Basketball and Football in the 1970s and 1980s.

Evansville Mater Dei picked up a big win against a ranked 5A Evansville North squad. Tell City was stuffed on a late two-point conversion to fall to 3A ranked Southridge. It was also Tell City's first loss but proved they are a sectional contender down here in 2A (with a weak schedule).

After Week 6 1. Central (6-0) - Jasper game may have told us more about Jasper than Central 2. North (5-1) - QB or not, you have to show up every week. Lesson learned? 3. Southridge (6-0) - PAC title effectively clinched. Go Raiders. 4. Castle (4-1) - Win out and get a share of the SIAC. 5. Jasper (5-1) - Real sectional contender. 6. Gibson Southern (3-3) - Always impressive to shut out HH at home. Congrats Coach Hart. 7. Tell City (5-1) - The Marksmen gave it their all. Sectionals await. 8. Memorial (3-3) - Back to .500. Can they keep the mo' up against Reitz, VL and Castle? 9. Boonville (4-2) - Never out of the picture with the best athlete in SW Indiana. 10. Mater Dei (2-4) - Coach Goebel. HM: Linton (4-2), Mount Vernon (4-2)

I'm not informed well enough about either team to make a prediction, but I do know as even Cathedral fans will tell you this year, don't play Chatard thinking you're not in for a war. Even if they don't have the athletes, they will play to/through every whistle and hit the player lined up across from them play, after play, after play. I'm not saying Merrillville hasn't seen that or that they will panic, but Chatard will do everything possible to make this as physical game as possible in every respect.

Is it different than the "JH Prediction?" I haven't figured that one out yet, but it definitely doesn't strictly use Sagarin's ratings -- or in the way my predictor does/did/will.

Has @DK_Barons been tagged in any of this?

I don't even want to know... Although isn't there a canopy/covering over the press box now for cameras/booth coaches?

There's progress... Although, I was quite sick this weekend and not able to work on it. http://predictor.gridirondigest.net (Yes I know it's not functional) Quick hint: Just go to Sagarin's website, use the predictor value of both teams and find the difference. That is all this little script is doing (you can add in the home field advantage which varies every week if you want)

I believe 16 quarters (special teams don't count) is the requirement for a varsity letter. How many sophomores do you expect will achieve that this year? (Most years it's 3-6...)

Mockobee will likely lead the state in rushing and all-purpose yards, but for the reasons mentioned already and Boonville unlikely to advance past the sectional, he'll not get it, as has been the case for many talented skill players outside of the IndyStar radar.

How is Luers this season? I've not followed the North in 2A.

What do you have against your nieces and nephews. It took me until I was 8 to realize my Presbyterian grandma was letting me win in Uno and War... No such sympathy from my Cathedral grad ('56 I think), Army vet grandfather...

When HH has the personnel and it's working, the power Wishbone is a definite fan favorite, but more so a Coach Clayton remnant and the Flexbone provides another look when you don't have a great throwing QB and don't want to be forced into obvious spread sets in passing situations. That and the pass defense are credit to Coach Wilkerson and staff, and definitely seem to fit HH's current personnel compared to the slew of talent Coach Clayton had to run the Wishbone exclusively or spread it out with QBs like Cutler and others.

Agile linemen fit Southridge's schemes perfectly. Every once and a while they'll get a "haus" but you won't see him put in positions required to pull or loop as say a tackle on a wide toss... Or maybe I just have a soft spot for linemen who are 6-2, 230 (me) and fit into an odd front at NG or rush end in even front pass defenses, but don't have the speed to project as a LB in college...

Oh I had in my head he was a junior last year, maybe because he didn't get to play b his final baseball season. It is great that Simon and Crews will get to play baseball together at UE. Crews played summer ball and the hamstring seems to be close to healthy. He's seemingly been in college for six years, but made the most of it and is on track to get his masters, according to Mike.

Oh you know both teams always have a wrinkle for these matches. Hope that's enough to keep it close against the Titans' D1 QB, while HH has a case of fumblitis this season.

I'm very surprised at the number of posters speculating that either team wouldn't do everything in their power to win a game. You're making it sound like a Tier 2 or 3 college bowl game, where an NFL prospect would sit out to avoid risk of injury. If both teams remain undefeated or even if Cathedral stumbles against the GCL teams, the game has state, Midwest, and national ranking implications. That's a once in a decade or more match-up.

Bigger isn't always better on an OL or DL. I don't want an OT who can't get to the linebacker level by the time a RB hits a hole. Just as I don't care how big a NG is if he can't draw a double team.

More solid in the middle tier. I see Mater Dei (just wait), Central (Mooresville could be tough if they (Central) make it out of the sectional), and North (Bloomington South always tough and a good Floyd Central team likely to come out of the other sectional) with realistic shots at semistate.